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The quality of garlic is mainly attributed to organosulfur compounds that are the secondary metabolites of certain amino acids. Herein, a sensitive and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of 7 organosulfur compounds and 21 amino acids using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was developed. Then the levels of these 28 compounds and allicin in garlic among 242 samples from 6 provinces in China were profiled with multivariate data analysis. The results showed that garlic was rich in organosulfur compounds and could be a good supplement for amino acids. Contents of 29 compounds varied greatly among the provinces. The multivariate data analysis demonstrated two major groups for all samples, indicating that the location has a significant influence on the metabolism of garlic. Besides, the compositional differences of garlic from 6 provinces and correlations for growing conditions and contents of components were also analyzed., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is among the most widely cultivated fruits with good taste and rich nutrients. Many strawberry species, including white strawberries, are planted all over the world. The metabolic profiles of strawberry and distinctions among different cultivars are not fully understood. In this study, non-targeted metabolomics based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was used to analysis the metabolites in 10 strawberry species. A total of 142 compounds were identified and were divided into six categories. Tochiotome may differ most from the white strawberry (Baiyu) by screening 72 differential metabolites. Histidine, apigenin, cyanidin 3-glucoside and peonidin 3-glucoside had potential as biomarkers for distinguishing Baiyu and another 11 strawberry groups. Amino acid metabolisms, anthocyanin biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were mainly involved in the determination of the nutrition distinctions. This research contributes to the determination of the nutrition and health benefits of different strawberry species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver is an important organ for the removal of toxins and utilization of nutrients. The present study then investigated whether a mixture of mulberry water extracts and silk amino acids protected against acute liver damage in rats induced by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine and the action mechanism. D-galactosamine injection is widely used to develop experimental animal models of acute hepatic disease. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine followed by 200 and 600 mg/kg body weight (BW) of mulberry extracts and silk amino acids (1:3, w/w; MS1:3-L and MS1:3-H), the same amounts of MS with different ratios (1:5, w/w; MS1:5-L and MS1:5-H), and 600 mg/kg bw cellulose (control) for 1 week. The normal-control group received an injection of saline instead of D-galactosamine with the same diet as the control group. D-galactosamine injection (control rats) increased serum ALT, AST and γ-GPT levels, indicating the induction of acute liver damage. The control rats also exhibited reduced glycogen depositions, which contributed to increasing fat synthesis from glucose and elevated serum triglyceride levels. Oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver of the control increased in response to the decreasing antioxidant activity and mRNA expression and increasing TNF-α expression, respectively. Both MS1:3 and MS1:5 reduced serum ALT, AST and γ-GPT levels to ameliorate liver damage. MS1:3 reduced oxidative stress by increasing the activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes, whereas MS1:5 decreased the expression TNF-α in the liver. MS1:3 and MS1:5 improved the necrosis of hepatocytes in H&E staining, which was associated with increased glycogen deposition in PAS staining. MS1:5 had better effects on glycogen accumulation. In conclusion, MS1:3 and MS1:5 can be used as therapeutic agents for acute liver damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry water extracts (MB) and silk amino acids (SA) are reported to improve oxidative stress and inflammation, respectively. We hypothesized whether the mixture of mulberry water extracts and silk amino acids can alleviate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by high fat diets. Male Sprague Dawley rats were orally provided with high fat diets containing different ratios of MB and SA (1:3, MS1:3, or 1:5, MS1:5) or cellulose (the disease-control) for 12 weeks. Rats had 200 or 600 mg/kg bw of MS1:3 and MS1:5 (MS1:3-L, MS1:3-H; MS1:5-L, and MS1:5-H). Rats in the normal-control group were fed the 20% fat diet with cellulose. Disease-control rats exhibited much greater triglyceride (TG) deposition in the liver than the normal-control rats along with increased body weight gain, visceral fat mass, serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglyceride and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), and insulin resistance. Disease-control rats also had liver damage with increased oxidative stress and inflammation compared to the normal-control rats. MS1:3-H and MS1:5-H were found to have greater hepatic glycogen accumulation and decreased hepatic TG, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, with MS1:5-H being similar to the normal-control. MS1:3-H alleviated oxidative stress with lower hepatic lipid peroxide compared to MS1:5-H whereas MS1:5-H ameliorated inflammation and hepatocyte damage better than MS1:3-H. Both MS1:3-H and MS1:5-H potentiated hepatic insulin signaling (pAkt⟶pACC) and reduced the mRNA expression of TG synthesis genes mRNA (FAS and SREBP-1c). In the gut microbiome MS1:3-H elevated the ratio of Bacteroidales to Clostridiales in the cecum better than MS1:5-H but MS1:5-H reduced the proinflammatory Turicibacterales. In conclusion, both MS1:3-H and MS1:5-H prevented liver damage induced by high fat diets, mainly by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation, respectively. MS1:3 and MS1:5 might be used as therapeutic agent for NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As persistent organic pollutants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) accumulate in the bodies of animals and humans, resulting in toxic effects on the reproductive, immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. The biological and toxicological characteristics of enantiomers of chiral PCBs may differ, but these enantioselective effects of PCBs have not been fully characterized. In this study, we performed metabolomics analysis, using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to investigate the enantioselective toxic effects of PCB95 in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos after exposure to three dose levels of 0.1, 1, and 10 μg/L for 72 h. Multivariate analysis directly reflected the metabolic perturbations caused by PCB95. The effects of (-)-PCB95 and (+)-PCB95 were more prominent than those of the racemate in zebrafish embryos. A total of 26 endogenous metabolites were selected as potential marker metabolites with variable importance at projection values larger than 1 and significant differences (p<0.05). These metabolites included amino acids, organic acids, nucleosides, betaine, and choline. The changes in these biomarkers were dependent on the enantiomer-specific structures of PCB95. Fifteen metabolic pathways were significantly affected, and several nervous and immune system-related metabolites were significantly validated after exposure. These metabolic changes indicated that the toxic effects of PCB95 may be associated with the interaction of PCB95 with the nervous and immune systems, thus resulting in disruption of energy metabolism and liver function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Stable vesicles and microspheres are directly prepared in amino acid/dodecylamine (DA)/ibuprofen/H2O system. Vesicle can be automatically formed in glycine/DA/H2O system. No vesicle and microsphere are found in l-glutamic acid or l-histidine/DA/H2O systems. When ibuprofen is added into amino acid/DA/H2O system, vesicles and microspheres can be formed and coexisted. Ibuprofen can regulate the quantity ratios between the vesicles and the microspheres. The structure properties of amino acid affect on the stabilities of the vesicles and microspheres. The formation mechanisms of the vesicles and microspheres are also discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]