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\nHIGLIGHTSThe imbalance of gut microbiota can significantly exacerbate or even directly contribute to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Modulating the gut microbiota through dietary interventions, such as supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics presents a promising strategy to enhance treatment efficacy and mitigate the adverse effects of CRC therapies. This review outlines the significant potential of dietary interventions (supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics) in preventing or ameliorating CRC by modulating the gut microbiota. On the one hand, this review illustrates the intricate relationship between the gut microbiota and CRC, as well as the carcinogenic mechanisms mediated by these microbial communities. On the other hand, the application prospects and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analyses of dietary interventions in preventing CRC are reviewed in detail. In conclusion, this review provides new preventive and mitigative strategies for improving the safety and efficiency of CRC therapy/prevention through dietary interventions. It also expands the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, or postbiotics in dietary nutritional interventions. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is one of the important causes of colorectal cancer (CRC).Dietary interventions are highly associated with the modulation of gut microbiota.Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics can prevent/ameliorate CRC.The use of dietary interventions to prevent/mitigate CRC has both pros and cons.Gut microbiota dysbiosis is one of the important causes of colorectal cancer (CRC).Dietary interventions are highly associated with the modulation of gut microbiota.Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics can prevent/ameliorate CRC.The use of dietary interventions to prevent/mitigate CRC has both pros and cons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, acute and subchronic toxicities of the ethanol and hot-water extracts from Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits were performed by oral administration in pathogen-free SD rats. Acute toxicity study was performed at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days. And subchronic toxicity test was conducted by daily oral administration of those two extracts at doses of 312, 625, 1250 and 2500 mg/kg for 30 days. Acute toxicity study showed that the LD50 of the ethanol and hot-water extracts were over 5000 mg /kg. The results of subchronic toxicity showed that no significant adverse effect of those two extracts was observed at 312 and 625 mg/kg. However, the weight gains of rats were significantly inhibited at both 2500 mg/kg groups of the ethanol and hot-water extracts. Moreover, those two extracts exhibited toxicities to heart, liver, spleen and kidney in rats determined by hematological, serum biochemical and/or histological analyses when daily oral administration of 1250 mg/kg and 2500 mg/kg. No significant neurotoxicity was observed in all groups. The results concluded that the low concentration of those two extracts from R. chinensis Mill. fruits can be regarded as safe and used in daily life [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • P. fermentans and P. manshurica were selected for chili pepper fermentation. • Pichia spp. inoculation could accelerate the fermentation process. • Terpenes, alcohols and phenols were contributed by Pichia spp. • Genomic characteristic of P. fermentans and P. manshurica was analyzed. • Possible biosynthesis pathways related to flavor formation were elucidated. The influence of Pichia spp. on flavor formation and metabolic pathways during chili pepper fermentation was investigated in this study. Multiple omics approaches were employed, including metabolomics analysis to identify volatile and non-volatile flavor compounds, and genomic analysis to gain insights into the underlying molecular mechanism driving flavor formation of chili peppers inoculated with Pichia spp. The results showed that inoculation with Pichia spp. accelerated fermentation process of chili peppers compared to spontaneous fermentation. Metabolomics analysis showed P. fermentans promoted characteristic terpenes [e.g., (Z)- β -ocimene and linalool], L-glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and succinate production, while P. manshurica produced more alcohols (e.g., isoamyl alcohol and phenylethyl alcohol) and phenols (e.g., 4-ethylguaiacol and 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol). Genomics analysis revealed that a substantial portion of the genes in Pichia spp. were associated with amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. Specifically, the pathways involved in amino acid metabolism and the release of glycoside-bound aromatic compounds were identified as the primary drivers behind the unique flavor of fermented chili peppers, facilitated by Pichia spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhus chinensis Mill. is a species of the genus Rhus belonging to the family Anacardiaceae. Its fruits used to treat/prevent liver related diseases (e.g., jaundice and hepatitis) in folk medicine. Otherwise, the effects and underlying mechanisms of the fruits on the prevention of isoniazid and rifampicin-caused liver injury have not been investigated. To study the preventive effects and mechanisms of the Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits on isoniazid and rifampicin-caused liver injury. This experiment was based on rifampicin (75 mg/kg/day) and isoniazid (75 mg/kg/day)-induced liver damage model to explain the pharmacological effects of Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits. The prevention of the extract from Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits on isoniazid and rifampicin-caused liver injury were evaluated using biochemical parameters, histopathological analysis, and immunofluorescence technique. Apart from that, the potential molecular mechanisms were elucidated by analyzing the expression of such crucial proteins participated in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and bile acid transport. The extract from Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits significantly reduced the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, ALP and MDA. Besides, the extract, especially 800 mg/kg b.w., was remarkably decreased the content of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β, restored the levels of GSH and SOD. The results of Western blot also presented that the extract could activate the Nrf2 protein pathway and inhibit the expression of CYP2E1 to reduce oxidative stress. Meanwhile, the extract significantly up-regulated the expressions of BSEP and Mrp2 to regulate the transport of bile acid, and alleviated the cellular apoptosis via adjusting the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins. Rhus chinensis Mill. fruits can prevent the liver injury induced by isoniazid and rifampicin in mice through adjusting the expressions of multiple proteins in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and bile acid transport pathways. This paper may provide scientific basis for the fruits as a Chinese medicine to prevent/cure liver injury. [Display omitted] • R. chinensis fruits were rich in polyphenols, especially quercetin and gallic acid. • The fruits effectively prevented liver injury induced by anti-tuberculosis drugs. • The fruits improved oxidative stress via Nrf2 signaling pathway & CYP2E1 protein. • Hepatocyte apoptosis was prevented by the fruits adjusting Bax and Bcl-2 proteins. • Bile acid transport was obviously ameliorated via up-grading BSEP and Mrp2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-sugar jams (LSJ) are promoted as a healthier food option due to the healthy trend, and significant color changes negatively affects the evaluation of these products. To reveal protective effect of low methoxyl & amidated pectin (LMA) on anthocyanin in jam treated by high-pressure processing (HPP), this study compared the changes in microbes and quality attributes of LSJ prepared with LMA and high-sugar pomegranate jam (HSJ) prepared with high methoxyl pectin (HMP) after HPP at 600 MPa for 5 min during accelerated storage at 35 °C for 30 days, and molecular dynamics simulation was conducted to reveal the interaction between LMA and anthocyanin. LSJ-HPP had better color quality with higher values of L* , a* , and total anthocyanin content (TAC), the corresponding percent polymeric color and browning index were 41% and 16% lower than those of HSJ-HPP, respectively. TAC in LSJ-HPP, HSJ, and HSJ-HPP decreased to 9.5, 8.6, and 6.0 mg/kg (pomegranate puree) after storage, respectively. Cyanidin-3- O -glucoside formed more H-bonds with LMA than HMP, while their total interaction energy and the binding frequency and number were also higher. This study provided a foundation for the processing and storage of high quality LSJ, and also broadened the application field of HPP technology. [Display omitted] • Anthocyanin content in low-sugar-pomegranate jam was higher than high-sugar jam. • High-pressure processing significantly enhanced the hardness of high-sugar jam. • Electrostatic-interaction dominated interaction of cyanidin-3- O -glucoside and pectin. • H-bonds binding number was high in system of low methoxyl & amidated pectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many peptides are contained in rice wine, which may have various bioactivities, and need to be investigated. The aim of this study was to identify novel peptides with high α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activities in rice wine and to illustrate their underlying mechanisms. Peptide composition, α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activities of the different elution fractions from macroporous resin adsorption chromatography were investigated. Potentially bioactive peptides were screened via in silico analyses and validated by in vitro experiments, and then, their mechanisms were further investigated by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Results showed that the peptides from 50% ethanol-eluted rice wine (50%-RP) exhibited strong α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activities. Three novel peptides, SSLFR, QFTPR and FTYPR screened out by in silico analyses, were confirmed to have good α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activities, and FTYPR exhibited the best bioactivities. These peptides could bind to ABTS and DPPH radicals and the active site of α-glucosidase through hydrogen bonding, Pi bonding and van der Waals forces. This study may not only provide new knowledge for the health effects of rice wine, but also supply theoretical bases for the development of health products of rice wine to improve its economic value. • Peptides of 50% ethanol-eluted rice wine showed the best α-glucosidase inhibition. • Computer simulation combined with in vitro assays to develop bioactive peptides. • Discovery of new α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides SSLFR, QFTPR and FTYPR. • The FTYPR showed the best α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Gentiobiose, luteolin, and diosmetin were main phenolics of pickled chayote (PC). • Total phenolic and total flavonoid content of PC increased during fermentation. • PC showed the highest antioxidant activity at late fermentation stages. • PC could protect HepG-2 cells against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress. • Increased antioxidant capacity in PC was correlated to luteolin and apigenin. Although pickled chayote is a favorite Chinese fermented vegetable with high nutritional values, little is known about its bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities. In the work, changes of phenolic components and antioxidant activities in pickled chayote during 90 days' natural fermentation period were investigated. The results revealed a total of 15 phenolics were positively or tentatively recognized and quantified in pickled chayote. Among these phenolics, flavonoid aglycones (i.e., luteolin, apigenin, diosmetin, and isorhamnetin) significantly increased during fermentation (p < 0.05). In addition, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant activities (ABTS and DPPH assays) were detected with the highest values in pickled chayote at the late stage of fermentation (56 – 90 days). Furthermore, pickled chayote could protect HepG-2 cells against H 2 O 2 -caused oxidative damage by the reduction of reactive oxygen species generation and the promotion of innate antioxidant defense system (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that 8 phenolic compounds were highly associated with the increase of extracellular and intracellular antioxidant activities. Besides, Lactobacillus alimentarius and Lactobacillus futsaii could increase the content of apigenin derivatives and Pichia membranifaciens could promote the production of flavonoid aglycones. In general, fermentation is an effective approach to enhance antioxidant potentials of pickled chayote and thereby increasing its functional values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexanoic acid was significantly correlated with 38 differentially expressed genes. Alcohols were the most abundant volatiles in all pomegranate arils. [Display omitted] • Higher abundance of hexanol and styrene were found in all pomegranate arils. • The types of sugars and organic acids were not changed depending on planting areas. • Expression of bZIP56 and WRKY24 were critical for flavor-related compounds production. • Production regions triggered changes in transcription of flavor compounds. Flavor is an important factor affecting the sensory of pomegranate and its products, which easily lose its freshness during processing and storage, but the biosynthesis of flavor-associated compounds is poorly understood until now. In this study, combining metabolome and transcriptome, flavor-associated attributes and volatile compounds of Tunisian pomegranate arils from 7 Chinese regions were studied. Depending on the different planting areas, there were significant differences in the content of sugars, organic acids and vitamin C. A total of 40 volatile compounds were characterized from all samples, of which 13 volatile compounds were common to all samples. There were 4 compounds showed higher contents in all samples, including 1-hexanol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, α-terpineol, and 2,4-di- tert -butyl phenol. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, 5 differential accumulated metabolites, including palmitic acid, octanoic acid, lauric acid, decanoic acid, and myristic acid, were significantly enriched in the fatty acid biosynthesis for all samples. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed that 42 candidate flavor-associated differentially expressed genes and 9 transcription factors mainly located in 3 key modules. Hexanoic acid was an important metabolite, which was significantly correlated with 38 differentially expressed genes. Generally, complex regulatory networks were constructed in the study to identify structural genes and transcription factors which regulate the metabolism of volatile compounds in pomegranate. Our results provided new insights for understanding the difference in flavor biosynthesis and regulatory network of pomegranate arils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work investigated the effect of 90 days' traditional fermentation on phytochemicals and inhibition towards α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) of pickled chili pepper, and clarified their possible mechanisms based on molecular docking analysis. The results show that traditional fermentation significantly enhanced the inhibition for α-glucosidase but reduced the inhibitory effects towards DPP-IV (P < 0.05), especially fermented for 42 days. In pickled chili peppers, a total of 12 phytochemical compounds were characterized and quantified, of which kaempferol-3- O -rutinoside, kaempferol-3- O -glucoside, apigenin, luteolin, and luteolin glycosides increased significantly after fermentation (P < 0.05). Among the compounds, luteolin showed the highest inhibition against α-glucosidase and isorhamnetin-3- O -glucoside exhibited the strongest inhibition capacity towards DPP-IV. Molecular docking results indicated luteolin, apigenin, and isorhamnetin-3- O -glucoside could effectively interact with crucial amino acid residues of α-glucosidase, while isorhamnetin-3- O -glucoside and isoschaftoside could effectively interact with the key amino acid residues of DPP-IV. [Display omitted] • Changes in phytochemicals of chili pepper during fermentation were evaluated. • Chili pepper showed high inhibition against α-glucosidase after fermentation. • Luteolin contributed the highest inhibition to α-glucosidase. • Isorhamnetin-3- O -glucoside was main substance for inhibiting DPP-IV. • Inhibition mechanism of phenolics was analyzed by molecular docking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the influence of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on phenolic bioaccessibility, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibition of Prinsepia utilis Royle fruits. Gastric and intestinal digestion remarkably upgraded the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, whereas the total anthocyanin content increased after gastric digestion but declined after intestinal digestion. Nineteen phenolics were characterized in P. utilis fruits among which rutin had the highest content in undigested and intestinally digested samples. Cyanidin-3- O -glucoside had the highest content in the gastrically digested sample. After digestion, fruit antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase were enhanced significantly (p < 0.05), whereas the inhibitory effects on dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) declined dramatically (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that protocatechuic acid and p -coumaric acid may be the most effective compounds in antioxidant and inhibition towards pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase, while quercetin-3- O -glucoside and quercetin-3- (6- O -acetyl-beta-glucoside) may contribute significantly on DPP-IV inhibition. The results of this study may help further elucidate the phenolic digestive stability of P. utilis fruits and their effects on human health, and provide information for the further utilization of this fruits. • Simulated digestion affected phenolics and bioactivities of Prinsepia utilis fruits. • Simulated digestion significantly enhanced bioaccessibility of the fruits' phenolics. • Antioxidant effect and inhibition of pancreatic lipase & α-glucosidase were enhanced. • Simulated digestion markedly decreased the DPP-IV inhibition of the fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Extraction solutions profoundly affected phenolics and bioactivities of artichoke. • Artichoke significantly improved the oxidative stress damage in HepG-2 cells. • Artichoke possessed a strong cytoprotective effect against H 2 O 2 -induced apoptosis. • Ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest phenolics and the strongest activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical constituents of five phenolic-enriched fractions from artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) inflorescence, and their antioxidant and cytoprotective effects. A total of 27 phenolic compounds have been tentatively identified and quantified. In addition, the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays) and inhibitory effect on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in H 2 O 2 -induced HepG2 cells were evaluated. Compared to crude extract, purified extract, n -butanol (n -Bu) and water (H 2 O) fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction revealed the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, and also showed the strongest antioxidant activity. The crude extract, purified extract, and fractions, in a concentration dependent manner, reduced oxidative stress levels in H 2 O 2 -induced HepG-2 cells, especially the ethyl acetate fraction. The inhibitory effects on cell apoptosis might be due to an up-regulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five undescribed C 21 pregnane glycosides, epigycosides D−H, together with four known analogues, two lignans, and a flavonoid have been isolated from the stems of Epigynum cochinchinensis. The structures of pregnane glycosides were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques and acid hydrolysis. The in vitro immunological activities were assessed against Con A-stimulated proliferation of mice splenocytes. The C 21 pregnane glycosides showed immunosuppressive activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, epigycoside E exhibited a potent immunosuppressive effect, and the IC 50 value on Con A-stimulated mice splenocytes was 22.1 ± 6.4 μ M. Epigycoside E also caused G 0 /G 1 arrest, and inhibited TNF- α and IL-2 production. Image 1 • Five epigynumgenane-type pregnane glycosides were characterized from Epigynum cochinchinensis. • The immunosuppressive activity of pregnane glycosides against splenocyte was evaluated. • Epigycoside E exhibited a potent immunosuppressive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute and subacute toxicities of the ethanol extract from Epigynum auritum (EAE) wereperformed by oral administration in pathogen-free mice. Acute toxicity study was performed at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days, while subacute toxicity test was conducted by daily oral administration of EAE at doses of 312, 625, 1250, and 2500 mg/kg for 28 days. Acute toxicity study showed that LD 50 of EAE was over 5000 mg/kg. The results of subacute toxicity showed no significant adverse effect of EAE at 312 mg/kg. Moreover, EAE exhibited toxicities to liver, spleen and kidney in mice determined by hematological, serum biochemical and histological analyses during daily oral administration of 1250 mg/kg and 2500 mg/kg EAE. The results revealed that the dose of EAE lower than 625 mg/kg can be regarded as safe. Image 1 • Acute & subacute toxicity of ethanol extract from aerial parts of Epigynum auritum (EAE) were assessed. • The LD 50 of EAE was higher than 5000 mg/kg BW evaluated by acute toxicity. • EAE can be regarded as practically non-toxic based on acute toxicity. • EAE didn't show toxicity at 312 mg/kg by subchronic toxicity. • EAE showed toxicities to some organs at 1250 mg/kg and 2500 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different lipid oxides on the physicochemical properties of proteins isolated from four walnut cultivars (YBWPI, NQWPI, XXWPI and STWPI). The main proteins in these WPIs are legume B-like and 11S globulin-like, and XXWPI contained the most unique proteins. In three simulation systems, YBWPI showed the greatest changes in carbonyl value, free sulfhydryl value and intrinsic fluorescence intensity. The secondary structure of STWPI changed obviously. NQWPI showed a unique subunit depolymerization, and its solubility and exogenous fluorescence intensity changed significantly, whereas emulsification and particle size of XXWPI changed the most. The 11S globulin-like and cupin type-1 domain-containing protein (A0A833YDI2) have stronger affinities with the key lipid oxides. The radius of gyration and total solvent accessible surface area values of the legumin B-like protein after oxidation reduced obviously. This study may help to better understand the interrelationship between lipid oxides and walnut protein properties., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2025 The Author(s).)

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a prevalent and serious nutritional health issue that can be mitigated through dietary iron supplementation. However, only ferrous ions, prone to oxidation, can be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. In the current work, the effects of high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) co-loaded with astaxanthin (ASTA) and ferrous gluconate on Fe 2+ oxidation, IDA management, and their 3D printing performance were investigated. The results demonstrated that the HIPPEs co-loaded with ASTA and ferrous gluconate effectively reduced the oxidation rate of Fe 2+ during storage. Animal studies also revealed that HIPPE co-loaded with ASTA and ferrous gluconate had a therapeutic effect on IDA symptoms in mice. HIPPE co-loaded with ASTA and 400 mg/L ferrous gluconate demonstrated superior efficacy in restoring hemoglobin (Hb) levels, organ coefficients, and histological parameters in mice with IDA. Moreover, the evaluation of the adaptability of HIPPEs co-loaded with ASTA and ferrous gluconate for food 3D printing indicated a slight reduction in printing resolution. Overall printing performance was found to be acceptable and satisfactory. Co-loading ASTA and ferrous gluconate in HIPPEs offers an efficient way to address the oxidation challenge of ferrous ion supplementation, enabling customization and flexibility in the production of iron-fortified foods to mitigate IDA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the effects of oil phases on the encapsulation rate, storage stability, and bioavailability of astaxanthin (ASTA) in Pickering emulsions (PEs). Results showed PEs of mixed oils (olive oil/edible tea oil) had excellent encapsulation efficiency (about 96.0%) and storage stability of ASTA. In vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion results showed the mixed oil PE with a smaller interfacial area and higher monounsaturated fatty acid content may play a better role in improving ASTA retention and bioaccessibility. In vivo absorption results confirmed the mixed oil PE with an olive oil/edible tea oil of 7:3 was more favorable for ASTA absorption. Molecular dynamics simulation showed ASTA bound more strongly and stably to fatty acid molecules in the system of olive oil/edible tea oil of 7:3; and van der Waals force was the main binding force. NMR further proved there really were interactions between ASTA and four main fatty acids., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Seeking food-derived antioxidants and inhibitors of α-glucosidase and α-amylase has been recognized as an effective way for managing diabetes. Coffee silver skin (CSS) is rich in phenolic compounds, which may be potential agents as antioxidants and for α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition. But whether phenolics in different forms show similar bioactivity remains unknown. In this study, phenolic compounds in CSS were extracted as free phenolics (FPs), esterified phenolics (EPs), and bound phenolics (BPs). The phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of them were investigated. Their inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase were analyzed, and the inhibitory mechanisms were elucidated by molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation. Results showed that FPs exhibited the best antioxidant ability and inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase. A total of 17 compounds were identified in FPs with 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-feruloylquinic acid, and dicaffeoylquinic acids as the dominant ones. Typical phenolics in FPs could bind to α-glucosidase and α-amylase through hydrogen bonds and form hydrophobic interaction with several key amino acid residues. In addition, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3-caffeoylquinic acid might be the principal components that account for the inhibitory effect of FPs on α-glucosidase. The results of this study may provide some scientific support for CSS utilization as a health-beneficial component in functional food development for type 2 diabetes mellitus management.

Nutritional supplementation enriched with protein and antioxidants has been demonstrated to effectively strengthen skeletal muscle function and mitigate the risk of sarcopenia. Dietary protein has also been a common carrier to establish bioactive delivery system. Therefore, in this study, a Pickering emulsion delivery system for rutin was constructed with whey protein, and its structural characteristics, bioaccessibility, and molecular interactions were investigated. In the in vivo study, zebrafish ( n = 10 in each group), which have a high genetic homology to humans, were treated with dexamethasone to induce sarcopenia symptoms and were administered with rutin, whey protein and the Pickering emulsion, respectively, for muscle movement ability evaluation, and zebrafish treated with or without dexamethasone was used as the model and the control groups, respectively. Results showed that the Pickering emulsion was homogeneous in particle size with a rutin encapsulation rate of 71.16 ± 0.15% and loading efficiency of 44.48 ± 0.11%. Rutin in the Pickering emulsion exhibited a significantly higher bioaccessibility than the free form. The interaction forces between rutin and the two components of whey proteins (α-LA and β-LG) were mainly van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds. After treatment for 96 h, the zebrafish in Picking emulsion groups showed a significantly increased high-speed movement time and frequency, an increased level of ATP, prolonged peripheral motor nerve length, and normalized muscular histological structure compared with those of the model group ( p < 0.05). The results of this study developed a new strategy for rutin utilization and provide scientific evidence for sarcopenia prevention with a food-derived resource.

Polygonatum kingianum Coll & Hemsl is an important Chinese medicine used for enhancing physical function and anti-fatigue, and polysaccharides (PKPs) are considered as the main bioactive components. However, the mechanisms through which PKPs exert their anti-fatigue effects are not fully understood. This study aimed more comprehensively to explore the anti-fatigue mechanisms of PKPs, focusing on metabolism, protein expression, and gut flora, by using exhaustive swimming experiments in mice. Results showed a significant increase in the exhaustive swimming time of the mice treated with PKPs, especially in the high-dose group (200 mg/kg/day). Further studies showed that PKPs remarkably improves several fatigue-related physiological indices. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that PKPs increased antioxidant bacteria (e.g., g&#95;norank&#95;f&#95;Muribaculaceae) and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), while reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria (e.g., g&#95;Escherichia-Shigella and g&#95;Helicobacter). PKPs also mitigated oxidative stress through activating the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway, and promoted energy metabolism by upregulating the expression of AMPK/PGC-1α/TFAM signaling pathway proteins. This research may offer theoretical support for incorporating PKPs as a novel dietary supplement in functional foods targeting anti-fatigue properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Distillers' grains are rich in protein and constitute a high-quality source of various bioactive peptides. The purpose of this study is to identify novel bioactive peptides with α-glucosidase inhibitory, antioxidant, and insulin resistance-ameliorating effects from distiller's grains protein hydrolysate. Three novel peptides (YPLPR, AFEPLR, and NDPF) showed good potential bioactivities, and the YPLPR peptide had the strongest bioactivities, whose IC 50 values towards α-glucosidase inhibition, radical scavenging rates of 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were about 5.31 mmol/L, 6.05 mmol/L, and 7.94 mmol/L, respectively. The glucose consumption of HepG2 cells treated with YPLPR increased significantly under insulin resistance condition. Moreover, the YPLPR peptide also had a good scavenging effect on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by H 2 O 2 (the relative contents: 102.35% vs. 100%). Molecular docking results showed that these peptides could stably combine with α-glucosidase, ABTS, and DPPH free radicals, as well as related targets of the insulin signaling pathway through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. This research presents a potentially valuable natural resource for reducing oxidative stress damage and regulating blood glucose in diabetes, thereby increasing the usage of distillers' grains peptides and boosting their economic worth.

Umami peptides are an important component of food flavoring agents and have high nutritional value. This work aimed to identify umami peptides from tuna skeletal myosin using a new model method of computer simulation, explore their umami mechanism, and further validate the umami tastes with sensory evaluation. Umami peptides LADW, MEIDD, VAEQE, and EEAEGT were discovered, and all of them bound to taste type 1 receptor 1 and receptor 3 via hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces to form stable complexes. LADW exhibited the best affinity energy and binding capability. Sensory evaluation and electronic tongue confirmed that all peptides possessed an umami taste, and LADW exhibited the strongest umami intensity. This study not only explored four novel umami peptides to improve the value of tuna skeletal myosin but also provided a new method for the rapid discovery of umami peptides., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to explore the potential of umami peptides for lowering blood glucose. Molecular docking results showed that the peptides LADW and EEAEGT bound to the active amino acid residues of α-glucosidase via hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces, a finding supported by an independent gradient model (IGM). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated that the peptides LADW and EEAEGT can decelerate the outward expansion of α-glucosidase and reduce amino acid fluctuations at the active site. In vitro findings indicated that the peptides LADW and EEAEGT showed potent inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, with IC 50 values of 4.40 ± 0.04 and 6.46 ± 0.22 mM, respectively. Furthermore, MD simulation and morphological observation results also revealed that LADW and EEAEGT alter starch structure and form weak interactions with starch through intermolecular hydrogen bonding, leading to the inhibition of starch hydrolysis. Peptides inhibit the ability of starch to produce reducing sugars after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, providing additional evidence of the inhibition of starch hydrolysis by the added peptides. Taken together, these findings suggest that consuming the umami peptides LADW and EEAEGT may alleviate postprandial blood glucose elevations via inhibiting α-glucosidase and starch hydrolysis.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a prevalent chronic disease, characterized by excessive blood uric acid levels, that poses a significant health risk. In this study, the preventive effects and potential mechanisms of ethanol extracts from Chinese sumac ( Rhus chinensis Mill.) fruits on HUA and uric acid nephropathy were comprehensively investigated. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in uric acid levels in hyperuricemia mice after treatment with Chinese sumac fruit extract, especially in the high-dose group, where the blood uric acid level decreased by 39.56%. Visual diagrams of the kidneys and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections showed the extract's effectiveness in protecting against kidney damage caused by excessive uric acid. Further investigation into its mechanism revealed that the extract prevents and treats hyperuricemia by decreasing uric acid production, enhancing uric acid excretion, and mitigating the oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions induced by excessive uric acid in the kidneys. Specifically, the extract markedly decreased xanthine oxidase (XOD) levels and expression in the liver, elevated the expression of uric acid transporters ABCG2, and lowered the expression of uric acid reabsorption proteins URAT1 and SLC2A9. Simultaneously, it significantly elevated the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH) while reducing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the expression of uric-acid-related proteins NLRP3, ACS, and Caspase-3 and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly reduced. The experimental results confirm that Chinese sumac fruit extract can improve HUA and uric acid nephropathy in mice fed a high-purine yeast diet. This finding establishes a theoretical foundation for developing Chinese sumac fruit as a functional food or medicine for preventing and treating HUA.

The phenolic profiles, antioxidant capacities, cytoprotective effect, and α-glucosidase and DPP-IV inhibitory capacity of free (FP), esterified (EP) and insoluble-bound (IBP) phenolic fractions in 'Lijiang snow' peach juice after high pressure homogenization (HPH) were investigated, and the molecular docking was used to explore the enzyme inhibition mechanism. HPH increased total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in three fractions without changing compositions. The IC 50 of radicals scavenged by three fractions were all reduced by HPH. The best inhibition on intracellular ROS production were found for phenolic fractions after HPH at 300 MPa, with ROS levels ranged within 95.26-119.16 %. HPH at 300 MPa reduced the apoptosis rates of FP and EP by 16.52 % and 9.33 %, respectively. All phenolic fractions showed effective inhibition on α-glucosidase and DPP-IV by formation of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. This study explored the feasibility of HPH to enhance the phenolics and bioactivity of peach juice., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

The objective of this research was to explore the protective impact of walnut peptides (WP) against ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in mice and to investigate the underlying defense mechanisms. Sixty male BALB-c mice were divided into five groups, and they were orally administered distilled water, walnut peptides (200 and 400 mg/kg bw), and omeprazole (20 mg/kg bw) for 24 days. Acute gastric mucosal injury was then induced with 75% ethanol in all groups of mice except the blank control group. Walnut peptides had significant protective and restorative effects on tissue indices of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, with potential gastric anti-ulcer effects. Walnut peptides significantly inhibited the excessive accumulation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), and malondialdehyde (MDA), while promoting the expression of reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and mouse epidermal growth factor (EGF). Furthermore, the Western blot analysis results revealed that walnut peptides significantly upregulated the expression of HO-1 and NQO1 proteins in the Nrf2 signaling pathway. The defensive impact of walnut peptides on the gastric mucosa may be achieved by mitigating the excessive generation of lipid peroxides and by boosting cellular antioxidant activity.

Bioavailability plays a key role for flavonoids to exert their bioactivities. This study investigated the transmembrane transport behavior and structure-activity of dietary flavonoids. Results showed that the apparent permeability coefficients of some flavonoids could be significantly increased when digestion products from rice flour (RD) or wheat flour (WD) are present ( p  < 0.05), especially in the WD, potentially due to higher reducing sugar ( p  < 0.05). 3D-QSAR revealed that the hydrogen bond acceptor groups at positions 5 and 6 of ring A, small-volume groups at position 3', hydrophobic groups at position 4', and large-volume groups at position 5' of ring B increased the transmembrane transport of flavonoids in the WD. A hydrogen bond donor group at position 4' of ring B enhanced the transmembrane transport of flavonoid compounds in the RD. These findings contribute to our comprehensive understanding of flavonoid absorption within the context of intestinal carbohydrate digestion., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Common oilseeds, such as soybean, peanut, rapeseed, sunflower seed, sesame seed and chia seed, are key sources of edible vegetable oils. Their defatted meals are excellent natural sources of plant proteins that can meet consumers' demand for health and sustainable substitutes for animal proteins. Oilseed proteins and their derived peptides are also associated with many health benefits, including weight loss and reduced risks of diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular events. This review summarizes the current status of knowledge on the protein and amino acid composition of common oilseeds as well as the functional properties, nutrition, health benefits and food applications of oilseed protein. Currently, oilseeds are widely applied in the food industry regarding for their health benefits and good functional properties. However, most oilseed proteins are incomplete proteins and their functional properties are not promising compared to animal proteins. They are also limited in the food industry due to their off-flavor, allergenic and antinutritional factors. These properties can be improved by protein modification. Therefore, in order to make better use of oilseed proteins, methods for improving their nutrition value, bioactive activity, functional and sensory characteristics, as well as the strategies for reducing their allergenicity were also discussed in this paper. Finally, examples for the application of oilseed proteins in the food industry are presented. Limitations and future perspectives for developing oilseed proteins as food ingredients are also pointed out. This review aims to foster thinking and generate novel ideas for future research. It will also provide novel ideas and broad prospects for the application of oilseeds in the food industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The stability of anthocyanin-rich W 1 /O/W 2 double emulsions prepared with Nicandra physalodes (Linn.) Gaertn. Seeds pectin was investigated, including droplet sizes, ζ-potential, viscosity, color, microstructures and encapsulation efficiency. Furthermore, the gelation behavior, rheological behavior, texture behavior and three-dimensional (3D) printing effects of the W 1 /O/W 2 emulsion gels induced with Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) were studied. The L*, b*, ΔE, droplet sizes and ζ-potential of the emulsions were gradually increased, while other indicators were gradually decreased during 28 days of storage under 4 ℃. The storage stability of sample under storage at 4 ℃ was higher than 25 ℃. The G' of W 1 /O/W 2 emulsion gels gradually boosted with increased GDL addition, and reached the highest after the addition of 1.6 % GDL. In creep-recovery sweep, the minimum strain of 1.68 % and the highest recovery rate of 86 % were also found for the emulsion gels with 1.6 % GDL. Accordingly, the models "KUST", hearts, flowers printed by emulsion gels after 60 min addition of 1.6 % GDL had the best printing effects. The W 1 /O/W 2 emulsion gels based on pectin-GDL complexes exhibited good performance in protecting anthocyanins and suggested as a potential ink for food 3D printing., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dietary polyphenols with great antidiabetic effects are the most abundant components in edible products. Dietary polyphenols have attracted attention as dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors and indirectly improve insulin secretion. The DPP-IV inhibitory activities of dietary polyphenols depend on their structural diversity. Screening methods that can be used to rapidly and accurately identify potential polyphenol DPP-IV inhibitors are urgently needed. This review focuses on the relationship between the structures of dietary polyphenols and their DPP-IV inhibitory effects. Different characterization methods used for polyphenols as DPP-IV inhibitors have been summarized and compared. We conclude that the position and number of hydroxyl groups, methoxy groups, glycosylated groups, and the extent of conjugation influence the efficiency of inhibition of DPP-IV. Various combinations of methods, such as in-vitro enzymatic inhibition, ex-vivo / in-vivo enzymatic inhibition, cell-based in situ, and in-silico virtual screening, are used to evaluate the DPP-IV inhibitory effects of dietary polyphenols. Further investigations of polyphenol DPP-IV inhibitors will improve the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of these bioactive compounds. Exploration of (i) dietary polyphenols derived from multiple targets, that can prevent diabetes, and (ii) actual binding interactions via multispectral analysis, to understand the binding interactions in the complexes, is required.

Diabetes is considered to be one of the diseases most associated with COVID-19. In this study, interfering effects and potential mechanisms of several compounds from Lianqiao (Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl) leaves on the bioactivities of some key proteins of COVID-19 and its variants, as well as diabetic endothelial dysfunctions were illuminated through in vitro and in silico analyses. Results showed that, among the main ingredients in the leaves, forsythoside A showed the strongest docking affinities with the proteins SARS-CoV-2-RBD-hACE2 of COVID-19 and its variants (Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617)), as well as neuropilin-1 (NRP1), and SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M Pro ) to interfere coronavirus entering into the human body. Moreover, forsythoside A was the most stable in binding to receptors in Delta (B.1.617) system. It also has good antiviral activities and drug properties and has the strongest binding force to the RBD domain of COVID-19. In addition, forsythoside A reduced ROS production in AGEs-induced EA.hy926 cells, maintained endothelial integrity, and bound closely to protein profilin-1 (PFN1) receptor. This work may provide useful knowledge for further understanding the interfering effects and potential mechanisms of compounds, especially forsythoside A, from Lianqiao leaves on the bioactivities of key proteins of COVID-19/variants in diabetes., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effect of microwave (MW) treatment with different power densities (4.4, 7.7, and 11.0 W/g) on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and pectin methyl esterase (PME) inactivation in peach puree were studied, and the changes in color, rheological properties, total polyphenol and flavonoid and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. By using time/temperature data collected during MW heating, three cook values levels (0.36, 10, 24 min) for each power density were calculated. The PPO was significantly decreased from ca. 50% to ca. 5% when increasing the cook value level, regardless of power density applied. While PME significantly decreased from 40.6% to 10.2% when power density increased from 4.4 to 11.0 W/g at cook value 24 min. MW treatment did not alter the flow behaviour of peach puree. The apparent viscosity values of peach puree significantly increased after MW treatment with increasing cook value, regardless of power density applied. The L* values of peach puree significantly increased from 36.98 to 38.10 or more after MW treatment at cook value 10 min and 24 min. MW treatment could maintain the amount of total polyphenol, total flavonoid and antioxidant capacity, preserving the nutritional and functional values of the product., Competing Interests: The authors do not have any conflict of interest to declare., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Cloudy fruit and vegetable mixed juice (MJ) pasteurized by high pressure processing (HPP) showed an increasing market demand. However, browning, sedimentation, and flavor changes of HPP juice during storage have been a great challenge for the beverage industry. The aim of this work was to investigate quality changes of HPP MJs during storage and to explore the potential to create the shelf-stable MJs with fresh-like organoleptic quality through HPP. In the work, commercial MJ1 (orange, mango, and kiwifruit) and MJ2 (carrot and pineapple) were formulated and their quality changes during storage were investigated. The results indicated no visible color changes and sedimentation were observed in MJ1 and MJ2 during refrigerated storage (90 days). However, sucrose decreased as glucose and fructose increased; a large number of aldehydes and alcohols decreased but some terpenoids increased during storage. In general, blending proper fruit and vegetable to produce MJs combing with HPP could maintain high cloud and color stability, but sugars and volatiles clearly changed during storage., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

The aim of the present study was to screen novel dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides from Macadamia integrifolia antimicrobial protein 2 (MiAMP2) and evaluate the potential antidiabetic targets and involved signaling pathways using in silico approaches. In silico digestion of MiAMP2 with pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin was performed with ExPASy PeptideCutter and the generated peptides were subjected to BIOPEP-UWM, iDrug, INNOVAGEN and Autodock Vina for further analyses. Six novel peptides EQVR, EQVK, AESE, EEDNK, EECK, and EVEE were predicted to possess good DPP-IV inhibitory potentials, water solubility, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties. Molecular dynamic simulation and molecular docking displayed that AESE was the most potent DPP-IV inhibitory peptide and can bind with the active sites of DPP-IV through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. The potential antidiabetic targets of AESE were retrieved from SwissTargetPrediction and GeneCards databases. Protein-protein interaction analysis identified BIRC2, CASP3, MMP7 and BIRC3 to be the hub targets. Moreover, the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that AESE prevented diabetes through the apoptosis and TNF signaling pathways. These results will provide new insights into utilization of MiAMP2 as functional food ingredients for the prevention and treatment of diabetes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Authors.)

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of soybean 7S and 11S globulins on the stability and antioxidant capacity of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) in the simulated gastrointestinal environment, and further to elucidate their interaction mechanism. The stability and total content of anthocyanins (ACNs) before and after simulated digestion were determined by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopic and pH differential methods, respectively, and free radical scavenging activity of C3G after simulated digestion were measured using ABTS and DPPH assays. The interaction mechanism was further investigated using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The analysis results showed that soybean 7S and 11S globulins had a protective effect on the stability of C3G during simulated digestion and improved the antioxidant capacity of C3G after simulated digestion. Soybean 11S globulin had a better effect than soybean 7S globulin in protecting the stability and antioxidant capacity of C3G against simulated gastrointestinal environment. In silico results showed that the binding interactions between C3G and 7S and 11S globulins were mainly hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, followed by hydrophobic interactions. Among them, ASN69 and THR101 are the key amino acid residues for 7S-C3G binding, and THR82 and PRO86 are the key amino acid residues for 11S-C3G binding. The results suggested that it may be helpful to use soybean 7S and 11S globulins as carriers to improve the stability and antioxidant activity of ACNs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

The chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of the three different extracts (80% methanol, 80% ethanol, and 80% acetone) of Crateva unilocalaris Buch. shoots were investigated. Six phenolic compounds and seven saponins were characterized in all extracts. Chikusetsusaponin IVa had the highest content (17.92 to 29.16 mg/g), and chlorogenic acid was the most abundant phenolic compound (10.48 to 13.99 mg/g). The acetone extract had the highest total phenolic, flavonoid, and saponin contents and the strongest antioxidant activity. Moreover, all extracts exhibited good effects on the inhibition of intracellular ROS generation in HepG2 cells. Phenolic compounds but not saponins contributed significantly to the DPPH or ABTS radical scavenging activity of C. unilocalaris shoots according to the results of DPPH•-UHPLC-HRMS and ABTS•+-UHPLC-HRMS analyses. These results may be helpful for further understandings and utilization of C. unilocalaris shoots as a potential natural source in the food or nutraceuticals industry., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Viral myocarditis (VMC) is a life-threatening disease characterized by severe cardiac inflammation generally caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection. Several microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are known to play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of VMC. The study aimed to decipher the role of miR-30a-5p in the underlying mechanisms of VMC pathogenesis. We first quantified miR-30a-5p expression in a CVB3-induced mouse VMC model. The physiological characteristics of mouse cardiac tissues were then detected by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Picrosirius red staining. We established the correlation between miR-30a-5p and SOCS1, using dual-luciferase gene assay and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The expression of inflammatory factors (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13), M1 polarization markers [TNF-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)], M2 polarization markers (Arg-1, IL-10), and myocardial hypertrophy markers [atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)] was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. miR-30a-5p was found to be highly expressed in VMC mice. Silencing of miR-30a-5p improved the cardiac function index and reduced heart weight-to-body weight ratio, myocardial tissue pathological changes and fibrosis degree, serological indexes, as well as proinflammatory factor levels, while enhancing anti-inflammatory factor levels in VMC mice. Furthermore, silencing of miR-30a-5p inhibited M1 polarization of macrophages while promoting M2 polarization in vivo and in vitro. SOCS1 was a target gene of miR-30a-5p, and the aforementioned cardioprotective effects of miR-30a-5p silencing were reversed upon silencing of SOCS1. Overall, this study shows that silencing of miR-30a-5p may promote M2 polarization of macrophages and improve cardiac injury following VMC via SOCS1 upregulation, constituting a potential therapeutic target for VMC treatment. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found in this study that microRNA (miR)-30a-5p inhibition might improve cardiac injury following viral myocarditis (VMC) by accelerating M2 polarization of macrophages via SOCS1 upregulation. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of miR-30a-5p inhibition may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for VMC.

Acrylamide is a harmful substance that could be inhibited by natural products. Vine tea is an edible herb belonging to the Vitaceae family and has been approved by Chinese authorities as a new food ingredient in 2013. However, the effects of vine tea extract on acrylamide formation and bread quality are rarely investigated. In this study, the polyphenol composition of hot-water extract from vine tea was characterized by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS), and its effects on acrylamide formation, quality, and consumer acceptability of bread were investigated. Vine tea extract and its main polyphenol, dihydromyricetin, significantly inhibited the acrylamide formation in bread, especially the low dose of vine tea extract (1.25 g/kg), which decreased the acrylamide formation by 58.23%. The color and texture of bread were significantly affected by vine tea extract or dihydromyricetin, whereas the moisture content was not changed remarkably. Triangle and paired preference tests indicated that, although the aroma, appearance, and taste of the bread with vine tea extract significantly differ from those of the control bread, vine tea extract did not significantly affect the consumer acceptability. In conclusion, the addition of vine tea extract could be used to develop a new and healthy bread product with low acrylamide content., Competing Interests: There is no conflict of interest.

According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, medicinal and edible herbs exhibit holistic effects through their actions on multiple target organs. Four herbs, Puerariae radix, Lycium barbarum, Crataegus pinnatifida, and Polygonati rhizoma, were selected and combined to create a new herbal formula (PLCP). The protective effects of both the aqueous extract (AE) and ethanol extract (EE) of PLCP against insulin resistance (IR) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated in both high fat and high fructose diet-fed mice. Active fractions and constituents were screened in HepG2 cells with IR or an over-accumulation of triglycerides, and were further identified by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the AE did not improve (p > 0.05) glucose tolerance after three weeks, whereas EE showed a promising effect throughout the experiment. Medium and high doses of EE were found to reduce fasting blood glucose at week 9 by 21.1% and 24.4%, respectively. In addition, their efficacies for alleviating IR were comparable with that of metformin. Compared with AE, EE effectively improved hyperlipidemia, antioxidant status, and NAFLD. In contrast, metformin did not alleviate hyperlipidemia (p > 0.05) or NAFLD in the mice model. Results from the cell-based study indicate that the protective effects of EE were possibly due to the actions from puerarin, 3'-methoxypuerarin, daidzin, daidzein, and ononin.

The aim of present work was to investigate the effect of solid-state fermentation with filamentous fungi (Aspergillus oryzae var. effuses, Aspergillus oryzae, and Aspergillus niger) on total phenolics content (TPC), flavonoids, and antioxidant activities of four subfractions of oat, namely, n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EA), n-butanol, and water, and compare them to their corresponding subfractions of unfermented oat. The TPC and total flavonoids increased dramatically, especially in EA subfractions (p < 0.05). The levels of antioxidant activity of subfractions were also significantly enhanced (p < 0.05). The highest antioxidant activities were also found in the EA subfractions. The polyphenols in EA were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography at 280 nm. Most polyphenols were increased remarkably, especially ferulic and caffeic acids. There was a clear correlation between the TPC and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, fungi fermentation is a potential bioprocess for increasing the TPC, flavonoids, and antioxidant activities of oat-based food.

Studies suggest that the consumption of berry fruits rich in anthocyanins may have beneficial effects on improving visual function. This study determined the total polyphenol and total anthocyanin contents in wild Chinese blueberries using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and a pH differential method. Anthocyanin composition and quantity were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry coupled with mass selective detection. Total polyphenol and anthocyanin contents were 602.9 ± 9.2 and 177.8 ± 8.3 mg/100 g, respectively. Seventeen anthocyanins were discovered, and only 13 were tentatively identified in the wild blueberries. Anthocyanins of malvidin glycosylated with hexose or pentose accounted for >46% of total anthocyanin content. Furthermore, the effect of whole blueberries on retinal damage in pigmented rabbits upon light exposure was investigated, and the retinal functions were evaluated by electroretinogram (ERG). Pigmented rabbits were chosen for this experiment because of their large eyes, which facilitated the operative procedure and observation, and the similarity of their eyes to the human eye structure. Light-induced retinal damage was induced by exposure to white light at 15000 ± 1000 lx for 2 h. Feeding the rabbits with blueberries at a dosage of 1.2 or 4.9 g/kg/day for 4 weeks prior to light exposure effectively reduced photodamage to the retinas. This study adds to the growing body of data supporting the bioactivity of blueberries in improving mammal vision.