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Grapholita funebrana , also known as the plum fruit moth, is an oligophagous pest species that causes enormous economic losses of the fruits of Rosaceae. An eco-friendly method for the control of G. funebrana besides chemical control has not yet been developed. The sex pheromone communication system plays an important role in moth courtship and mating, in which pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are critical. In this research, we identified four PBPs, namely, GfunPBP1.1 , GfunPBP1.2 , GfunPBP2 , and GfunPBP3 , from the antennae of G. funebrana. The results of real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) showed that all four GfunPBPs were overwhelmingly expressed in the antennae and that GfunPBP1.2 and GfunPBP2 showed male-biased expression patterns, whereas GfunPBP1.1 and GfunPBP3 were equally expressed between sexes. The results of ligand-binding assays illustrated that although all four recombinant GfunPBPs (rGfunPBPs) had binding activity with the tested sex pheromone compounds, their preferred ligands were significantly different. rGfunPBP2 had the strongest binding affinity to Z 8–12:Ac and Z 8–12:OH; rGfunPBP1.1 preferred to bind Z 8–14:Ac, Z 10–14:Ac, and 12:OH more than to the other three GfunPBPs; and rGfunPBP1.2 exhibited stronger binding affinity to E 8–12:Ac than to the other rGfunPBPs. Molecular docking results demonstrated that hydrophobic forces, especially van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds, were the most important forces that maintained GfunPBP–pheromone ligand complexes. This study will improve our understanding of the sex pheromone recognition mechanisms of G. funebrana and promote the development of novel strategies for controlling G. funebrana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel multifunctional soy protein isolate-carboxymethyl cellulose (SPI-CMC) based nanocomposite film was successfully prepared by introducing the polydopamine encapsulated essential oils (EOs@PDA) nanocapsules for food packaging. The EOs@PDA nanocapsules possessed smooth spherical morphology with good dispersion, and the particle size was about 283 nm. The influence of EOs@PDA nanocapsules on the physical, chemical and biological properties of EOs@PDA/SPI-CMC nanocomposite film was investigated. The EOs@PDA nanocapsules were crosslinked with SPI-CMC matrix and distributed uniformly in the matrix. The nanocomposite film with 1 wt% nanocapsules (EP/S-C) also showed excellent antioxidant activity (66.6 ± 0.3 % on DPPH and 98.6 ± 0.1 % on ABTS), superior UV-blocking properties (100 %), advanced antibacterial ability against E. coli and S. aureus , favorable biodegradability (>90 %) and relatively low In vitro cytotoxicity. Also, the EP/S-C nanocomposite film displayed potential to extend the shelf life of fresh cut apple slices (>24 h), perishable cherry tomatoes and blueberries (>6 days). The results suggested that the EOs@PDA/SPI-CMC nanocomposite film had a great possibility in the field of biodegradable and antimicrobial materials for food packaging. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural polymer with remarkable superiority for fabricating biomaterials. In this study, a multiporous bacterial cellulose (MBC) film was modified with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), and the modified MBC film was imbued with antibacterial properties after chlorination. The dried chlorinated samples showed superb antibacterial efficacy and could inactivate 6.19 log of inoculated S. aureus and 6.29 log of E. coli within 1 min of contact. After releasing active chlorine for 12 h, 3.67 log of S. aureus and 3.97 log of E. coli were inactivated within 30 min of contact. The prepared films displayed high porous and layered structures with a resultant excellent water retention which can be applied as material for wound dressings. In addition, the chlorinated films showed hemostatic ability on wound bleeding and good biocompatibility. The prepared N-halamine functionalized MBC films might have great potential applications as wound dressings. • BC grafted with N-isopropylacrylamide was endowed good antibacterial ability by chlorination. • The prepared BC films exhibited multiporous structure and superior water retention capacity. • The biocompatible films demonstrated the hemostatic ability of the wound bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexibility of hydrothermal conditions gives rise to an array of effects on the properties of starch-containing systems. This study examined and optimised moisture, temperature and time conditions with regards to functional properties of cassava flour and starch. The derived optimal conditions for cassava flour were 25%, 90 °C and 45 min, respectively, while cassava starch were 27%, 120 °C and 21 min, respectively. Consequently, effect of the optimal conditions on structural, physicochemical, rheological and melting characteristics of cassava flour and starch were studied. Optimal heat-moisture treatments changed both morphology and size distribution of cassava flour and starch granules. Relative crystallinity of cassava flour increased (34 to 40%) and cassava starch decreased (32% to 23%) following optimal-heat-moisture treatment. Both cassava flour and starch upon optimal dry-heat-moisture treatment exhibited enhanced; swelling power (15.57 to 21.62 g/g and 17.24 to 19.64 g/g, respectively), peak viscosity (3555 to 5493 cP and 6377 to 8701 cP, respectively), elasticity (tan δ) (0.31 to 0.24 and 0.58 to 0.47, respectively) and melting onset temperature to conclusion temperature range (14.66 to 15.75 °C and 23.26 to 30.69 °C, respectively). This research presents hydrothermal conditions that can effectively be applied in industry to improve the bakery potentials of cassava flour and starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Maillard reaction occurs extensively in food industry and can change the aggregation behavior of dietary proteins. In this work, we reported the influence of glycation on the heat-induced amyloid-like aggregation behavior of β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg). Glycation was shown to accelerate the unfolding behavior of β-Lg and thereby increased fibrillation rate during initial heating according to 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate and thioflavin T assays. Prolongation of fibrils was found to be limited by glycation derived from glucose, fructose and lactose, possibly due to the decrease in β-sheet structure of β-Lg based on circular dichroism spectral results and transmission electron microscopy images. β-Lg incubated with maltodextrin appeared to associate into globular micelles. Both covalent (disulfide bond and crosslinking structure) and non-covalent changes (steric hindrance and hydrogen bonds) induced by glycation are proposed to account for these fibrillation kinetic and conformational changes of β-Lg aggregates. According to these findings, glycation are promising methods to regulate both fibrillation kinetics and fibril conformation in the food industry. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Glycation speeds up fibrillation of β-lactoglobulin by accelerating unfolding behavior. • Glycation suppressed elongation of fibrils by reducing β-sheet content of β-lactoglobulin. • Glycation changed the aggregates conformation. • Formation of intermolecular disulfide bond can be suppressed by glycation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the crude polysaccharides were extracted from Chinese traditional medicine Huidouba and then isolated and purified by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100 chromatographic columns. The hypoglycemic activities of two fractions were determined by α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro . The fraction HDBP-3A showed the best α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC 50 of 0.0075 mg/mL, which was lower than the acarbose positive control (IC 50 of 0.092 mg/mL). The structural features of HDBP-3A was investigated by the high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), gas chromatography(GC), UV spectroscopy, FT-IR, periodate oxidation and Smith degradation. The results demonstrated that the HDBP-3A with a molecular weight of 86,749 Da mainly composed of l -rhamnose, d -fucose, l -arabinose, d -xylose, d -mannose, d -glucose and d -galactose with the molar ratio of 2.33:1.58:1.00:1.37:4.86:4.00:7.30. The branches of HDBP-3A were composed of (1 → 4)-linked, (1 → 6)-linked, (1 → 2)-linked or (1 → 3)-linked. The IR spectrum implied that β-pyranoside linkage and α-configurations existed in HDBP-3A simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions of catechol derivatives with model transportation protein-bovine serum albumin (BSA) were deciphered by the multispectral techniques, molecular docking and multifunctional wavefunction (Multiwfn). The representative catechol derivatives caffeic acid (CA) and 1-monocaffeoyl glycerol (1-MCG) with an (E)-but-2-enoic acid and a 2,3-dihydroxypropyl(E)-but-2-enoate side chain, respectively, were chosen in present study. The interaction results revealed the extra non-polar interactions and abundant binding sites facilitate the easier and stronger binding of 1-MCG-BSA. The α-helix content of BSA decreased and the hydrophilicity around Tyr and Trp changed due to the different interaction between catechol and BSA. The H 2 O 2 -damaged RAW 264.7, HaCat and SH-SY5Y were applied to investigate the anti-ROS properties of the catechol-BSA complexes. The results illuminated that the 2,3-dihydroxypropyl(E)-but-2-enoate side chain of 1-MCG facilitated the preferable biocompatibility and antioxidant property of its binding complex. These results revealed that the interaction of catechol-BSA binding complexes could influence their biocompatibility and antioxidant properties. • The 1-MCG-BSA complex forms spontaneously and is mainly stabilized by nonpolar interaction. • The catechol and glycerol skeleton of 1-MCG are main interaction domains when 1-MCG interacted with BSA. • The 2,3-dihydroxypropyl(E)-but-2-enoate side chain of 1-MCG facilitates the stronger interaction and more binding sites. • The 1-MCG-BSA complex exhibits preferable biocompatibility and antioxidant ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in transdermal drug delivery for treating psoriasis, there are still unmet medical needs, hyaluronic acid (HA)-based topical formulations as nanocarriers, which can increase drug concentration in psoriatic skin through CD44-assisted targeting. Here, HA was utilized as a matrix for nanocrystal-based hydrogel (NC-gel) to deliver indirubin topically for psoriasis treatments. Indirubin nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared through wet media milling and were then mixed with HA to create indirubin NC/HA gels. A mouse model of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis and M5-induced keratinocyte proliferation were established. Then, the efficacy of indirubin delivery targeted at CD44, and anti-psoriatic efficacy using indirubin NC/HA gels (HA-NC-IR group) were evaluated. The HA hydrogel network embedding indirubin NCs enhanced cutaneous absorption of poorly water-soluble indirubin. The co-localization of CD44 and HA in psoriasis-like inflamed skin was highly elevated, suggesting that indirubin NC/HA gels specifically adhered to CD44, leading to an increase in indirubin accumulation in the skin. Additionally, indirubin NC/HA gels enhanced the anti-psoriatic effect of indirubin in both a mouse model and HaCaT cells stimulated with M5. The results indicate that NC/HA gels targeting overexpressed CD44 protein can improve the delivery of topical indirubin to psoriatic inflamed tissues. This suggests that a topical drug delivery system could be a viable approach for formulating multiple insoluble natural products to treat psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an acid polysaccharide (AABP-1B) was extracted from the rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge and purified using 60 % alcohol precipitation and DEAE-52 cellulose. The molecular weight of AABP-1B was 105 kDa, and it consisted of mannose (Man), rhamnose (Rha), galacturonic acid (GalA), glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), and arabinose (Ara) in a ratio of 6.3:1.3:1.1:0.2:0.4:0.7. Methylation and NMR analyses revealed that the backbone of AABP-1 consists of 4)-β-D-Man p -(1 and 4)-2- O -acetyl-β-D-Man p -(1. In addition, the biological activity assays showed that AABP-1B not only displays potential antioxidant activity but also exhibits the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effect. Moreover, AABP-1B enhanced glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis in insulin-resistant (IR) HepG2 cells. These results suggest that AABP-1B has potential hypoglycemic activity. • A new polysaccharide (AABP-1B) was obtained from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. • AABP-1B showed better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. • AABP-1B stimulates glucose uptake in IR-HepG2 cells. • AABP-1B may have potential as a functional food for diabetes therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a particular cell niche, natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM) is an organic-inorganic composite material formed by mineralization of liquid crystal (LC) collagen fiber network. However, designing bone repair materials that highly imitate the LC characteristic and composite components of natural bone ECM is a great challenge. Here, we report a novel kind of bone ECM-inspired biomineralization chitin whisker LC hydrogels. First, photocurable chitin whisker LC hydrogels with bone ECM-like chiral nematic LC state and viscoelasticity are created. Next, biomineralization, guided by LC hydrogels, is carried out to truly mimic the mineralization process of natural bone, so as to obtain the organic-inorganic composite materials with bone ECM-like microenvironment. The chitin whisker LC hydrogels exhibit superior biomineralization, protein adsorption and osteogenesis ability, more importantly, LC hydrogel with negatively charged –COOH groups is more conducive to biomineralization and shows more desirable osteogenic activity than that with positively charged –NH 2 groups. Notably, compared with the pristine LC hydrogels, the biomineralization LC hydrogels display more favorable osteogenesis ability due to their bone ECM-like LC texture and bone-like hydroxyapatite. This study opens an avenue toward the design of bone ECM-inspired biomineralization chitin whisker LC hydrogels for bone regeneration. Inspired by the liquid crystal (LC) characteristic and composite components of natural bone extracellular matrix (ECM), a novel kind of bone ECM-inspired biomineralization chitin whisker LC hydrogels with bone ECM-like chiral nematic LC state and bone-like hydroxyapatite were designed for bone regeneration. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work revealed the influence of thermal processing on the microstructural, mesoscopic and molecular scale structures and thus the plasticizer migration of the starch ester films. Thermal processing promoted the permeation of water molecules to hinder the shrink of the amorphous macromolecules. That is, the swelling of the amorphous macromolecules diminished the ordered regions to a certain degree, resulting in the enlarged amorphous regions. Along with slight degradation of the macromolecules, the crystallites were partially disorganized, as indicated by a reduced relative crystallinity. These multi-scale structural changes of the films and the thermally enhanced mobility of plasticizer molecules synergistically enhanced the plasticizer migration. This study not only enables a well understanding of how thermal treatment alters the plasticizer migration of starch-based films from a multi-scale structural view, but also hints to our future work that rationally modulating the structural features of starch-based film may effectively control the migration of chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Semi-synthesis of cellulose sulfate sodium (Na-MCS) was carried out by sulfation of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with chlorosulfonic acid-dimethylformamide complex as sulfating agent. As shown by FT-IR, NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, the sulfation occurred mainly at C 6, partially at C 2, and no substitution at C 3. The substitution degree ranged from 1.10 to 1.70 and the average molecular weight is between 1.1 and 3.5×104 Da. The anticoagulant efficacy and its possible mechanism were investigated using in vitro, in vivo coagulation assays and amidolytic tests in comparison with heparin. Results indicated that Na-MCS exhibited higher anticoagulation activity based on activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay and prolonged the thrombin time (TT) to a lesser extent than heparin. No effect was detected on the prothrombin time (PT). Subcutaneous administration of Na-MCS to mice increased the clotting time (CT) in a moderate dose-dependent manner with a longer duration. Na-MCS exhibited anticoagulation activity mainly by accelerating the inhibition of antithrombin III (AT-III) on coagulation factors FIIa and FXa in plasma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Corbicula fluminea distillate as an important industrial by-product of C. fluminea during steaming process is rich in amino acids, proteins and polysaccharides, showing potential hepatoprotective effect. In this study, a polysaccharide (CFDP) was obtained from C. fluminea distillate by three-phase partitioning combined with (NH 4) 2 SO 4 precipitation at a saturation of 60 %. The structural characteristics, antioxidant activity in vitro , and hepatoprotection against mice CCl 4 -induced acute liver damage of CFDP were studied. Results demonstrated that CFDP was a water-soluble homogenous polysaccharide predominantly comprising glucose (>98 %), with a weight-average molecular weight of 1.4 × 107 Da, and exhibiting potent antioxidant benefits in vitro. CFDP had a backbone of (1 → 4)-α- d -glucopyranosyl (Glc p) and a small amount of (1 → 4, 6)-α-D-Glc p. The branch formed at C-6 comprised by (1→)-α-D-Glc p and (1→)-α-D- N -acetylglucosamine. CFDP possessed excellent hepatoprotective activity against acute liver damage caused by CCl 4 in mice, mainly by ameliorating weight reduction and organ injures, alleviating hepatic function and serum lipid metabolism, suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, as directly verified by histopathological examination. Moreover, CFDP improved gut microbiota by up-regulating the relative abundance of total bacteria and probiotics such as Firmicutes , Bacteroidete , Rumminococcaceae , Lactobacillaceae , accompanied by promoting short chain fatty acid production. Therefore, our findings indicated that CFDP can be developed as a healthy food supplement for the prevention of chemical livery injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on the characteristics of amorphous aggregates derived from soy protein (SPAA), and their effects on the structural, physicochemical, and digestive properties of potato starch (PS). The SPAA induced by different heating temperatures at pH 7.0 formed an inhomogeneous spherical structure. The presence of SPAA could improve the degree of short-range order of starch, increase thermal stability, reduce pasting viscosity and breakdown, and setback viscosity values of PS. For the PS complexed with SPAAs under simulated cooking conditions, the fraction of digested starch at 300 min (C 300) decreased by 6–14 %, and rapid digestible starch content (RDS) decreased by 18–25 %, while the slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) increased by 0.4–3 % and 15–23 %, respectively. The SPAA at higher temperature treatment (SPAA 130) reduced digestive rate coefficient (k) values more significantly than SPAA at a lower temperature (SPAA 70 , SPAA 90 , SPAA 110). And the SPAA had no inhibitory effect on α -amylase. The results of this study would significantly contribute to expanding the theoretical information about protein regulation in starch digestion and promoting the development of healthy foods with digestion-resistant properties. • SPAA 1 1 SPAA, amorphous aggregates produced from soybean protein. increased the degree of short-range order in PS 2 2 PS, potato starch. • SPAA improved thermal stability, and delayed short-term retrogradation of PS • SPAA increased slowly digestible and resistant starch contents of PS • SPAA treated at 130 °C reduced digestive rate coefficient more significantly [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel starch-based packaging films with sustained antibacterial activity were successfully made by incorporating polyurethane-encapsulated essential-oil microcapsules (EOs@PU) as an alternative synthetic preservative for food preservation. Herein, three essential oils (EOs) were blended to make composite essential oils with a more harmonious aroma and higher antibacterial ability and encapsulated into polyurethane (PU) to form EOs@PU microcapsules based on interfacial polymerization. The morphology of the constructed EOs@PU microcapsules was regular and uniform with an average size of approximately 3 μm, thus enabling high loading capacity (59.01 %). As such, we further integrated the obtained EOs@PU microcapsules into potato starch to prepare food packaging films for sustained food preservation. Consequently, the prepared starch-based packaging films incorporated with EOs@PU microcapsules had an excellent UV blocking rate (>90 %) and low cell toxicity. Notably, the long-term release of EOs@PU microcapsules gave the packaging films a sustained antibacterial ability, prolonging the shelf life of fresh blueberries and raspberries at 25 °C (> 7 days). Furthermore, the biodegradation rate of food packaging films cultured with natural soil was 95 % after 8 days, clarifying the excellent biodegradability of the packaging films for environmental protection. As demonstrated, the biodegradable packaging films provided a natural and safe strategy for food preservation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three polysaccharides (BGPs: BGPs-Z21, BGPs-Z23, and BGPs-Z31) were successively extracted from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grasses (BG) at different growth stages, including seedling (Z21), tillering (Z23), and stem elongation (Z31). The effects of in vitro simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion on the physicochemical characteristics and biological activities of BGPs were investigated and compared. Results showed that the simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion had considerable influences on reducing sugar content, chemical components, monosaccharide constituents, and molecular weights of BGPs but hardly affected their preliminarily structural characteristics. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of BGPs were weakened after the simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion, but their bile acid-binding capacities were remarkably enhanced. The digested BGPs-Z31 by gastric juice possessed better antioxidant benefit, and bile acid-binding capacity (80.33 %) than other digested products. Overall, these results indicated that BGPs obtained from BG are valuable for functional foods as promising bioactive ingredients. • Polysaccharides (BGPs) were obtained from barley grasses at different growth stages. • Simulated digestion had important influences on physicochemical properties of BGPs. • Digestion enhanced bile acid-binding ability of BGPs, but reduced the antioxidation. • The gastric-digested BGPs showed better bioactivities than other digested products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, carboxylic curdlan (Cur-48) and negatively charged ferulic acid (FA)-grafted carboxylic curdlan (Cur-48- g -FA) were separately used to fabricate polyelectrolyte nanoparticles (PNPs: PNPs-CQ and PNPs-CFQ) with positively charged quaternized curdlan (Qcurd) for curcumin delivery. Results showed that curcumin-loaded PNPs-CQ and PNPs-CFQ had particle sizes of 338.1 and 301.3 nm, zeta potentials of −19.07 and −24.10 mV, and encapsulation efficiencies of 76.32% and 83.54%, respectively. Curcumin was properly encapsulated inside the two PNPs through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Compared with free curcumin, entrapped curcumin in the two PNPs exhibited better redispersion performance, thermo- and photostability, and sustained release property. Furthermore, FA molecules surrounding the surface of PNPs-CFQ were conductive to the entrapped curcumin's particulate characteristics, stability, release behavior, and antioxidant potentials. Therefore, our findings indicated that PNPs formulated via Cur-48- g -FA and Qcurd can provide a novel delivery platform for encapsulation of hydrophobic nutrients, including curcumin, in functional foods. • Polyelectrolyte nanoparticles formed by curdlan derivatives for curcumin delivery • Curcumin was entrapped in PNPs by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. • The encapsulated curcumin had better redispersibility, thermo- and photostability. • The entrapped curcumin exhibited good antioxidant and sustained release properties. • FA molecules on the surface of PNPs are conductive to the encapsulated curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polysaccharide from Plumula Nelumbinis (PNP), was isolated and purified. PNP had a molecular weight of 450 kDa and consisted five monosaccharides, including rhamnose, galacturonic acid, xylose, galactose, and arabinose. The methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis revealed that the main glycosidic linkage types of PNP were →5)-α-L-Ara f -(1→, →3)-β-D-Gal p -(1→, β-D-Xyl p -(→1, →3,4)-β-D-Rha p -(1→, →4)-β-D-Gal p A-(1→. In the range of 25–1200 μg/mL, PNP had no cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 cells. PNP could protect RAW264.7 cell from oxidative damage by reducing the production of ROS and MDA and the secretion of LDH, enhancing the activity of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px, and increasing the content of GSH. Anti-inflammatory activity experiments showed that PNP inhibited the expression of NO, TNF-α, INF-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6. PNP could inhibit the activation of MAPK/NF-κB cell pathways. PNP could be used as a potential natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. • A polysaccharide (PNP) was obtained from the Plumula Nelumbinis. • The structural characteristics of PNP were identified by FT-IR, methylation, NMR–. • PNP protects cells from H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress. • PNP exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naturally occurring carbohydrate polymers containing non-starch polysaccharides (NPs) are a class of biomacromolecules isolated from plants, marine algae, and edible mushrooms, and their biological activities has shown potential uses in the prevention and treatment of human diseases. Importantly, NPs serve as prebiotics to provide health benefits to the host through stimulating the proliferation of beneficial gut microbiota (GM) and enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The composition and diversity of GM play a critical role in regulating host health and have been extensively studied in recent years. In this review, the extraction, isolation, purification, and structural characterization of NPs derived from plants, marine algae, and edible mushrooms are outlined. Importantly, the degradation and metabolism of these NPs in the intestinal tract, the effects of NPs on the microbial community and SCFAs generation, and the beneficial effects of NPs on host health by modulating GM are systematically highlighted. Overall, we hope that this review can provide some theoretical references and a new perspective for applications of NPs as prebiotics in functional food and drug development. • Modulatory effects of non-starch polysaccharides (NPs) on gut microbiota are reviewed. • Preparation and structural features of NPs from different sources are outlined. • Interactions between NPs and intestinal microecology disorders are emphasized. • Health benefits of NPs through the regulation of gut microbiota are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of starch and starch-based materials determine additives migration from material matrix. Propionylated starch derived from waxy, normal, G50 and G80 starch were selected as the matrix, the amylose effect on plasticizer (triacetin) migration as well as structural changes in hydrophobic starch-based films were discussed. The constant (k 1) of first-order rate and initial release rate (V 0) of triacetin migration were consistent with the increment of amylose content. Meanwhile, diffusion model disclosed that Fick's second law was apposite to characterize the short-term migration of triacetin, and larger diffusion coefficient (D) values of short- and long-term migration were also found in films with higher amylose content, indicating that amylose-formed structures were in favor of triacetin migration. In comparison of propionylated amylopectin, Van der Waals's interactions between propionylated amylose and triacetin were easier to be weakened with the migration of triacetin, which promoted the decrease of wavenumber of C-O-C, and enlarged the inter-planner spacing of crystalline structures, promoting the formation of amorphous structures and wrinkles and embossments in films with higher amylose content. This work confirmed that regulating the structures of starch were effective to control the migration behavior of additives from starch-based films. • Triacetin migration from starch-based films followed first-order diffusion model. • Starch-based film with higher amylose content showed larger diffusion coefficient. • Strong relaxation of amylose promoted the migration behavior. • Triacetin migration caused crystallite destructions in amylose-rich film. • Amorphous structures were gradually formed in all hydrophobic starch-based films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, belonging to Lamiaceae family, is one of the most important Chinese medicinal herbs. The dried roots, also called Danshen in Chinese, are usually used in the formula of Chinese traditional medicine due to the bioactive constituents known as phenolic acids and tanshinones, which are a group of abietane nor -diterpenoid quinone natural products. Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) usually play crucial roles in terpenoids synthesis, especially in hydroxylation processes. Up to now, several important P450 enzymes, such as CYP76AH1, CYP76AH3, CYP76AK1, CYP71D373, and CYP71D375, have been functionally characterized in the tanshinones biosynthetic pathway. Nevertheless, the tanshinones biosynthesis is a so complex network that more P450 enzymes should be identified and characterized. Here, we report two novel P450 enzymes CYP76AK2 and CYP76AK3 that are involved in tanshinones biosynthetic pathway. These two P450 enzymes were highly homologous to previously reported CYP76AK1 and showed the same expression profile as CYP76AK1. Also, CYP76AK2 and CYP76AK 3 could be stimulated by MeJA and SA, resulting in increased expression. We used a triple-target CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate targeted mutagenesis of CYP76AK2 and CYP76AK3 in S. miltiorrhiza. The content of five major tanshinones was significantly reduced in both cyp76ak2 and cyp76ak3 mutants, indicating that the two enzymes might be involved in the biosynthesis of tanshinones. This study would provide a foundation for the catalytic function identification of CYP76AK2 and CYP76AK3, and further enrich the understanding of the network of tanshinones secondary metabolism synthesis as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employing natural polymers as building blocks is favorable to construct sustainable functional materials and realize biomass utilization. Here we developed a series of supramolecular polyion complexes (PICs) composed of lignosulfonate and double-hydrophilic diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide- b - N, N -dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PEO 114 - b -PDMAEMA 24), which performed a blue emission with quenching-enhancing tendency and copolymer distribution inversion-involved assembling transformation at pH 5.6 and monotonic greenish-blue fluorescence promotion at pH 9.5 by increasing PEO 114 - b -PDMAEMA 24 contents. Electrostatic interactions and multiple hydrogen bonds were revealed controlled the assembling behavior and affected the emission via altering the restriction of molecular motion, through-space conjunction, and non-luminous complexation. The multiple interacting sites and special topology of diblock copolymer contributed to the efficient fluorescence regulation. Information writing-erasing and encryption-decryption systems were established by utilizing emission intensity regulation and pH-responsive emission chromism. This work paved a new way to enhance lignin fluorescence and broadened potential applications of lignin composites in realms of sensing, imaging, monitoring, and anticounterfeiting. • Supramolecular polyion complex was formed by lignosulfonate and diblock copolymer. • The emission enhancement and quenching were induced and regulated by charge ratios. • pH-responsive fluorescent chromism was observed and used in anticounterfeiting. • Distribution inversion of diblock copolymer existed in the assemblies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncovering the genetic basis of hypoxic adaptation is one of the most active research areas in evolutionary biology. Among air-breathing vertebrates, modifications of hemoglobin (Hb) play a pivotal role in mediating an adaptive response to high-altitude hypoxia. However, the relative contributions in water-breathing organisms are still unclear. Here, we tested the Hb concentration of fish at different altitudes. All species showed species-specific Hb concentration, which has a non-positive correlation with altitude. Moreover, we investigated the expression of Hb genes by the RNA-seq and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and Hb composition by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). The results showed that the multiple Hb genes and isoforms are co-expressed in schizothoracinae fishes endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Phylogenetic analyses of Hb genes indicated that the evolutionary relationships are not easily reconciled with the organismal phylogeny. Furthermore, evidence of positive selection was found in the Hb genes of schizothoracinae fishes through the selection pressure analysis. We demonstrated that positively selected sites likely facilitated the functional divergence of Hb isoforms. Taken together, this study indicated that the long-term maintenance of high Hb concentration may be a disadvantage for physiologically acclimating to high altitude hypoxia. Meanwhile, the genetically based modification of Hb-O 2 affinity in schizothoracinae fishes might facilitate the evolutionary adaptation to Tibetan aqueous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functionalities of gluten-free rice noodles are significantly affected by starch hierarchical structures. Identifying the structures that synergistically determine noodle integrated functionalities is vital to designing health-promoting starchy foods with desirable consumer sensory and nutritional qualities. This study reports on the changes in starch structures and functionalities (starch digestibility, texture, and flavor) of rice noodles during household cooking processes (steaming, boiling, and stir-frying), and describes an underlying structure-functionality relationship. Results show that all the cooking processes examined increased starch reassembled ordered structures, especially short-range ordered structures, helical and crystalline structures, and ordered aggregate structures. Steaming and boiling led to a decrease in rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and an increase in slowly digestible starch, while stir-frying yielded a reduction in RDS content and an increase in resistant starch in rice noodles. Steaming and boiling decreased while stir-frying increased the flavor variety of noodles. All cooking processes examined altered noodle textures, with a significant increase in hardness, gumminess, and chewiness. Structure-functionality relationships suggested short-range ordered structures, crystalline structures, and the ordered molecular and aggregate structures of noodles synergistically determined starch digestion, texture, and flavor. By structuring such key structures, the digestion, texture, and flavor of rice noodles can thus be reasonably controlled. • Steaming, boiling, and stir-frying increased ordered structures in rice noodles. • Cooking decreased starch digestibility via increasing SDS or RS content. • Ordered structures synergistically affected starch digestion and noodle texture. • Steaming and boiling reduced, while stir-frying increased, the variety of flavors. • Digestion, texture, and flavor of noodles can be concurrently tailored via structuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is sometimes fermented with microorganisms to develop health-promoting foods, but the contribution of a short-term fermentation (a necessary step for fermented rice cake-preparation) to properties of rice starch is not resolved yet. The effects of microorganism fermentation with different amount of starter cultures on multi-scale structures and digestibility of rice starch were investigated. The amount of starter cultures significantly affected structures and digestibility of fermented starch. The fermentation with a lower amount of starter cultures induced starch degradation (corrosion of starch granules, reduction of lamellar orders and compactness, decrease in crystallinity, double helix, short ranger-ordered structures, and molar mass) and a slightly reassembly, which increased the content of slowly digestible starch (SDS). While, the fermentation produced more starch fractions with Mw between 0.60 × 107 g/mol and 1.50 × 107 g/mol as the amount of starter cultures increased, and these starch molecules tended to reassemble and form more ordered multi-scale structures including double helical and short range-ordered structures, starch lamellar orders and compactness, which elevated SDS content. The SDS content of fermented starchy foods could be improved via controlling starch reassembly and multi-scale ordered structures through modulating the amount of starter cultures during fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of the direct addition of curdlan on the physicochemical, structural, and functional properties of heat-induced soy protein isolate (SPI) gels were evaluated. Results demonstrated that the direct incorporation of curdlan enhanced the gel-forming performance, water-holding capacity, and gel strength of heat-induced SPI gels. The presence of curdlan reduced the free water molecules and α-helix content in the SPI structure and contributed to the construction of stable SPI gels with uniform and compact network structures, as visually proven by microstructure observations. Moreover, compared with the SPI gel alone, the curdlan–SPI composite gels presented a more pronounced viscoelastic property and thermal stability mainly due to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction between curdlan and the SPI molecules. Our findings suggest that the direct incorporation of curdlan can effectively ameliorate the gelling characteristics of heat-induced SPI gels, indicating its potential application as a promising gel improver in the food industry. • The effect of curdlan on gel properties of soy isolate protein (SPI) is investigated. • Direct addition of curdlan improved gel strength and WHC of heat-induced SPI gels. • The curdlan-SPI composite gels exhibited homogenous and compact network structures. • The curdlan-SPI blended gels showed excellent viscoelasticity and thermal stability. • Hydrogen bonding interaction between curdlan and SPI was the main driving force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP), a kind of medicinal mushrooms, were widely used in southeastern countries with putative anti-diabetic effects. In order to unravel the underlying mechanism of its anti-diabetic effect, this study examines the effects of GLP on gut microbiota composition and functions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status. In this study, the effects of GLP on the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced T2DM rats were examined by 16S rDNA sequencing and 1H NMR profiling. As a result, administration of GLP led to significant decreases in the levels of fasting blood glucose and insulin. Moreover, GLP treatment reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria, such as Aerococcus , Ruminococcus , Corynebactrium and Proteus , and increased the level of Blautia , Dehalobacterium , Parabacteroides and Bacteroides. The PICRUSt analysis indicated that GLP could restore the disturbed amino acids metabolism, carbohydrates metabolism, inflammatory substances metabolism and nucleic acid metabolism of gut bacterial community in T2DM rats and most metabolic changes observed by metabolomics analysis were consistent with these consequences. Taken collectively, GLP can restore the disordered gut microbiota of T2DM rats to a normal level and modify metabolites of the host to realize its antidiabetic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial structure and potential antifatigue activity of polysaccharide fractions which was extracted from Inonotus obliquus. The first polysaccharide fractions of Inonotus obliquus (PIO-1) were obtained after hot-water extraction and purification by DEAE cellulose-52 chromatography. Results of the forced swimming test showed that the doses (50 mg/kg) of PIO-1 could increase the climbing duration and swimming time as well as reduced the immobility time in the PIO treated mice. The fatigue related metabolic parameters showed that PIO-1 decreased the level of blood lactic acid (BLA), urea nitrogen (BUN) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). Additionally, PIO-1 significantly decreased the 5-HT concentrations in the mice brain. The results of monosaccharide analysis showed that the molar ratio of mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose and arabinose with the molar ratio of 1.0:1.9:3.5:18.5:5.7. The molecular morphology of the PIO-1 observed under atomic force microscopy (AFM). There were many spherical and heterogeneous clumps existed in the images. Therefore, current study indicated polysaccharide PIO-1 not only has great potential to postpone physical fatigue but also shown potential to improve mental fatigue. • This researches indicated the information about the isolation, characterization and anti-fatigue activity of purified polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus. • This researches indicated polysaccharide PIO-1 not only have great potential to postpone physical fatigue but also shown potential to improve mental fatigue. • The structural description of PIO-1 showed that the molar ratio of mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose and arabinose with the molar ratio of 1.0 : 1.9 : 3.5 : 18.5 : 5.7. The total sugar content was 73.2 %. The molecular morphology of the PIO-1 observed under atomic force microscopy (AFM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research displayed the structures and thermomechanical feature of starch-based nanocomposites as induced by interaction between propionylated amylose/amylopectin and nanofiller (organically modified montmorillonite). Propionylated amylose incorporated with nanofiller caused some phase separation within the nanocomposites. By contrast, highly-branched propionylated amylopectin favored nanofiller dispersion and disrupted its crystalline structure, and further facilitated certain exfoliated or intercalated structures. Based on these structures, propionylated amylose-rich nanocomposites showed enhanced β -relaxation in the induced "plasticizer-rich" regions, whereas the propionylated amylopectin nanocomposites displayed higher glass-transition temperature due to restricted macromolecular mobility. These results suggested that the structures and further packaging properties of starch-based nanocomposites could be better understood by controlling the interaction of starch with other ingredients. • Propionylated amylose-rich nanocomposite presented phase separation. • Propionylated amylopectin caused dispersion and crystalline disruption of nanofiller. • Propionylated amylopectin and nanofiller generated some exfoliation or intercalation. • Propionylated amylose-rich nanocomposite displayed the enhanced β-relaxation. • Propionylated amylopectin nanocomposite showed higher glass-transition temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different AAs retarded starch gelatinization and increased pasting temperature. • Different AAs restricted starch swelling and decreased peak viscosity. • AAs decreased the RDS and increased RS contents for all cooked PS samples. • Electrostatic interactions between PS and AAs formed during HMT and ANN. • HMT showed greater impact on physicochemical properties of PS-AA complexes than ANN. Amino acids (AAs) are increasingly applied as nutrient supplements and played a crucial role in human nutrition and health maintenance. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of different AAs on the physicochemical and digestive properties of potato starch (PS); and investigate whether heat moisture treatment (HMT) or annealing (ANN) had different impacts on the complexes between starch and AAs. PS mixed with different AAs, represented by Lys, Ser, Ala, and Asp, were modified by HMT and ANN. Both different AAs addition and hydrothermal treatments significantly increased the pasting and gelatinization temperatures, and decreased swelling power, peak viscosity and enthalpy change for physically mixed samples. In general, different AAs retarded the recrystallization of PS, while hydrothermal treatments promoted retrogradation of PS. The addition of different AAs decreased the RDS and increased RS contents for all cooked samples. Electrostatic interactions between PS with phosphate-monoester derivatives and different charge-carrying AAs formed during hydrothermal treatments, resulting in modify physicochemical and digestive properties of PS. HMT showed greater influence on physicochemical and digestive properties of PS-AA complexes than ANN. This study will enrich interaction theory between starch and AAs, and improve the nutritional values of PS-based products during food thermal processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Molecular docking revealed puerarin binds well to hP2X 3 protein. • Puerarin interacts with hP2X 3 protein near ATP-binding pocket. • V64A mutation reduces the effects of the P2X 3 receptor and puerarin. • Puerarin inhibits P2X 3 receptor by binding to V64A. P2X 3 is a ligand-gated nonselective cation channel and permeable to Na+, K+ and Ca2+. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) activation of the P2X 3 on primary sensory ganglion neurons is involved in nociceptive transmission. Puerarin is a major active ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Ge-gen. Puerarin inhibits nociceptive signal transmission by inhibiting the P2X 3 in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and sympathetic ganglia, but its molecular mechanism is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of puerarin on the P2X 3. Here, molecular docking results revealed that puerarin binds well to the human P2X 3 protein in the vicinity of the ATP binding pocket. Protein-ligand docking showed that the V64A mutation reduced the effect of puerarin but had little effect on ATP. V64A site-directed mutagenesis of P2X 3 was performed using an overlap extension PCR technique. The wild-type and V64A mutant pEGFP-C1-P2X 3 recombinant plasmids were transfected into HEK 293 cells. The electrophysiology results demonstrated that puerarin exerted an obvious inhibitory effect on ATP-activated currents in HEK 293 cells transfected with the wild-type P2X 3 , while little inhibition was observed in HEK 293 cells transfected with the mutant P2X 3. These studies suggest that puerarin inhibits the P2X 3 by binding to V64A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoletil is an anesthetic and immobilizing drug that has been used in the veterinary field for over 50 years; however, the effect of Zoletil, or its constituents, on brain cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) remains unknown. Here, we aimed to determine the effect of Zoletil on rat brain CBS by administering a single intraperitoneal injection of the drug and examining hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and CBS levels in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus following three distinct behavioral phenotypes associated with the sedation procedure (e.g., loss of the righting reflex, return of the righting reflex, and return of walking). Zoletil administration resulted in significant decreases of endogenous H 2 S in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus, and H 2 S was observed to increase in these brain regions when rats recovered from the anesthesia. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry revealed that CBS expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus exhibited the same trend as endogenous H 2 S following Zoletil administration. In summary, our results demonstrated that Zoletil induced the expression of CBS which could exert region-specific regulation of H 2 S in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the view of multi-scale structures of hydroxypropyl starch (HPS)/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposite films, the film physicochemical properties were affected by comprehensive factors including molecular interaction, short range molecular conformation, crystalline structure and aggregated structure. The less original HPS hydrogen bonding that was broken, less decreased order of HPS short range molecular conformation, lower film crystallinity and larger size of micro-ordered regions contributed to higher tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the film with CNT content of 0.5% (g/g, CNT in HPS). The higher film overall crystallinity and larger size of micro-ordered regions of the film with CNT content of 0.05%–0.3% compared with those of control contributed to better film barrier property. The addition of CNT with the content of 0.05%–0.5% broke the original HPS hydrogen bonding and decreased the order of starch short range molecular conformation, which counteracted the positive effect of CNT on the thermal stability of the material, thus thermal degradation temperature of these nanocomposite films did not increase. But the sharp increase of film crystallinity increased film thermal degradation temperature. This study provided a better understanding of film physicochemical properties changes which guides to rational design of starch-based nanocomposite films for packaging and coating application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work concerned the effects of amylose/amylopectin ratio on the structure and thermal stability of propionylated starches with high degree of substitution (DS). Four starches with different amylose content were used to obtain propionylated starches. Acylation partly disrupted granule morphology of native starches, and the imperfection and porous structures of starch granule were intensified along with the increased amylose content. It was noted that the crystalline structure of starch was destroyed and thus intense acylation occurred in both amorphous and crystalline regions. The acylated starch with high-amylose content displayed more ordered region compared to low-amylose starch. Acylation enhanced the thermal stability of starch, and this effect became more evident as the amylose content increased. Thus, the amylose/amylopectin ratio has been confirmed capable of affecting the structure and thermal behaviors of hydrophobic propionylated starch, which is of value for the design of starchy materials with tailored thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new polysaccharides (GPP-20, GPP-40, GPP-60 and GPP-80) were fractionated from Gynura procumbens leaves by 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% (v/v) ethanol, successively. Their physicochemical properties including the contents of neutral sugar, uronic acid and protein, as well as the monosaccharide composition were determined. In addition, the antioxidant activities of them were investigated via the reducing power assay and scavenging capacities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and hydroxyl free radicals, respectively. The results indicated that apart from neutral sugar, they all contained uronic acids and proteins in their structures, which were further proved by the UV–vis and FT-IR spectra. Monosaccharide composition analysis implied that they all belonged to heteropolysaccharides consisted of arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose and galacturonic acid with different types and ratios. What’s more, GPP-20, GPP-40 and GPP-80 always exhibited better antioxidant activities than GPP-60 among these three antioxidant assays in vitro . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of amino, carboxylic, and aldehydic surface-grafted silica nanoparticles (SNPs) was prepared based on SiO 2 NYSi40 nanoparticles to develop an efficient, biocompatible, and cost-effective biopesticide delivery system. Bacillus thuringiensis chitinase (Chi9602) was immobilized onto SNP surface to prepare nanoscale chitinases (SNPCs) through electrostatic adsorption and covalent binding. The specimens were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and zeta-potential analyses. The delivery capacity of the SNPs in Caenorhabditis elegans N2 was observed by immunofluorescence. Results demonstrated that amino-grafted SiO 2 nanoparticles with Chi9602 electrostatically adsorbed onto their surface (SNPC2) exhibited a relatively high enzyme immobilization rate (80.2%) and the highest (94.1%) residual enzyme activity among all SNPCs. SNPC2 also showed wider pH tolerance and relatively higher thermostability and ultraviolet radiation resistance capacity than Chi9602. Bioassays further showed that SNPC2 synergistically enhanced the nematicidal effect of B. thuringiensis YBT-020 preparation against C. elegans , with a reduced LC 50 of 8.35 mg/mL and a shortened LT 50 of 12.04 h. Immunofluorescence assays showed that SNPC2 had considerable delivery capacity to carry a large protein into C. elegans . Therefore, SNP2 can serve as an efficient nanocarrier for the delivery of macromolecular proteic biopesticides or drugs, indicating potential agricultural or biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IR, 13C NMR, X-ray diffraction and DSC applied to study the physicochemical properties of starches from six different cultivars of Jinhai (I–VI) sweet potato strains in China. Jinhai II showed the highest rate of retrogradation while Jinhai III showed the lowest in all studied cultivars. The hydrolysis rates of those starches by α-amylase were from 98.1% in Jinhai II to 99.9% in Jinhai VI with a mean value of 99.3%. The ratio of R (1158/991cm−1) in IR spectra of those six different sweet potato starches could be the feature to identify them. All of the six studied Jinhai sweet potato starches showed strong peak at diffraction angle (2θ) of 17°, 15° and 23°, meanwhile an extremely weak peak at 2θ around 5.5° was also identical. XRD pattern of Jinhai II and IV starch also gave strong diffraction peaks at 26.6°, which could be the characteristics of them. The enthalpy and T p of Jinhai II were especially lower than other cultivars. Jinhai IV revealed two T p of 128.0°C and 140°C, respectively. The second T p was maybe the characteristic of Jinhai IV starch. IR and DSC were the most effective methods to distinguish different cultivars of sweet potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The experiment was conducted to study the retrogradation properties of glutinous rice and buckwheat starch with wavelengths of maximum absorbance, FT-IR, 13C NMR, and DSC. The results show that the starches in retrograded glutinous rice starch and glutinous rice amylopectin could not form double helix. The IR results show that protein inhabits in glutinous rice and maize starches in a different way and appearance of C–H symmetric stretching vibration at 2852cm−1 in starch might be appearance of protein. Retrogradation untied the protein in glutinous amylopectin. Enthalpies of sweet potato and maize granules are higher than those of their retrograded starches. The 13C NMR results show that retrogradation of those two starches leads to presence of β-anomers and retrogradation might decompose lipids in glutinous rice amylopectin into small molecules. Glutinous rice starch was more inclined to retrogradation than buckwheat starch. The DSC results show that the second peak temperatures for retrograded glutinous rice and buckwheat starches should be assigned to protein. The SEM results show that an obvious layer structure exists in retrograded glutinous rice amylopectin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The effect of CH-TP film on quality pork meat patties was investigated. [•] A microbiological shelf-life extension of 6 days was achieved for CH-TP group. [•] The TBARS and MetMb were inhibited by CH-TP film compared to CH and control group. [•] CH-TP composite film could be a promising material as a packaging film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, retrograded potato starches treated by oxalic, hydrochloric and citric acids and/with amylase respectively, as seed crystals, are added into maize starch paste to increase maize starch retrogradation rate. The results show that addition of seed accelerates maize starch retrogradation greatly. Seed prepared from retrograded potato starch treated by oxalic acid increases maize starch retrogradation rate most, from 1.5% to 49%. The results of IR spectra of retrograded maize starch derived from different seeds show that double helix, not hydrogen bond, probably forms at stage of seed growth during retrogradation. The results of IR spectra, X-ray and SEM indicate that treatment of retrograded potato starch with oxalic acid leads to formation of more hydrogen bonds and an increase of seed crystal planes, which markedly promotes the growth of the seed. Retrogradation of maize starch by seeding method surely includes a stage of crystal growth through double helix in a way different from normal maize starch retrogradation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Maize amylopectin is more likely to combine with amylose than with polypeptides. [•] A polypeptide (MS 862) is probably new inhibitor of maize starch retrogradation. [•] Hydrolysates from alkaline and neutral protease groups contain leucine. [•] Polypeptides might act with reducing end of maize starch during retrogradation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two novel polysaccharide fractions, named WP1 and WP3, were extracted and purified from wampee [Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels] seeds. Their physicochemical properties, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities were investigated. Results indicated that both WP1 and WP3 were acidic heteropolysaccharides with uronic acid content of 45.35% and 56.79%, respectively. The molar ratio of rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, arabinose of WP1 was 5.01:1.50:39.53:1:10.76:23.50 while WP3 was 5.76:1.73:27.27:1:4.72:8.77. Furthermore, WP3 not only exhibited stronger in vitro antioxidant activities than WP1, but also more significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) level in serum of SD rats induced by high-fat diet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Retrograded starch is a crystal formed by starch molecules with hydrogen bonds. Many literatures have reported its physicochemical character, but its crystal structure is so far unclear. As we isolate amylose and amylopectin from retrograded maize, sweet potato and potato starches in 4.0M KOH solutions and make them retrograde alone in neutral solution (adjusted by HCl) to form crystal, a new phenomenon appears, crystals of KCl do not appear in retrograded potato amylose, potato amylopectin, and maize amylose, indicating that those crystals may absorb K+ and (or) Cl−, and those ions probably act with aldehyde of starch or hydroxy of fatty acid attached in starch, such characteristic may make retrograded starches replace graphite as anode with high-capacity in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]