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The main objective of the article is to elucidate the effects of ultrasonic treatment with different ultrasonic power (0 W, 200 W, 250 W, 300 W, 400 W and 500 W) on the rheology, water distribution, sulfhydryl disulfide bond content, microstructure, and gluten properties of FXL (Long-chain inulin) dough. When the ultrasonic power is 300 W, the protein polymerization can be promoted, thus improving the gluten network. The mechanical action and cavitation induced by ultrasound changed the water distribution of FXL dough and promoted the transition from weakly bound water to tightly bound water. The T 21 value (tightly bound water relaxation time) was shortened from 0.25 to 0.16 and the A 21 (tightly bound water content) was reduced from 6.35 to 5.18, an improvement of 22.6 %, at a power of 300 W. Ultrasound decreased the enthalpy of FXL dough, and increased the particle size and potential of gluten protein. The introduction of ultrasound increased the content of β-sheets structure (40.85) at 250 W. The microstructure of the FXL dough revealed that ultrasonic treatment induced a continuous tight membrane-like gluten network, while the application of 500 W ultrasonic power resulted in the exposure and depression of starch particles., 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 © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ionizing radiation-induced injury often occurs in nuclear accidents or large-dose radiotherapy, leading to acute radiation syndromes characterized by hematopoietic and gastrointestinal injuries even to death. However, current radioprotective drugs are only used in hospitals with unavoidable side effects. Here, we heated the aqueous solution of inulin, a polysaccharide dietary fiber, forming colon-retentive gel as a radiation protector in radiotherapy. Mouse models were established after 60 Co γ-ray irradiation of the total body or abdomen. Inulin gels were orally administered to the mice every day from 3 days pre-radiation to 3 days post-radiation. The hematopoietic system was well protected with good blood cell recovery and cell proliferation in the femur and spleen. Oral inulin gels increased the relative abundances of key commensal microorganisms including f_Lachnospiraceae, Akkermansia, Blautia, and short-chain fatty acid metabolites. The secretion of the anti-inflammation cytokines IL-22 and IL-10 in the intestinal cells also increased. Similarly, the expression of the tight junction proteins claudin-1 and occludin in the gut mucosa was affected. In an orthotopic murine colorectal cancer model, oral inulin gels followed by 10-Gy abdomen radiation improved the radiotherapy efficiency with low attenuated radiation injury. Taken the data together, these results suggest that oral inulin gels are a bioactive material against ionizing radiation-induced injury., 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.)

This study aimed to examine the in vitro digestion properties and immunomodulatory effects of inulin-type fructans (ALP-1) from Arctium lappa L. on immunosuppressive mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion showed that ALP-1 underwent slight degradation during gastric and intestinal fluid digestion, with most of it reaching the gut as long-chain structures. The administration of ALP-1 effectively improved overall health and regulated immune function according to the spleen index, thymus index, splenic T-lymphocyte subsets, and other immune-related cytokines. Besides, 16S rDNA sequencing, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging technique revealed fructan-induced changes in gut microbiota composition, metabolic processes, and spatial information of key metabolites. These changes likely contributed to the immunomodulatory effects of ALP-1 in immunosuppressive mice. Therefore, ALP-1 shows promise as an immunomodulator for use in functional foods and nutraceuticals., 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.)

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with no clinical cure. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the inflammatory sites leads to the onset and progression of IBD. And the current non-invasive imaging methods are not ideal for the diagnosis and monitoring of IBD., Methods: Herein, we developed inulin (IN)-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 @IN NPs) for treatment and monitoring of IBD guided by computed tomography (CT). The physicochemical properties, ROS scavenging ability and CT imaging capabilities of CeO 2 @IN were investigated in vitro. Moreover, the therapeutic and targeted inflammation imaging effects of CeO 2 @IN were validated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model., Results: CeO 2 @IN with catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) capabilities effectively scavenged ROS, thus protecting the cells against oxidative stress. In colitis model mice, orally administered CeO 2 @IN successfully traversed the gastrointestinal tract to reach the colon under the protection of IN, and effectively reduced intestinal inflammation, thereby maintaining the intestinal epithelial integrity. Notably, CeO 2 @IN performed better than conventional CT contrast agents for gastrointestinal tract imaging, particularly in detecting the inflamed areas in the colon. In addition, CeO 2 @IN exhibited excellent biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo., Conclusion: The study provided a novel integrated diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the treatment and monitoring of IBD, presenting great potential as a clinical application for IBD., Competing Interests: The author(s) report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2025 Li et al.)

To achieve effective long-term synergistic treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with probiotics, we developed a versatile inulin/trans-ferulic acid/silk sericin nanoparticles-nourished probiotic complex. Inulin/TFA/SS nanoparticles were fabricated by inulin, trans-ferulic acid (TFA), and silk sericin (SS), and then loaded onto the surface of poly-l-lysine (PLL) and poly-glutamic acid (PGA)-coated Bifidobacterium longum (BL) to obtain BL@PLL-PGA-Inulin/TFA/SS NPs (BL@PP-NPs). This design simultaneously endowed the complex with excellent gastrointestinal resistance, antioxidant, and anti-inflammation abilities. Moreover, the inulin in the nanoparticles acts as a prebiotic, promoting the Bifidobacterium's rapid proliferation to exert effects within a short period. Compared with uncoated BL, BL@PP-NPs exhibited excellent gastric acid tolerance and up to 31.32-fold colonic colonization, and the ROS scavenging and proliferative capacity were increased by 5.61- and 1.39-fold, respectively. In a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)- and trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis, the components of Inulin/TFA/SS NPs synergized with probiotics to efficiently treat IBD by attenuating oxidative stress, decreasing inflammation, repairing intestinal barrier, and promoting the rapid proliferation of probiotics to reverse gut microbial disorders. Collectively, food-grade BL@PP-NPs represent a novel approach to probiotic modification that offers an effective, safe, and synergistic therapy for IBD., 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.)

Opuntia dillenii cladodes are rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolics, vitamins and fibres. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different prebiotics on the bioactive compounds' stability, bioacessibility, bioactivity and sensorial characteristics of ultrasound-treated nopal cladode (Opuntia dillenii) beverages. Five formulations were prepared: untreated beverage (BC); ultrasound-treated beverage (BU); and ultrasound-treated beverage with inulin (BIU) or fructo-oligosaccharides (BFU) or polydextrose (BPU). The addition of prebiotics increased dietary fibre in beverages (10.44-20.70 %). BPU presented higher concentrations and stability of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and ascorbic acid; in addition to greater antioxidant activity (FRAP) and maintained the inhibition of the α-glucosidase enzyme. BFU showed higher bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds and maintained inhibition of the α-amylase enzyme. The addition of prebiotics minimized undesirable sensory characteristics in the beverages. These findings suggest that adding prebiotics to nopal beverages may maintain functionality and increase the acceptability of these products during storage., 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. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a crucial endogenous molecule in vital biochemical processes such as DNA, RNA, and protein methylation. It has been found beneficial in the treatment of liver disease, osteoarthritis, and particularly depression. However, SAMe's therapeutic potential is limited by low bioavailability due to poor permeability and extensive liver metabolism. This study sought to improve SAMe's bioavailability by encapsulating it in inulin nanoparticles, utilizing a colon-targeted delivery system. Inulin, a prebiotic that promotes gut health by encouraging beneficial gut bacteria, is an ideal carrier for colon-specific drug delivery. Inulin nanoparticles were prepared using the desolvation method, incorporating sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) for ion pairing with SAMe. The nanoparticles were spray-coated onto microcrystalline cellulose inert microspheres in a fluidized bed with Eudragit L30D-55 for colon-targeted release (Nanoparticle-In-Microparticles, NIMs). Pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed that encapsulating SAMe in inulin nanoparticles resulted in a significant three-fold increase in bioavailability compared to its pure form. This enhancement highlights the potential of inulin nanoparticles as an effective delivery system for SAMe, particularly in colon-targeted therapies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cancer vaccines utilizing nanoparticle (NP) structures that integrate antigens and adjuvants to enhance delivery and stimulate immune responses are emerging as a promising avenue in cancer immunotherapy. However, the development of cancer vaccines has been significantly hindered by the low immunogenicity of tumor antigens. To address this challenge, substantial efforts have been made in developing innovative adjuvants to elicit effective immune responses. In this study, we develop a NP cancer vaccine assisted by a polysaccharide derivative adjuvant, designed through a computational strategy, to evoke effective antigen-specific antitumor immunity. Using TLR4 as the putative receptor, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of a prescreening library consisting of 34 inulin derivatives through docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Consequently, a new derivative, benzoylated inulin (InBz), is selected as the most promising TLR4 agonist. The adjuvant effect of InBz is evaluated by fabricating InBz NPs encapsulating the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA). In vitro, InBz-OVA NPs effectively activate the TLR4 signaling pathways and facilitate dendritic cell maturation, thereby enhancing the antigen delivery and presentation. In vivo, InBz-OVA NPs outperform a commercial aluminum-based adjuvant, elicit robust antibody titers, induce antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and achieve significant tumor suppression in murine models. Besides, the adjuvant effects of other representative derivatives, namely, acetylated and chloroacetylated inulin, with moderate and low potential from the library, are also chemically synthesized and experimentally evaluated and found to be in agreement with computational predictions, confirming the credibility of the strategy. This study provides an effective platform for the pursuit of efficient polysaccharide-based vaccine adjuvants.

In this study, core-shell hydrogel beads were developed as a controlled-release delivery system for vitamin B12. Vitamin B12-loaded microgels (MG) were prepared using gellan gum (GG). Core-shell hydrogel beads were produced by incorporating MG into pea protein isolate (PPI) and sodium alginate (AL) matrix filled/coated with different concentrations (0 %, 1 %, 3 %, 5 %, and 10 %) of inulin (IN). Based on XRD analysis, MG was successfully incorporated into core-shell hydrogel beads. In FE-SEM and FT-IR analyses, the smoother surface and denser structure of the beads were observed as IN concentration increased due to hydrogen bonds between IN and the beads. The encapsulation efficiency increased from 68.64 % to 82.36 % as IN concentration increased from 0 % to 10 %, respectively. After exposure to simulated oral and gastric conditions, core-shell hydrogel beads exhibited a lower cumulative release than MG, and a more sustained release was observed as IN concentration increased in simulated intestinal conditions., 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. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Dietary fiber (DF)-based interventions are crucial in establishing a health-promoting gut microbiota. However, directly investigating DFs' in vivo interactions with intestinal bacteria remains challenging due to the lack of suitable tools. Here, we develop an in vivo metabolic labeling-based strategy, which enables not only imaging and identifying the bacteria that bind with specific DF in the intestines, but also quantifying DF's impact on their metabolic status. Four DFs, including galactan, rhamnogalacturonan and two inulins, are fluorescently derivatized and used for in vivo labeling to visually record DFs' interactions with gut bacteria. The subsequent cell-sorting, 16S rDNA sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization identify the taxa that bind each DF. We then select a DF-binding species newly identified herein and verify its DF-catabolizing capability in vitro. Furthermore, we find that the indigenous metabolic status of Gram-positive bacteria, whether inulin-binders or not, is significantly enhanced by the inulin supplement. This trend is not observed in Gram-negative microbiota, even for the inulin-binders, demonstrating the ability of our methods in differentiating the primary, secondary DF-degraders from cross-feeders, a question that is difficult to answer by using other methods. Our strategy provides a novel chemical biology tool for deciphering the complex DF-bacteria interactions in the gut., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Rosehip is of notable scientific interest due to its rich content of bioactives and its wide-ranging applications in nutrition, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The valorization of rosehip by-products, such as pomace, is highly significant for promoting sustainability. This study investigates the development of rosehip-based powders and beverage prototypes derived from both juice and pomace to evaluate the potential use of pomace in instant beverage design and compare it with juice-based formulations. Three matrices were evaluated: non-pasteurized and pasteurized juice, as well as non-pasteurized pomace preparations. Powders were produced by freeze- and spray drying using maltodextrin, inulin and unconventional carriers, i.e., palatinose and trehalose. The results demonstrated that carrier addition significantly influenced the physical and techno-functional properties of the powders, such as moisture content (below 10%), water activity (below 0.35), solubility (above 85%), and color indexes (yellowness and browning). The water absorption capacity varied with drying techniques, particularly for inulin-enriched samples, while the matrix type affected the ascorbic acid content. Non-pasteurized pomace powders exhibited a higher antioxidant capacity (67.7 mmol Trolox/100 g dry matter) than their juice counterparts (52.2 mmol Trolox/100 g dry matter), highlighting the potential of the pomace matrix for beverage production. Because of their favorable properties, spray-dried samples were also selected for reconstitution into prototype beverages, among which those obtained from pomace showed a higher antioxidant potential. An analysis of particle sizes, which ranged between 34 nm and 7363 nm, revealed potential interactions between the carrier and matrix, reflected in the distinct behavior of carrier-only samples. Both the carrier type and the matrix significantly contributed to the final properties of the beverages, providing valuable insights for the design of functional food products.

Microencapsulation is one of the most important methods to enhance the survival of bacteria when exposed to various harsh conditions. The present study evaluated the viability of L. reuteri ATCC 23272 microencapsulated in polysaccharide-based bionanocomposite. Inulin, polydextrose, and pectin were utilized as prebiotics, and magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) as reinforcing agent in the microgel structure. The composition of bionanocomposite was optimized using the simplex-lattice mixture method. Bionanocomposite optimal formulation was achieved by combining 91.6 % inulin and 8.4 % pectin in the presence of MgO NPs. L. reuteri prebiotic score (1.33) and E. coli (1.08), extrusion efficiency (97.57 %), viability after drying (99.37 %), and viability in simulated gastrointestinal conditions (SGI) (91.74 %) were obtained. Not using MgO NPs in the optimal composite structure caused a decrease of 2.14 log CFU/g in SGI. During 28 days of storage of bacteria at 4 and 25 °C, respectively, a reduction of 2.56 and 3.04 log CFU/g was observed for free cells compared to encapsulated cells. SEM, FTIR, and XRD analyses were performed on ingredients and microcapsules with and without bacteria. The results exhibited that the optimal bionanocomposite could be used as a beneficial encapsulation system to improve the performance of probiotics in harsh conditions., 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. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Prebiotics and probiotics are applied against multiple diseases including ionizing radiation-induced injury but their functions are not revealed enough. Here, we used a prebiotic, inulin hydrogels (IGs) to load multi-strain probiotics (MSPs) for protecting them from the gastrointestinal environment and improving their colonization in the gut; more importantly, they showed the synergistic effect against ionizing radiation-induced injury. Probiotics were embedded in a great number of channels of the IGs and used IGs as food. The MSP was composed of Clostridium butyricum (Cb), Bifidobacterium adolescentis (Ba), and Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk), which separately mainly produced butyl acid, acetic acid and lactic acid, and stimulated mucin proteins. Although the MSP showed higher effect against mouse radiation enteritis than the single probiotics and the similar effect to IGs, the IG/MSP-based synbiotic had the highest protection and improved many factors close to the normal levels, including animal physical activity, enteric barrier function, occludin and ZO-1 expressions, injury extension, the levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α), gut microbiota, and short-chained fatty acids. Moreover, the synbiotic had strong protection against whole-body irradiation with high blood cell numbers, hemopoietic system recovery, and high levels of IL-3 and IL-10. IGs greatly synergized probiotics against ionizing radiation-induced injury., 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.)

Gelled emulsion systems offer promising matrices for encapsulating bioactive compounds, enhancing stability, bioavailability, and controlled release. Incorporating inulin-type dietary fibers into emulsion-filled gels can innovate food products. This study explored the impact of inulin concentration (0-15 % w/w) on visual aspect, microstructure, particle size distribution, creaming stability, rheological behavior, and encapsulation efficiency of emulsions and gelled emulsions with clove bud oil rich in eugenol. Regardless of inulin concentration, systems exhibited evenly distributed small oil droplets, ensuring good creaming stability. Emulsions with 10-15 % inulin formed gels upon natural cooling to approximately 30 °C. Viscoelastic properties varied with inulin concentration, attributed to increased polymer chain approximation and mobility. Higher inulin content decreased the transition temperature (66 °C, 56 °C, and 54 °C for 10 %, 12.5 %, and 15 % inulin, respectively). While inulin did not enhance creaming stability, it acted as a physical barrier, improving encapsulation efficiency of eugenol to nearly 100 %. Inulin-based emulsion-filled gels offer potential for functional food development, enriching nutritional value and health benefits., 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.)

One promising method for the detoxification of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) involves the use of probiotic bacteria combined with prebiotics. This approach is both safe and cost-effective, while also offering additional health benefits. The objective of this study was to investigate the capacity of Lactococcus lactis 537 (Lc. Lactis 537) to bind AFM1 in milk and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), either in the presence or absence of inulin or Kakadu plum fruit powder (KP), which are prebiotic substances. Lc. Lactis 537 was incubated for 0, 1, 2, and 24 h at 30 °C, with or without inulin or KP, to assess its ability to bind and reduce AFM1 levels. The concentration of AFM1 was determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS9) during the different incubation periods. The results demonstrated that Lc. Lactis 537 significantly reduced the initial concentration of AFM1 in both milk and PBS after 24 h of incubation. Moreover, the presence of inulin or KP enhanced the binding and reduction capacity of Lc. Lactis 537. This suggests that the synbiotic effect where probiotic bacteria like Lc. Lactis work in synergy with prebiotics such as inulin or KP could play a critical role in the removal of AFM1 from contaminated substances. In conclusion, the synbiotic of Lc. Lactis 537 with inulin or KP represents a promising biological approach for AFM1 detoxification, and further research is warranted to explore its potential applications in food safety., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Yasmina Sultanbawa reports financial support was provided by The university of Queensland. Batlah Almutairi reports financial support was provided by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The clinical application of curcumin (CUR) is restricted by its low solubility, instability, and poor bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel stearic acid-grafted inulin-based nano-delivery system for CUR encapsulation. The structure of stearoyl inulin (SA-IN) was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, and contact angle measurements. CUR-loaded SA-IN nanoparticles (CUR@SA-IN NPs) demonstrated a high encapsulation efficiency of 91.59 % ± 3.26 %, nanoscale dispersion, and an average particle size of 190.6 ± 11.2 nm. The CUR@SA-IN NPs exhibited excellent stability and sustained-release properties. Compared with free CUR, the minimum inhibitory concentration of CUR@SA-IN NPs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus decreased by 1.5- and 1.6-fold, respectively. The antioxidant activity increased by 2.34-fold with CUR@SA-IN NPs compared with free CUR. Also, the NPs showed superior efficacy in suppressing the expression of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. The cellular uptake studies confirmed enhanced CUR absorption from the NPs compared with free CUR. The CUR@SA-IN NPs exhibited good biocompatibility. These findings highlighted the potential of amphiphilic SA-IN as an effective delivery vector for hydrophobic bioactive compounds, thereby offering a promising approach for developing efficient nanoparticle-based delivery systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Exo-fructanase enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of β-2,6 and β-2,1 linkages in levan and inulin fructans, respectively, yielding fructose. In this study, we identified a multidomain exo-fructanase, Mle3A, from Microbacterium sp. XL1. Mle3A is a 124.2 kDa protein comprising a GH32 N-terminal five-bladed β-propeller structure, a GH32 C-terminal β-sandwich module, and a fibronectin type 3 domain. The recombinant enzyme rMle3A exhibited peak activity at temperatures of 50-55 °C and a pH of 5.5, demonstrating hydrolytic capabilities towards levan, inulin, sucrose, and raffinose. The activity of rMle3A on inulin was enhanced in the presence of Mn 2+ , Ca 2+ , Ba 2+ , Sr 2+ , Co 2+ , and Mg 2+ ions. Notably, 5 mM Mn 2+ increased the inulin hydrolytic activity of rMle3A by over 187 %, and the enzyme's activity was unaffected by NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 3 M. Purified rMle3A was effectively utilized to produce high fructose syrup from inulin, achieving a maximum fructose concentration of 26.98 g/L and 71.9 % inulin hydrolysis under optimal conditions (85 rpm, 50 °C, pH 5.5) within 2.5 h. This study introduces a new salt-tolerant, multi-ion facilitated fructanase, rMle3A, for the conversion of inulin biomass into high fructose syrup and other high-value chemicals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The study aimed to create a fish-derived protein gel with inulin/konjac glucomannan (KGM) mixture for dysphagia. The inulin/KGM complex improved the swallowing properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) emulsion gel. Interactions, physicochemical, and flavor properties were analyzed. Inulin/KGM mixture inhibited hydrophobic groups exposure, and maintained MP structure during thermal induction. Inulin/KGM-protein gels exhibited shear-thinning behavior, low deformation resistance and hardness. IDDSI test also indicated inulin/KGM gels is suitable for dysphagia. Inulin/KGM mixture improved flavor by increasing ethanol and 2-octen-ol while decreasing ichthyological substances such as hexanal and nonanal, enhancing the sensory experience of patients with dysphagia. An 8% inulin/KGM mixture effectively modulated mechanical, swallowing, and sensory properties of MP emulsion gels, offering insights for future marine-derived dysphagia foods development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gelation of protein-polysaccharide mixtures can help create a variety of distinctive gel systems as compared to single polysaccharide or protein gels. The properties of these functional gels are heavily reliant upon the nature of protein-polysaccharides interactions, their gelling compatibility, and mechanism. Pea protein isolate dispersions (7.5%) were subjected to limited enzymatic hydrolysis using the enzyme Alcalase ® at three hydrolysis times (0, 3, and 6 min). Inulin was added according to three ratios (0, 1:4, and 2:4) with pea protein. Viscoelastic properties of the gels formed were measured using amplitude sweep and frequency sweep. Storage modulus (G') measurements from the amplitude sweep indicated that samples hydrolyzed for 3 min with 1:4 ratio of inulin to pea protein had maximum gel strength, exhibiting G' values of ∼307 Pa. G' values for samples hydrolyzed for 0 and 6 min with different inulin ratios averaged ∼13 and ∼144 Pa, respectively. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that gels developed by samples hydrolyzed for 3 min showed a dense network as compared to an open network in gels formed by samples hydrolyzed for 6 min, whereas large random aggregates were observed in gels formed by samples hydrolyzed for 0 min. The study confirmed that inulin promotes noncovalent bond formation in samples hydrolyzed for 3 min with a 1:4 inulin ratio, shown by an ∼18% increased protein solubility in urea. Additionally, collaboration between noncovalent bonds and disulfide linkages stabilized the gel structure, as indicated by further increase in solubility in combination of urea and Dithiothreitol. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Plant proteins are gaining attention as alternatives to animal proteins. However, they have inferior functionality, which affects their applicability in food products. This investigation aimed to evaluate enzymatic hydrolysis to enhance the structural and functional properties of pea proteins, thus increasing their applicability in the food industry. Inulin is an oligosaccharide and soluble fiber, which promotes gut health. Thus, gels combining hydrolyzed pea protein and inulin can serve as a model mixed food system of interest to both the industry and consumers., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Inulin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide derived from plants such as chicory root, has emerged as a significant ingredient in pharmaceutical sciences due to its diverse therapeutic and functional properties. This review explores the multifaceted applications of inulin, focusing on its chemical structure, sources, and mechanisms of action. Inulin's role as a prebiotic is highlighted, with particular emphasis on its ability to modulate gut microbiota, enhance gut health, and improve metabolic processes. The review also delves into the therapeutic applications of inulin, including its potential in managing metabolic health issues such as diabetes and lipid metabolism, as well as its immune-modulating properties and benefits in gastrointestinal health. Furthermore, the article examines the incorporation of inulin in drug formulation and delivery systems, discussing its use as a stabilizing agent and its impact on enhancing drug bioavailability. Innovative inulin-based delivery systems, such as nanoparticles and hydrogels, are explored for their potential in controlled release formulations. The efficacy of inulin is supported by a review of clinical studies, underscoring its benefits in managing conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular health, and gastrointestinal disorders. Safety profiles, regulatory aspects, and potential side effects are also addressed. This comprehensive review concludes with insights into future research directions and the challenges associated with the application of inulin in pharmaceutical sciences.

Bacillus stercoris PSSR12 (B. stercoris PE), an isolate from rice field soils, was identified via 16s rRNA sequencing. The synthesis of the inulin and inulin producing enzyme (IPE) in B. stercoris PE was verified using SDS-PAGE and FTIR. This study aimed to assess the impact of B. stercoris PE treatment on in vitro inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase from traditional and commercial rice varieties of South India. Additionally, the study investigated enzymatic inhibition and mRNA expression of starch synthesis genes (RAmy1a, GBSSIa, SBEIIa, and SBEIIb). Glucose transporter gene expression (GLUT1 and GLUT4) patterns were analyzed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to evaluate glucose uptake in B. stercoris PE treated rice varieties. The application of B. stercoris PE enhanced grain quality by imparting starch ultra-structural rigidity, inhibiting starch metabolizing enzymes, and inducing molecular changes in starch synthesis genes. This approach holds promise for managing type II diabetes mellitus and potentially reducing insulin dependence., 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.)

The effects of inulin addition, olive oil content, and ultrasonic treatment on the rheological, texture, and structural properties of collagen-based oleogels were investigated in this study. Furthermore, the fat substitution ability of the oleogel in low-fat beef patties was evaluated. Initially, a uniform and dense network cross-linked structure was found when the ratio of collagen to inulin complex was 1:5. The oleogel sample exhibited good stability and oil binding ability with an additional amount of 50 % olive oil. Ultrasonic treatment improved the stability of the oleogel structure in all samples. Additionally, the addition of inulin reduced cooking loss in beef patties. Beef patties prepared at a 50 % fat substitution level showed physical properties that were the least different from those of pure adipose tissue (control group), which could significantly reduce the content of saturated fatty acids and improve the storage stability of beef patties. This study provided guidance for the application of collagen-inulin oleogel in food processing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The structure, physicochemical and anti-freeze properties of natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) composed of inulin and L-proline (molar ratio of 1:11) were investigated. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy revealed extensive hydrogen bonding in the pure NADES system, and the addition of water weakens the hydrogen bonding interactions between the components. The smaller transverse relaxation time (T 2 ) represents the stronger hydrogen bond strength, and NADES+40 % H 2 O exhibited a large T 2 (71.68 ms). When 10 % water was added, the viscosity decreased from 3620 mPa·s to 1777 mPa·s, but the conductivity increased to approximately twice the original value. Furthermore, adding 10 % water lowered the glass transition temperature (T g ) of NADES by 5.6 °C. NADES+10 % H 2 O exhibited favorable thermal stability and freezing resistance, as evidenced by the fact that approximately 82.61 % of the ice crystals area <200 μm 2 after 30 min of crystallization. The changes in the structure, physicochemical, and anti-freezing properties of water-tailored NADES are expected to enable the design of novel antifreeze agents., 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.)

Due to the high content of phenolics and anthocyanins of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea and the sensibility of these bioactive compounds, this work aimed to optimize the obtention of microcapsules by spray-drying, using inulin as a carrier agent. Using a Box-Behnken Design, the effects of inlet temperature (130, 150, and 170 °C), feed flow rate (5, 10, and 15 mL min -1 ), and inulin concentration (5, 10, and 15 g L -1 ) were evaluated. It was possible to obtain pale-rose, slightly sweet instant powders with good total polyphenol content (1.12 mg GAE g -1 ) and anthocyanins encapsulation efficiency (32.3-60.6%), besides moisture (4.61-17.79%) and water activity (0.221-0.501), indicating physico-chemical and microbiological stability of the microcapsules. A simultaneous optimization with the desirability function was performed to maximize all the response variables analyzed, and the optimum conditions of 5 g L -1 of inulin, inlet temperature of 170 °C, and feed flow rate of 83 mL min -1 were found.

Glycoside hydrolase family 91 (GH91) inulin fructotransferase (IFTases) enables biotransformation of fructans into sugar substitutes for dietary intervention in metabolic syndrome. However, the catalytic mechanism underlying the sequential biodegradation of inulin remains unelusive during the biotranformation of fructans. Herein we present the crystal structures of IFTase from Arthrobacter aurescens SK 8.001 in apo form and in complexes with kestose, nystose, or fructosyl nystose, respectively. Two kinds of conserved noncatalytic binding regions are first identified for IFTase-inulin interactions. The conserved interactions of substrates were revealed in the catalytic center that only contained a catalytic residue E205. A switching scaffold was comprised of D194 and Q217 in the catalytic channel, which served as the catalytic transition stabilizer through side chain displacement in the cycling of substrate sliding in/out the catalytic pocket. Such features in GH91 contribute to the catalytic model for consecutive cutting of substrate chain as well as product release in IFTase, and thus might be extended to other exo-active enzymes with an enclosed bottom of catalytic pocket. The study expands the current general catalytic principle in enzyme-substrate complexes and shed light on the rational design of IFTase for fructan biotransformation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fructansucrases produce fructans by polymerizing the fructose moiety released from sucrose. Here, we describe the recombinant expression and characterization of a unique fructansucrase from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DKL3 that showed low sequence similarity with previously characterized fructansucrases. The optimum pH and temperature of fructansucrase were found to be 4.0 and 35 °C, respectively. Enzyme activity increased in presence of Ca 2+ and distinctly in presence of Mn 2+ . The enzyme was characterized as an inulosucrase (LpInu), based on the production of an inulin-type fructan as assessed byNMR spectroscopy and methylation analysis. In addition to β-2,1-linkages, the inulin contained a few β-2,1,6-linked branchpoints. High-performance size exclusion chromatography with refractive index detection (HPSEC-RI) revealed the production of inulin with a lower molecular weight compared to other characterized bacterial inulin. LpInu and its inulin product represent novel candidates to be explored for possible food and biomedical applications., 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.)

Excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota are pivotal symptoms for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its associated complications, such as intestinal fibrosis. This research introduces a probiotic inulin hydrogel loaded with polypyrrole (PPy) nanozymes and antifibrotic drug pirfenidone (PFD) (PPy/PFD@Inulin gel) designed for the concurrent amelioration of IBD and its fibrotic complication. Upon oral administration, the inulin gel matrix could extend the gastrointestinal residence time of PPy nanozymes and PFD, facilitating the efficient reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and enhancement of the intestinal epithelial barrier repair as well as the suppression of intestinal fibrosis through sustained RONS scavenging, modulation of gut microbiota and attenuation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway to inhibit fibroblast proliferation. Notably, the PPy/PFD@Inulin gel demonstrated significant prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in acute and chronic colitis as well as intestinal fibrosis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mouse models. Thus, the engineered ternary PPy/PFD@Inulin gel offered a pioneered paradigm for simultaneous reversal of IBD and its associated complications, such as intestinal fibrosis, in a single therapeutic regimen., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Modified biopolymers that are based on prebiotics have been found to significantly contribute to immunomodulatory events. In recent years, there has been a growing use of modified biomaterials and polymer-functionalized nanomaterials in the treatment of various tumors by activating immune cells. However, the effectiveness of immune cells against tumors is hindered by several biological barriers, which highlights the importance of harnessing prebiotic-based biopolymers to enhance host defenses against cancer, thus advancing cancer prevention strategies. Inulin, in particular, plays a crucial role in activating immune cells and promoting the secretion of cytokines. Therefore, this mini-review aims to emphasize the importance of inulin in immunomodulatory responses, the development of inulin-based hybrid biopolymers, and the role of inulin in enhancing immunity and modifying cell surfaces. Furthermore, we discuss the various approaches of chemical modification for inulin and their potential use in cancer treatment, particularly in the field of cancer immunotherapy., 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.)

Background: Dietary fibers (DFs) may influence the structural, nutritional and techno-functional properties of starch within food systems. Moreover, DFs have favorable effects on the digestive system and potentially a lower glycemic index. These potential benefits may change depending on DF type. Starch processed in the presence of soluble and insoluble fibers can undergo different structural and functional changes, and the present study investigated the effects of short-chain and long-chain inulin and cellulose on the structural and digestive properties of wheat starch., Results: The combined use of differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) provided insights into the structural changes in starch and inulin at different levels. Short-chain and long-chain inulin had higher water retention capacity and a potential to limit starch gelatinization. The FTIR results revealed an interaction between starch and inulin. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed morphological changes in starch and inulin after the hydrothermal treatment. Cellulose fiber was not affected by the hydrothermal treatment and had no influence on starch behavior. The structural differences observed through XRD, FTIR and scanning electron microscopy analyses between starch with and without inulin fibers did not significantly impact starch digestibility, except for the dilution effect caused by adding DFs., Conclusion: The present study highlights the importance of utilizing different analytical tools to assess changes in food samples at different scales. Although short-chain and long-chain inulin could potentially limit starch gelatinization, the duration of the heat treatment (90 °C for 10 min) was sufficient to ensure complete starch gelatinization. The dilution effect caused by adding fibers was the primary reason for the effect on starch digestibility. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Inulin has found commercial applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food industries due to its beneficial health effects. The enzymatic biosynthesis of microbial inulin has garnered increasing attention. In this study, molecular modification was applied to Lactobacillus mulieris UMB7800 inulosucrase, an enzyme that specifically produces high-molecular weight inulin, to enhance its catalytic activity and thermostability. Among the 18 variable regions, R5 was identified as a crucial region significantly impacting enzymatic activity by replacing it with more conserved sequences. Site-directed mutagenesis combined with saturated mutagenesis revealed that the mutant A250 V increased activity by 68%. Additionally, after screening candidate mutants by rational design, four single-point mutants, S344D, H434P, E526D, and G531P, were shown to enhance thermostability. The final combinational mutant, M5, exhibited a 66% increase in activity and a 5-fold enhancement in half-life at 55 °C. These findings are significant for understanding the catalytic activity and thermostability of inulosucrase and are promising for the development of microbial inulin biosynthesis platforms.

Antibiotics, improper food, and stress have created a dysbiotic state in the gut and almost 81% of the world's population has been affected due to the pandemic of COVID-19 and the prevalence of dengue virus in the past few years. The main intent of this study is to synthesize nanosynbiotics as nu traceuticals by combining probiotics, and prebiotics with nanoformulation. The effectiveness of the nanosynbiotics was evaluated using a variety of Nutra-pharmacogenetic assays leading to an AI-integrated formulation profiling was assessed by using machine learning methods. Consequently, Acetobacter oryzoeni as a probiotic and inulin as a prebiotic has been chosen and iron-mediated nanoformulation of symbiotic is achieved. Nanosynbiotics possessed 89.4, 96.7, 93.57, 83.53, 88.53% potential powers of Nutra-pharmacogenetic assays. Artificial intelligent solid dispersion formulation of nanosynbiotics has high dissolution, absorption, distribution, and synergism, in addition, they are non-tox, non-allergen and have a docking score of - 10.83 kcal/mol, implying the best interaction with Pregnane X receptor involved in dysbiosis. The potential of nanosynbiotics to revolutionize treatment strategies through precise targeting and modulation of the gut microbiome for improved health outcomes and disease management is promising. Their transformational influence is projected to be powered by integration with modern technology and customized formulas. Further in-vivo studies are required for the validation of nanosynbiotics as nutraceuticals., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to enhance the antioxidant activity of carboxymethyl inulin (CMI) by chemical modification. Therefore, a series of cationic Schiff bases bearing heteroatoms were synthesized and incorporated into CMI via ion exchange reactions, ultimately preparing 10 novel CMI derivatives (CMID). Their structures were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The radical scavenging activities and reducing power of inulin, CMI, and CMID were studied. The results revealed a significant enhancement in antioxidant activity upon the introduction of cationic Schiff bases into CMI. Compared to commercially available antioxidant Vc, CMID demonstrated a broader range of antioxidant activities across the four antioxidant systems analyzed in this research. In particular, CMID containing quinoline (6QSCMI) exhibited the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, with a scavenging rate of 93.60 % at 1.6 mg mL -1 . The CMID bearing imidazole (2MSCMI) was able to scavenge 100 % of the DPPH radical at 1.60 mg mL -1 . Furthermore, cytotoxicity experiments showed that the products had good biocompatibility. These results are helpful for evaluating the feasibility of exploiting these products in the food, biomedical, and cosmetics industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To prepare sweet tea extract microcapsules (STEMs) via a spray-drying by applying different wall material formulations with maltodextrin (MD), inulin (IN), and gum arabic (GA). Methods: The microcapsules were characterised by yield, encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size, sensory evaluation, morphology, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and in vitro digestion studies. Results: The encapsulation improved the physicochemical properties and bioactivity stability of sweet tea extract (STE). MD5IN5 had the highest yield (56.33 ± 0.06% w/w) and the best EE (e.g. 88.84 ± 0.36% w/w of total flavonoids). MD9GA1 obtained the smallest particle size (642.13 ± 4.12 nm). MD9GA1 exhibited the highest retention of bioactive components, inhibition of α-glucosidase (96.85 ± 0.55%), α-amylase (57.58 ± 0.99%), angiotensin-converting enzyme (56.88 ± 2.20%), and the best antioxidant activity during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Conclusion: The encapsulation of STE can be an appropriate way for the valorisation of STE with improved properties.

Microencapsulation is an optimistic method for the delivery of live microbial cells through different food products. In this study, riboflavin-producing probiotic strain Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MTCC 25,432 was encapsulated using a spray drying technique with different wall materials including Inulin, maltodextrin (MD), and MD + Inulin (1:1). The obtained spray dried powder was investigated for probiotic viability, encapsulation efficiency, particle size, water activity, moisture content, hygroscopicity, bulk and tapped densities, storage stabilities, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Besides this, the viability of the free and encapsulated probiotic cells was tested under simulated gastric and intestinal fluid conditions. In the results, microcapsules produced with the combination of MD + Inulin showed higher dry powder yield (36.5%) and viability of L. plantarum MTCC 25,432 (7.4 log CFU / g) as compared with individual coating materials. Further characterization revealed that MD + Inulin microcapsules are spherical (3.50 ± 1.61 μm in diameter) in shape with concavities, showed the highest encapsulation efficiency (82%), low water activity (0.307), moisture content (3.67%) and good survival ability at low pH (pH 2.0 and 3.0), high bile salt concentrations (1.0% and 2.0%), and long storage conditions. No differences in FTIR spectra were observed among the tested samples. However, TGA showed enhanced thermal stability of probiotic-loaded microcapsules when MD + Inulin was used together. In conclusion, MD + Inulin could be a potential encapsulation material for riboflavin-producing probiotic bacteria L. plantarum MTCC 25,432., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Carbohydrate degradation is crucial for living organisms due to their essential functions in providing energy and composing various metabolic pathways. Nevertheless, in the catalytic cycle of polysaccharide degradation, the details of how the substrates bind and how the products release need more case studies. Here, we choose an inulin fructotransferase ( Sp IFTase) as a model system, which can degrade inulin into functionally difructose anhydride I. At first, the crystal structures of Sp IFTase in the absence of carbohydrates and complex with fructosyl-nystose (GF4), difructose anhydride I, and fructose are obtained, giving the substrate trajectory and product path of Sp IFTase, which are further supported by steered molecular dynamics simulations (MDSs) along with mutagenesis. Furthermore, structural topology variations at the active centers of inulin fructotransferases are suggested as the structural base for product release, subsequently proven by substitution mutagenesis and MDSs. Therefore, this study provides a case in point for a deep understanding of the catalytic cycle with substrate trajectory and product path.

Inulin is a carbohydrate that belongs to fructans; due to its health benefits, it is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this research, cabuya ( Agave americana ) was employed to obtain inulin by pulsed electric field-assisted extraction (PEFAE) and FTIR analysis confirmed its presence. The influence of PEFAE operating parameters, namely, electric field strength (1, 3 and 5 kV/cm), pulse duration (0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ms), number of pulses (10,000, 20,000 and 40,000) and work cycle (20, 50 and 80%) on the permeabilization index and energy expenditure were tested. Also, once the operating conditions for PEFAE were set, the temperature for conventional extraction (CE) and PEFAE were defined by comparing extraction kinetics. The cabuya meristem slices were exposed to PEFAE to obtain extracts that were quantified, purified and concentrated. The inulin was isolated by fractional precipitation with ethanol to be characterized. The highest permeabilization index and the lowest energy consumption were reached at 5 kV/cm, 0.5 ms, 10,000 pulses and 20%. The same extraction yield and approximately the same amount of inulin were obtained by PEFAE at 60 °C compared to CE at 80 °C. Despite, the lower amount of inulin obtained by PEFAE in comparison to CE, its quality was better because it is mainly constituted of inulin of high average polymerization degree with more than 38 fructose units. In addition, TGA analyses showed that inulin obtained by PEFAE has a lower thermal degradation rate than the obtained by CE and to the standard.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Calcium oxalate crystals play a key role in the development and recurrence of kidney stones (also known as urolithiasis); thus, inhibiting the formation of these crystals is a central focus of urolithiasis prevention and treatment. Previously, we reported the noteworthy in vitro inhibitory effects of Aspidopterys obcordata fructo oligosaccharide (AOFOS), an active polysaccharide of the traditional Dai medicine Aspidopterys obcordata Hemsl. (commonly known as Hei Gai Guan), on the growth of calcium oxalate crystals., Aim of the Study: To investigated the effectiveness and mechanism of AOFOS in treating kidney stones., Materials and Methods: A kidney stones rats model was developed, followed by examining AOFOS transport dynamics and effectiveness in live rats. Additionally, a correlation between the polysaccharide and calcium oxalate crystals was studied by combining crystallization experiments with density functional theory calculations., Results: The results showed that the polysaccharide was transported to the urinary system. Furthermore, their accumulation was inhibited by controlling their crystallization and modulating calcium ion and oxalate properties in the urine. Consequently, this approach helped effectively prevent kidney stone formation in the rats., Conclusions: The present study emphasized the role of the polysaccharide AOFOS in modulating crystal properties and controlling crystal growth, providing valuable insights into their potential therapeutic use in managing kidney stone formation., 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.)

Probiotics are subjected to various edible coatings, especially proteins and polysaccharides, which serve as the predominant wall materials, with ultrasound, a sustainable green technology. Herein, sodium caseinate, inulin, and soy protein isolate composites were produced using multi-frequency ultrasound and utilized to encapsulateLactiplantibacillus plantarumto enhance its storage, thermal, and gastrointestinal viability. The physicochemical analyses revealed that the composites with 5 % soy protein isolate treated with ultrasound at 50 kHz exhibited enough repulsion forces to maintain stability, pH resistance, and the ability to encapsulate larger particles and possessed the highest encapsulation efficiency (95.95 %). The structural analyses showed changes in the composite structure at CC, CH, CO, and amino acid residual levels. Rheology, texture, and water-holding capacity demonstrated the production of soft hydrogels with mild chewing and gummy properties, carried the microcapsules without coagulation or sedimentation. Moreover, the viability attributes ofL. plantarumevinced superior encapsulation, protecting them for at least eight weeks and against heat (63 °C), reactive oxidative species (H 2 O 2 ), and GI conditions., 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.)

In this study, magnetic inulin/Mg-Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (MILDH) was synthesized for the adsorption of ciprofloxacin. The application of various analytical techniques confirmed the successful formation of MILDH. For the optimization of controllable factors, Taguchi design was applied and optimum values were obtained as equilibrium time─100 min, adsorbent dose─20 mg, and ciprofloxacin concentration─30 mg/L. The highest capacity of the material was recorded as 196.19 mg/g at 298 K. Langmuir model ( R 2 = 0.9669-0.9832) fitted best as compared to the Freundlich model ( R 2 = 0.9588-0.9657), concluded the monolayer adsorption of ciprofloxacin on MILDH. Statistical physics model M 2 was found to fit best to measured data ( R 2 = 0.9982-0.9989), indicating that the binding of ciprofloxacin took place on two types of receptor sites ( n 1 and n 2 ). The multidocking mechanism with horizontal position was suggested on the first receptor site ( n 1 < 1), while multimolecular adsorption of ciprofloxacin lying vertically on the second receptor site ( n 2 > 1) at all temperatures. The adsorption energies ( E 1 = 22.79-27.20 kJ/mol; E 2 = 18.00-19.46 kJ/mol) illustrated that the adsorption of ciprofloxacin onto MILDH occurred through physical forces. Best fitting of the fractal-like pseudo-first-order kinetic model ( R 2 = 0.9982-0.9992) indicated that the adsorption of ciprofloxacin happened on the MILDH surface having different energies. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis further confirmed the adsorption mechanism of ciprofloxacin onto MILDH.

In this study, bacterial growth, postbiotic short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) formation, and gelation properties of sugar-free probiotic milk gels produced with stevia and inulin as a sugar replacer and synbiotic interactions were investigated with regard to prebiotic/bio-therapeutic potential and consumer preference. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis cultures were used in the manufacture of dietetic milk gels. The addition of stevia and inulin promoted the viability of bacteria and enhanced milk gel firmness throughout its shelf life. The activity of the probiotic bacteria was identified to be within the potential prebiotic effects (> 8.30 log 10 cfu mL -1 ) in a food matrix. However, it was determined that especially stevia and stevia + inulin addition increased the survival rate of probiotic bacteria and in vitro total SCFA production with higher scores for consumers' preferences rather than with the addition of stevia alone. Yoghurts containing B. animalis subsp. lactis have improved the instrumental textural properties, whereas yoghurts containing L. acidophilus had higher scores for sensorial attributes., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

High polymerization persimmon tannin has been reported to have lipid-lowering effects. Unfortunately, the poor solubility restricts its application. This research aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of inulin on solubilizing of persimmon tannin. Furthermore, we examined whether the addition of inulin would affect the attenuated obesity effect of persimmon tannin. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results demonstrated that inulin formed a gel-like network structure, which enabled the encapsulation of persimmon tannin through hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions, thereby inhibiting the self-aggregation of persimmon tannin. The turbidity of the persimmon tannin solution decreased by 56.2 %, while the polyphenol content in the supernatant increased by 60.0 %. Furthermore, biochemical analysis and 16s rRNA gene sequencing technology demonstrated that persimmon tannin had a significant anti-obesity effect and improved intestinal health in HFD-fed mice. Moreover, inulin was found to have a positive effect on enhancing the health benefits of persimmon tannin, including improving hepatic steatosis and gut microbiota dysbiosis. it enhanced the abundance of beneficial core microbes while decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria. Our findings expand the applications of persimmon tannin in the food and medical sectors., 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.)

Pickering emulsions seem to be an effective strategy for encapsulation and stabilization of essential oils. In this work, a novel raspberry-liked Pickering emulsion (RPE) loading Mosla chinensis 'Jiangxiangru' essential oil (MJO) was successfully engineered by using ethyl lauroyl arginate (ELA) decorated nanosilica (ELA-NS) as particles emulsifier. And the ELA-NS-stabilized MJO Pickering emulsion (MJO-RPE) was further prepared into inulin-based microparticles (MJO-RPE-IMP) by spray-drying, using inulin as matrix formers. The concentration of ELA-NS could affect the formation and stabilization of MJO-RPE, and the colloidal behavior of ELA-NS could be modulated at the interfaces with concentration of ELA, thus providing unique role on stabilization of MJO-RPE. The results indicated that the MJO-RPE stabilized ELA-NS with 2 % NS modified by 0.1 % ELA had long-term stability. MJO-RPE exhibited a raspberry-liked morphology on the surface, attributed to ELA-NS covered in the droplet surface. The inulin-based matrix formers could effectively prevent MJO-RPE from agglomeration or destruction during spray-drying, and 100 % concentration of inulin based microparticles formed large composite particles with high loading capacity (98.54 ± 1.11 %) and exhibited superior thermal stability and redispersibility of MJO-RPE. The MJO-RPE exhibited strong antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), owing to the adhesion to bacterial membrane dependent on the raspberry-liked surface of MJO-RPE, whose minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the above three bacteria were (0.3, 0.45, and 1.2 μL/mL), respectively, lower than those (0.45, 0.6 and 1.2 μL/mL) of MJO. Therefore, the Pickering emulsion composite microparticles seemed to be a promising strategy for enhancing the stability and antibacterial activity of MJO., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that can have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the impact of inulin (INL) on viability of L. plantarum D-2 (LPD2) by encapsulation through spray drying (SD) and its commercialization potential to alternative of conventional wall material maltodextrin (MD). LPD2, derived from sea tangle ( Saccharina japonica ) kimchi, is probiotics exhibiting significant attributes like cholesterol reduction, antioxidant properties, and resilience to acidic and bile environments. To enhance storage viability and stability of LPD2, encapsulation was applied by SD technology. The optimum encapsulation condition with MD was 10% MD concentration (MD10) and inlet temperature (96°C). The optimum concentration ratio of MD and INL was 7:3 (INL3) for alternative of MD with similar encapsulation yield and viability of LPD2. Viability of LPD2 with INL3 exhibited almost 8% higher than that with MD10 after 50 days storage at 25°C. Physicochemical characteristics of the encapsulated LPD2 (ELPD2) with MD10 and INL3 had no significant different between flowability and morphology. But, ELPD2 with INL3 had lower water solubility and higher water absorption resulting in extension of viability of LPD2 compared to that with MD10. The comprehensive study results showed that there was no significant difference in the encapsulation yield and physicochemical properties between ELPD2 with MD10 and INL3, except of water solubility index (WSI) and water absorption index (WAI). INL have the potential to substitute of MD as a commercial wall material with prebiotic functionality to enhance the viability of LPD2 by encapsulation.

In the current study, we utilized molecular modeling and simulation approaches to define putative potential molecular targets for Burdock Inulin, including inflammatory proteins such as iNOS, COX-2, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1β. Molecular docking results revealed potential interactions and good binding affinity for these targets; however, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS were identified as the best targets for Inulin. Molecular simulation-based stability assessment demonstrated that inulin could primarily target iNOS and may also supplementarily target COX-2 and IL-1β during DSS-induced colitis to reduce the role of these inflammatory mechanisms. Furthermore, residual flexibility, hydrogen bonding, and structural packing were reported with uniform trajectories, showing no significant perturbation throughout the simulation. The protein motions within the simulation trajectories were clustered using principal component analysis (PCA). The IL-1β-Inulin complex, approximately 70% of the total motion was attributed to the first three eigenvectors, while the remaining motion was contributed by the remaining eigenvectors. In contrast, for the COX2-Inulin complex, 75% of the total motion was attributed to the eigenvectors. Furthermore, in the iNOS-Inulin complex, the first three eigenvectors contributed to 60% of the total motion. Furthermore, the iNOS-Inulin complex contributed 60% to the total motion through the first three eigenvectors. To explore thermodynamically favorable changes upon mutation, motion mode analysis was carried out. The Free Energy Landscape (FEL) results demonstrated that the IL-1β-Inulin achieved a single conformation with the lowest energy, while COX2-Inulin and iNOS-Inulin exhibited two lowest-energy conformations each. IL-1β-Inulin and COX2-Inulin displayed total binding free energies of - 27.76 kcal/mol and - 37.78 kcal/mol, respectively, while iNOS-Inulin demonstrated the best binding free energy results at - 45.89 kcal/mol. This indicates a stronger pharmacological potential of iNOS than the other two complexes. Thus, further experiments are needed to use inulin to target iNOS and reduce DSS-induced colitis and other autoimmune diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The gut microbiota plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and remission of inflammatory bowel disease. However, conventional antibiotic therapies may alter microbial ecology and lead to dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, which greatly limits therapeutic efficacy. To address this challenge, novel nanomicelles that couple inulin with levofloxacin via disulfide bonds for the treatment of salmonellosis were developed in this study. Owing to their H 2 S-responsiveness, the nanomicelles can target the inflamed colon and rapidly release levofloxacin to selectively fight against enteric pathogens. Moreover, the embedded inulin can serve as prebiotic fiber to increase the amount of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in mice with salmonellosis, thus maintaining the intestinal mechanical barrier and regulating the balance of the intestinal flora. Therefore, multifunctional nanomicelles had a better curative effect than pure levofloxacin on ameliorating inflammation in vivo. The pathogen-targeted glycovesicle represents a promising drug delivery platform to maximize the efficacy of antibacterial drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that we have no conflict of interest in this work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effects of ultrasound and different inulin (INU) concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/mL) on the structural and functional properties of soybean isolate protein (SPI)-INU complexes were hereby investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that SPI was bound to INU via hydrogen bonding. All samples showed a decreasing and then increasing trend of α-helix content with increasing INU concentration. SPI-INU complexes by ultrasound with an INU concentration of 20 mg/mL (U-2) had the lowest content of α-helix, the highest content of random coils and the greatest flexibility, indicating the proteins were most tightly bound to INU in U-2. Both UV spectroscopy and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that it was hydrophobic interactions between INU and SPI. The addition of INU prevented the exposure of tryptophan and tyrosine residues to form a more compact tertiary structure compared to SPI alone, and ultrasound caused further unfolding of the structure of SPI. This indicated that the combined effect of ultrasound and INU concentration significantly altered the tertiary structure of SPI. SDS-PAGE and Native-PAGE displayed the formation of complexes through non-covalent interactions between SPI and INU. The ζ-potential and particle size of U-2 were minimized to as low as -34.94 mV and 110 nm, respectively. Additionally, the flexibility, free sulfhydryl groups, solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties of the samples were improved, with the best results for U-2, respectively 0.25, 3.51 μmoL/g, 55.51 %, 269.91 %, 25.90 %, 137.66 % and 136.33 %. Overall, this work provides a theoretical basis for improving the functional properties of plant proteins., 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 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, phosphorylated derivatives of long-chain inulin with different substitution degrees were prepared. The synthesized samples were named PFXL-1, PFXL-2, PFXL-3, and PFXL-4 according to their degree of substitution (from low to high). The structures of FXL and PFXL were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and the results indicated the successful introduction of phosphate groups. FXL and PFXL were composed of two types of sugar, fructose and glucose, with a molar ratio of 0.977:0.023. The SEM results showed that phosphorylation changed the morphology of FXL from an irregular mass to small spherical aggregates. The XRD pattern showed that the crystallinity was reduced by the introduction of phosphate groups. The Mw of FXL was 2649 g/mol, and the Mw of PFXL-4 increased the most (2965 g/mol). Additionally, PFXL was more stable and uniform, and the absolute value of the PFXL potential reached 7.83 mV. Phosphorylation decreased the weight loss rate of FXL and improved the viscoelastic properties and antioxidant activity of FXL. This study presents a method for the modification of FXL, demonstrating that phosphorylation can enhance its physicochemical properties and physiological activity and suggesting its potential as a functional food and quality modifier., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study compares the physicochemical and prebiotic properties of inulin isolated from five botanical sources. The average degree of polymerization (DP) for inulin ranged from 5.00 to 13.33. Notably, inulin from Dahlia tubers (DP = 13) and Platycodonis Radix (DP = 8) demonstrated granular, clustered morphology under SEM, semi-crystalline structures via X-ray diffraction, and exhibited shear-thinning behaviors from shear rate 1 s -1 to 500 s -1 . In contrast, inulin from Jerusalem artichoke (DP = 5), chicory root (DP = 7), and Asparagi Radix (DP = 5) showcased rough flake morphologies under SEM, amorphous structures in X-ray patterns, and similar shear-thinning behaviors. All inulin types showed acid stability at pH levels below 2.0, with a reducing sugar conversion ratio (RRS) under 1 %. Furthermore, the isolated inulin from the different sources presented prebiotic capacity when added as a sole carbon source in the culture media of the probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium longum. This study provides the properties of inulin from various sources, thereby offering a reference for the selection of appropriate inulin in industrial applications based on the desired characteristics of the final product., 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.)

Encapsulation of quercetin (Q) with inulin (In) by spray-drying was performed applying a Box-Behnken design where the effect of the inlet air temperature, percentage of inulin crystallite dispersion and Q content were studied on the crystallinity index (CI). Three microparticle systems with CI between 2 % and 20 % (Q-In-2 %, Q-In-12 % and Q-In-20 %) were selected to study the CI effect on Q release during an in vitro digestion. The higher the CI of microparticles, the higher the encapsulation efficiency (76.4 %, Q-In-20 %). Surface quercetin was steadily released during the oral, gastric, and intestinal phases of the digestion. The CI of the microparticles did not influence the Q bioaccessibility values (23.1-29.7 %). The highest Q delivery occurred during the simulated colonic phase (44.4-66.4 %) due to the action of the inulinase. The controlled crystallization in spray-dried microparticles is a promising strategy for the designing of polyphenol-based microparticles with specific delivery 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 © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cancer stands as the second leading cause of death in the United States (US). Most chemotherapeutic agents exhibit severe adverse effects that are attributed to exposure of drugs to off-target tissues, posing a significant challenge in cancer therapy management. In recent years, inulin, a naturally occurring prebiotic fiber has gained substantial attention for its potential in cancer treatment owing to its multitudinous health values. Its distinctive structure, stability, and nutritional properties position it as an effective adjuvant and carrier for drug delivery in cancer therapy. To address some of the above unmet clinical issues, this review summarizes the recent efforts towards the development of inulin-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites for healthcare applications with special emphasis on the multifunctional role of inulin in cancer therapy as a synergist, signaling molecule, immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic molecule. Furthermore, the review provides a concise overview of ongoing clinical trials and observational studies associated with inulin-based therapy. In conclusion, the current review offers insights on the significant role of inulin interventions in exploring its potential as a therapeutic agent to treat cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no conflicts of interest about this work., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)