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Excessive accumulation of trace elements (TEs) in farmland soil-crop systems is a severe threat to food safety impeding the sustainable development of the ecological environment. This study examined the concentration, pollution status, sources, and potential risk of five TEs (As, Cu, Zn, Cd and Cr) in the soil-crop systems of the high geological background area of Lijiang, Yunnan, China. The average TE concentrations (mg·kg−1) in the farmland soils were as follows: Cr (185.3) > Zn (148.1) >Cu (92.4) >As (20.9) >Cd (0.4), exceeding the Chinese limit standards (GB15618-2017) by 29.1, 20.0, 38.2, 16.4, and 60.0%, respectively. The factor matrix analysis (PCA) and source identification study indicated that Cd, Cu, and Cr were the most prominent TEs mainly derived from the soil-forming parent material. However, compared with China's food contaminants limit standard (GB 2762–2017), only Cr exceeded the food safety limit in all edible crops, especially in the leafy vegetable and rhizome crops, except the cereals. In addition, we established a univariate significant correlation model (R2 = 0.53854, P <.01) between soil Cr content and leafy vegetable Cr accumulation, and a trivariate significant correlation model (R2 = 0.528, P <.01) of leafy crop Cr accumulation with soil Cr content, SOM, and pH. These data revealed that the soil TEs cumulative contamination in the high geological background area is a lighter risk to edible crops, and the accumulation of TEs in crops (especially leafy vegetables) is mainly from the soil TEs. Meanwhile, pH and SOM are the key factors that affect the bioavailability state of the soil TEs. Therefore, artificial adjustment of soil physicochemical properties could be a potential strategy for the safe utilization of TEs contaminated farmland soil under high geological background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc is essential for the overall well-being of the human body due to its numerous structural, catalytic, and signalling functions. Therefore, maintaining a constant state of zinc homeostasis is crucial. The disturbances in zinc homeostasis are linked to numerous diseases and disorders, including metabolic syndrome and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we have discussed a general overview of zinc absorption and homeostasis, particularly the factors affecting zinc absorption and the body's mechanisms to maintain zinc homeostasis at both the systemic and cellular levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing and most widespread diseases worldwide. Approximately 90% of diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes. In 2019, there were about 463 million diabetic patients worldwide. Inhibiting the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and α-glucosidase activity is an effective strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Currently, various anti-diabetic bioactive peptides have been isolated and identified. This review summarizes the preparation methods, structure-effect relationships, molecular binding sites, and effectiveness validation of DPP-IV and α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides in cellular and animal models. The analysis of peptides shows that the DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, containing 2-8 amino acids and having proline, leucine, and valine at their N-terminal and C-terminal, are the highly active peptides. The more active α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides contain 2-9 amino acids and have valine, isoleucine, and proline at the N-terminal and proline, alanine, and serine at the C-terminal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]