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The results from epidemiological studies on the relationship between coffee consumption and gastric cancer risk are inconsistent and inconclusive. Based on the previous studies, we hypothesized that coffee consumption was not associated with the risk of gastric cancer. We aimed to test this hypothesis by conducting a meta-analysis to systematically review and quantify the relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of gastric cancer. Relevant prospective cohort studies were identified by a search of PubMed and Embase up to March 2021. A total of 18 independent prospective cohorts from 15 studies involving 1,608,760 participants and 3898 gastric cancer cases were included in this meta-analysis. A nonsignificant association with a pooled relative risk (RR) of 1.11 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.25) was shown between coffee intake and the risk of gastric cancer. The dose-response analysis also suggested no significant effect on the risk of gastric cancer per 1 cup/d increment in coffee consumption (RR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.99-1.01). No nonlinear association of gastric cancer risk with coffee consumption was found (P for nonlinearity = .17). In the subgroup analyses, significantly increased risk of gastric cancer was detected in the studies conducted in the United States (RR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.03-1.58). In conclusion, coffee consumption had no effect on the risk of gastric cancer. However, the effect of coffee intake on persons in the United States must be further evaluated by additional high-quality and large-scale cohort studies.

Wheat germ protein is a potential resource to produce bioactive peptides. As a cheap, safe, and healthy nutritional factor, wheat germ-derived bioactive peptides (WGBPs) provide benefits and great potential for biomedical applications. The objective of this review is to reveal the current research status of WGBPs, including their preparation methods and biological functions, such as antibacterial, anti-tumor, immune regulation, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, etc. We also reviewed the information in terms of the preventive ability of WGBPs to treat serious infectious diseases, to offer their reference to further research and application. Opinions on future research directions are also discussed. Through the review of previous research, we find that there are still some scientific issues in the basic research and industrialization process of WGBPs that deserve further exploration. Firstly, based on current complex enzymolysis, the preparation and production of WGBPs need to be combined with other advanced technology to achieve efficient and large-scale production. Secondly, studies on the bioavailability, biosafety, and mechanism against different diseases of WGBPs need to be carried out in different in vitro and in vivo models. More human experimental evidence is also required to support its industrial application as a functional food and nutritional supplement. HighlightsThe purification and identification of wheat germ-derived bioactive peptides.The main biological activities and potential mechanisms of wheat germ hydrolysates/peptides.Possible absorption and transport pathways of wheat germ hydrolysate/peptide.Wheat germ peptide shows a variety of health benefits according to its amino acid sequence.Current food applications and future perspectives of wheat germ protein hydrolysates/peptide.

To improve the antimicrobial properties of chitosan films, cinnamon essential oil (CEO) nanoemulsion (1% and 3% v/v CEO) stabilized by ethyl-Nα-lauroyl-l-arginate hydrochloride (LAE) alone or co-stabilized by LAE and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) were incorporated into chitosan matrix. The micromorphology, physical and antimicrobial properties of the composite films were compared. The dense structure of the CEO nanoemulsion co-stabilized by LAE and HPCD reduced the water vapor permeability and water content. The incorporation of the CEO nanoemulsion co-stabilized by LAE and HPCD, reduced the adverse effects of CEO on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the film, and even slightly increased the tensile strength. In addition, the antimicrobial properties of chitosan films were enhanced due to the encapsulation and emulsification effect of HPCD and LAE on CEO. This work indicated that the prepared chitosan based edible films had the potential to be used in the field of food packaging to improve food safety.

BACKGROUND Pomegranate is a rich source of polyphenols and has been used as a dietary supplement and pharmaceutical ingredient. This study aimed to investigate the pomegranate fruit pulp polyphenols (PFP) with regard to their anti-obesity activity and gut microbiota-modulating effect in mice. Thirty-six 4-week-old specific pathogen-free C57BL/6J mice (weight: 17.7-20.8 g) were randomly divided into three groups and fed with low-fat diet (10% fat energy), high-fat diet (HFD) (45% fat energy), or HFD supplemented with PFP by intragastric administration for 14 weeks. The obesity-related clinical indicators were investigated, and the composition of fecal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. RESULTS Our results showed that PFP treatment reduced HFD-induced body weight gain by 35.23% (P

BACKGROUND: Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), a natural dietary source of (poly)phenols, has been used as medicine for centuries. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a red raspberry (poly)phenolic extract (RPE) on diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Male specific pathogen-free C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 12 per group), and fed with low-fat diet (10% fat energy), high-fat diet (HFD, 45% fat energy), or HFD supplemented with RPE of 150 mg/kg body weight by intragastric administration for 14 weeks. Obesity-related biochemical indexes and hepatic gene expression levels were determined. The statistical analyses were conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. RESULTS: The body weight gain, steatosis grade scores and insulin resistance index in the RPE group decreased by 34.48% (P = 0.00), 58.82% (P = 0.00), and 53.77% (P = 0.00), respectively, compared to those in the HFD group. Moreover, RPE supplement significantly changed the expression profile of the genes involved in lipid metabolism and fibroblast growth factor 21 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that RPE protected from diet-induced obesity and related metabolic disorders by improving the lipid metabolism and fibroblast growth factor 21 resistance.

Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral micronutrient essential for human health. The diet is the main source of Se intake. Se-deficiency is associated with many diseases, and up to 1 billion people suffer from Se-deficiency worldwide. Cereals are considered a good choice for Se intake due to their daily consumption as staple foods. Much attention has been paid to the contents of Se in cereals and other foods. Se-enriched cereals are produced by biofortification. Notably, the gap between the nutritional and toxic levels of Se is fairly narrow. The chemical structures of Se compounds, rather than their total contents, contribute to the bioavailability, bioactivity, and toxicity of Se. Organic Se species show better bioavailability, higher nutritional value, and less toxicity than inorganic species. In this paper, we reviewed the total content of Se in cereals, Se speciation methods, and the biological effects of Se species on human health. Selenomethionine (SeMet) is generally the most prevalent and important Se species in cereal grains. In conclusion, Se species should be considered in addition to the total Se content when evaluating the nutritional and toxic values of foods such as cereals.

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a perennial tropical deciduous tree with high economic and pharmaceutical value. As an edible plant, M. oleifera Lam. is rich in nutrients, such as proteins, amino acids, mineral elements and vitamins. Besides, it also contains an important number of bioactive phytochemicals, such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, alkaloids, glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. M. oleifera for long has been used as a natural anti-diabetic herb in India and other Asian countries. Thus, the anti-diabetic properties of Moringa plant have evolved highly attention to the researchers. In the last twenty years, a huge number of new chemical structures and their pharmacological activities have been reported in particularly the anti-diabetic properties. The current review highlighted the bioactive phytochemicals from M. Oleifera. Moreover, evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of M. oleifera for diabetes including experimental and clinical data was presented and the underlying mechanisms were revealed in order to provide insights for the development of novel drugs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression in eukaryotes. Studies have shown that plant-derived miRNAs can be absorbed through diets and regulate gene expression in mammals. Although soybean-derived miRNAs have been reported, their biological functions are still unclear. In this study, we found that soybean-derived small RNAs (sRNAs) significantly inhibited the proliferation and stimulated the apoptosis of Caco-2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the target gene set of soybean miRNAs was extensively enriched in cancer pathways. Besides, we obtained 8 target genes, including Transcription factor 7 (TCF7), associated with colon cancer through prediction. Further studies showed that gma-miR159a inhibited the proliferation of Caco-2 cells and played an important role in the inhibitory effect of sRNAs by inhibiting TCF7 protein, which are upregulated in colon cancer cells but not normal mucosal cells in culture. These findings provide a novel molecular mechanism of soybean-derived miRNAs for potential application in tumor prevention.

Wheat germ derivatives have been shown to inhibit inflammation-related diseases. In this study, a small peptide (YDWPGGRN) isolated from wheat germ was used to study its anti-inflammatory activity and its application in skin wound healing. Both the in vitro and in vivo results clearly showed that YDWPGGRN significantly inhibited the LPS-stimulated NO, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α production but promoted the release of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. In addition, YDWPGGRN directly enhanced the proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells and L929 cells. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that YDWPGGRN was able to stimulate angiogenesis and collagen production in wound areas, consequently accelerating the skin wound-healing processes in a rat model with a full thickness dermal wound. The current findings suggest that YDWPGGRN promotes wound healing by anti-inflammatory reactions and enhances the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts; therefore, it may be applicable for skin wound therapeutics.

In this study, nanoparticles (NPs) prepared with xanthan gum and lysozyme were established as a powerful delivery system for two Se-containing peptides: TSeMMM (STP) and SeMDPGQQ (SHP). NPs-STP and NPs-SHP had relatively small particle sizes (145 nm and 148 nm) and negative zeta potentials (-47 mV and -49 mV). The encapsulation efficiency of NPs-STP and NPs-SHP was determined to be 34.35% and 41.35%, respectively. The stability and antioxidant activity of Se-containing peptides were greatly enhanced due to encapsulation. NPs-STP and NPs-SHP exhibited controlled release of Se-containing peptides under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions. NPs-STP and NPs-SHP showed low toxicity and entered Caco-2 cells through clathrin-mediated endocytosis, contributing to a significant increase in the apparent permeability coefficient of STP (2.19 × 10

Highlights • Enzymatic hydrolysis with Alcalase reduced soybean odor substance 1-octene-3-ol. • Excessive enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in the deterioration of the hydrolysate flavor. • The flavour of soybean meal hydrolysates with different hydrolysis conditions could be distinguished by E-tongue., In the present study, E-nose, E-tongue, and headspace-solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) technology combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed to evaluate the flavor characteristics of the volatile and the non-volatile substances generated during the enzymatic hydrolysis of the soybean meal by Alcalase. The results showed that the enzymatic hydrolysis effectively reduced the content of soybean odorous substance 1-octene-3-ol and led to better flavor. However, the excessive enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in the deterioration of the enzymatic hydrolysates flavor. In addition, both radar graph and PCA of E-tongue were able to provide the distribution of flavor substances during the enzymatic hydrolysis of the soybean meal. These results provided a theoretical basis for the improvement of the flavors of the soybean meal and its derived products.

5-n-Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are abundant in wheat bran and potentially antioxidative, although the neuroprotective mechanism is not fully understood. The neuroprotective effect of wheat bran ARs on H2O2-induced neuronal cells and the relationship between neuroprotection and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant-response element (ARE) pathway were investigated in this study. Seven homologs were identified in the purified ARs by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pretreatment with 80 μg mL-1 ARs alleviated 23% HT22 cell death and the up-regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species level and malondialdehyde under H2O2 stimulation. The neuroprotection effect was proved by the increase in the Nrf2 nuclear location and up-regulation of mRNA and protein expressions of heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit, and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit l. Wheat bran ARs displayed a neuroprotective function, possibly by promoting the endogenous antioxidant defense system. ARs may be regarded as a functional food ingredient for preventing neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Moringa oleifera is a natural plant with high nutritional and pharmacological value. Leaves of M. oleifera contain a variety of active substances. In our previous research, we had obtained...

BACKGROUND Common oil-in-water plant-based emulsions are allergenic and unstable to environmental stress, leading to increased consumer concerns about the food industry. To solve the problem of safety and instability, we investigated the influence of environmental stress on the stability of emulsions containing various rice protein hydrolysates, and compared the performance to whey protein, a common food emulsifier. RESULTS Rice protein hydrolysates were obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis with different proteases (neutrase, trypsin and alcalase). We evaluated the stability of emulsions produced with different hydrolysates according to storage, pH, ionic strength and thermal processing. Trypsin hydrolysates formed emulsion as stable as emulsion containing whey protein against a range of environmental stress containing pH (pH 6 to 7), salt (

The aim of this study was to provide a basis for developing medical adhesives from soybean protein (SP) with improved adhesive properties. The structure of tyrosinase-modified SP was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Adhesion properties, including rheological behavior, hydrophobicity, cellular viability and bond strength of tyrosinase-modified SP glues onto porcine bones were investigated. The FTIR and XPS results indicated enzymatic modification of tyrosine residues in SP to DOPA (dopamine). Tyrosinase modification significantly increased viscosity, hydrophobicity and bond strength and changed the protein secondary structure of SP. There is a high correlation between adhesive strength and viscosity (r = 0.824, p

Protein hydrolysates, as surfactants, can scavenge radicals, but their poor distributions at the oil-water interface limit their storage stability. Therefore, we studied covalent interaction between rice protein hydrolysates and chlorogenic acid under alkaline conditions to improve the physical and oxidative stability of oil-in-water emulsions. Turbidity and particle size measurements demonstrated the formation of hydrolysates-chlorogenic acid complexes, and their covalent interaction resulted in the decrease and redshift of the fluorescence intensity. The emulsifying activity of the hydrolysates could be effectively improved after the covalent interaction with 0.025% chlorogenic acid. The modified emulsions possessed a notable physical stability according to the least changes in size (0.08 μm) and ζ-potential (3.34 mV) of the emulsion ( P > 0.05). Moreover, the covalent interaction endowed modified emulsions with high oxidative stability to effectively inhibit lipid oxidative deterioration during storage. The adsorption of hydrolysates to the emulsion interface was increased by the adequate addition of chlorogenic acid, which resulted in the oil droplet being surrounded by a thicker interfacial film. The covalent interaction between the protein hydrolysates and chlorogenic acid could be used to construct natural emulsion systems with a higher physical and oxidative stability during storage.

Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance accelerate atherosclerosis by an unclear mechanism. The two factors down-regulate insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), an intermediary of the insulin/IGF-I signaling system. We previously reported that IRS-1 down-regulation leads to vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dedifferentiation and that IRS-1 deletion from VSMCs in normoglycemic mice replicates this response. However, we did not determine IRS-1's role in mediating differentiation. Here, we sought to define the mechanism by which IRS-1 maintains VSMC differentiation. High glucose or IRS-1 knockdown decreased p53 levels by enhancing MDM2 proto-oncogene (MDM2)-mediated ubiquitination, resulting in decreased binding of p53 to Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). Exposure to nutlin-3, which dissociates MDM2/p53, decreased p53 ubiquitination and enhanced the p53/KLF4 association and differentiation marker protein expression. IRS-1 overexpression in high glucose inhibited the MDM2/p53 association, leading to increased p53 and p53/KLF4 levels, thereby increasing differentiation. Nutlin-3 treatment of diabetic or Irs1(−/−) mice enhanced p53/KLF4 and the expression of p21, smooth muscle protein 22 (SM22), and myocardin and inhibited aortic VSMC proliferation. Injecting normoglycemic mice with a peptide disrupting the IRS-1/p53 association reduced p53, p53/KLF4, and differentiation. Analyzing atherosclerotic lesions in hypercholesterolemic, diabetic pigs, we found that p53, IRS-1, SM22, myocardin, and KLF4/p53 levels are significantly decreased compared with their expression in nondiabetic pigs. We conclude that IRS-1 is critical for maintaining VSMC differentiation. Hyperglycemia- or insulin resistance–induced IRS-1 down-regulation decreases the p53/KLF4 association and enhances dedifferentiation and proliferation. Our results suggest that enhancing IRS-1–dependent p53 stabilization could attenuate the progression of atherosclerotic lesions in hyperglycemia and insulin-resistance states.

Pomegranate peels are rich in anthocyanins. The present study aimed to explore the beneficial effects of pomegranate peel anthocyanins (PPA) on obesity and gut microbiota in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity.Specific pathogen-free (SPF) male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into three groups and fed with low-fat diet (LFD, 10% fat energy), HFD (45% fat energy), or HFD supplemented with PPA by intragastric administration for 15 weeks. Body weight and food intake were monitored weekly. The obesity-related biochemical indexes and hepatic gene expression levels were determined. The compositions of the gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, and the association between the gut microbiota and obesity-related indicators was investigated by Spearman correlation analysis.The results showed that the body weight gain, steatosis scores and insulin resistance index in the PPA group decreased by 27.46%, 56.25%, and 46.07%, respectively, compared to the HFD group. Gene expression analysis indicated that PPA supplement improved the genes expression profiles involved in glucose and lipid metabolism compared with the mice fed HFD alone. Meanwhile, PPA significantly changed the composition of the gut microbiota, which were closely correlated with the obesity-related biomarkers.This study suggested that PPA could be a beneficial treatment option for alleviating HFD-induced obesity and related metabolic disorders by targeting microbiota and lipid metabolism.

To improve the antimicrobial properties of chitosan films, cinnamon essential oil (CEO) nanoemulsion (1% and 3% v/v CEO) stabilized by ethyl-N

5-n-Alkylresorcinols (ARs) are abundant in wheat bran and potentially antioxidative, although the neuroprotective mechanism is not fully understood. The neuroprotective effect of wheat bran ARs on H2O2-induced neuronal cells and the relationship between neuroprotection and the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant-response element (ARE) pathway were investigated in this study. Seven homologs were identified in the purified ARs by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pretreatment with 80 μg mL-1 ARs alleviated 23% HT22 cell death and the up-regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species level and malondialdehyde under H2O2 stimulation. The neuroprotection effect was proved by the increase in the Nrf2 nuclear location and up-regulation of mRNA and protein expressions of heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit, and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit l. Wheat bran ARs displayed a neuroprotective function, possibly by promoting the endogenous antioxidant defense system. ARs may be regarded as a functional food ingredient for preventing neurodegenerative diseases in the future.

Objective Acai is a rich source of anthocyanins and has been used as a dietary supplement and as an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Growing evidence indicates that host-microbial interactions played a vital role in the host metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the anthocyanin-rich extract of acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) fruit (AEA) regarding its antiobesity activity and gut microbiota-modulating effect. Methods Thirty-six male SPF C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups and fed a low-fat diet, high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet supplemented with AEA for 14 wk. The antiobesity effect of AEA was evaluated, and the microbial changes were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations between gut microbiota and obesity-related indicators. Results The results showed that AEA treatment alleviated HFD-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. Moreover, AEA supplement changed the structure of the gut microbiota, and significantly enriched Akkermansia muciniphila, which was negatively correlated with the physical biomarkers (e.g., serum glucose, insulin, and triacylglycerols) and the genes involved in lipid metabolism. Conclusion AEA alleviated high-fat diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis. The microbial changes may be one of the potential mechanisms for AEA in improving obesity and obesity-related disorders.

Previous studies have revealed that Selenium-enriched rice protein hydrolysates (SPHs) could alleviate Pb

This study explores the antioxidative effect of a specific wheat germ-derived peptide on high glucose-induced oxidative stress in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the underlying mechanisms. The peptide ADWGGPLPH was identified by LC-MS/MS. The effects of this peptide on the production of ROS and the expression of oxidative stress signaling proteins in VSMCs were determined. STZ-induced mice were utilized to confirm the anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic cardiovascular disease effects of this peptide in vivo. The results showed that ADWGGPLPH significantly prevented high glucose-induced cell proliferation, decreased intracellular ROS generation, stimulated AMPK activity, inhibited the PKCζ, AKT and Erk1/2 phosphorylation, and suppressed NOX4 protein expression. In addition, ADWGGPLPH enhanced the antioxidant abilities and attenuated inflammatory cytokine generation in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Therefore, ADWGGPLPH prevents high glucose-induced oxidative stress in VSMCs by modulating the PKCζ/AMPK/NOX4 pathway.

Previous reports have shown that plant-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate mammalian gene expression through dietary intake. Our prior study found that gma-miR159a, which is abundant in soybean, significantly inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells. In the current study, dietary gma-miR159a was utilized to study its anti-colon cancer function in azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon cancer mice. Under processing conditions, gma-miR159a exhibited excellent stability in cooked soybean. In vitro, gma-miR159a suppressed the expression of the oncogene MYC downstream of the Wnt signaling pathway by targeting the TCF7 gene, significantly inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells. The in vivo experiments showed that gma-miR159a and soybean RNA (total RNA extracted from soybean) significantly reduced tumor growth in AOM/DSS-induced colon cancer mice by gavage. This effect disappeared when anti-miR159a was present. In addition, gma-miR159a and soybean RNA significantly attenuated inflammation in colon cancer mice. These results showed that long-term dietary intake of soybean-derived gma-miR159a effectively prevented the occurrence of colon cancer and colitis, which provides novel evidence for the prevention function of soybean.

BACKGROUND: Astaxanthin is a red lipophilic carotenoid that is often undetectable in human plasma due to the limited supply in typical Western diets. Despite its presence at lower than detectable concentrations, previous clinical feeding studies have reported that astaxanthin exhibits potent antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVE: We examined astaxanthin accumulation and its effects on gut microbiota, inflammation, and whole-body metabolic homeostasis in wild-type C57BL/6 J (WT) and β-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) knockout (KO) mice. METHODS: Six-wk-old male and female BCO2 KO and WT mice were provided with either nonpurified AIN93M (e.g., control diet) or the control diet supplemented with 0.04% astaxanthin (wt/wt) ad libitum for 8 wk. Whole-body energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry. Feces were collected from individual mice for short-chain fatty acid assessment. Hepatic astaxanthin concentrations and liver metabolic markers, cecal gut microbiota profiling, inflammation markers in colonic lamina propria, and plasma samples were assessed. Data were analyzed by 3-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc analysis. RESULTS: BCO2 KO but not WT mice fed astaxanthin had ∼10-fold more of this compound in liver than controls (P

Various characteristics of soybeans play important roles in soybean oil quality. However, the relationship between soybean chemical traits and soybean oil processing quality characteristics is unclear. In this study, the chemical traits of soybean and ten characteristic parameters of soybean oil from 58 genotypes were determined. An evaluation model for the overall soybean oil quality was established according to ten parameters, based on which soybean oil of 58 genotypes was classified into three quality grades by cluster analysis. A prediction model for the quality of soybean oil based on the chemical traits of soybeans was constructed by stepwise regression. The relative errors between the actual values and the predicted values of the validation genotypes were less than 10%. The predicted quality for 11 of the 14 tested soybean varieties corresponded to the actual oil quality, suggesting that the model is reliable. Our study provides a method for selecting ideal soybean genotypes for producing high-quality soybean oil.

Film-forming dispersions and films based on chitosan (CS), gum arabic (GA) and cinnamon essential oil (CEO) were prepared. The influence of different mass ratios of CS/GA on properties of film-forming dispersions and antimicrobial activities of films were characterized. Especially, the effects of CS/GA ratios on the retention and release properties of CEO were quantified. Results showed that a lower ζ-potential and smaller particle size were obtained with increasing GA ratios from 1:0 to 1:2, indicating electrostatic interactions occurred between CS and GA. Fluorescence microscopy results demonstrated higher retention and less aggregation of CEO in the composite films, meaning increased compatibility of the multiphased system when proportions of GA increased from 1:0 to 1:2. The loss of CEO in fresh films (day 0) was reduced from 54.56% to 34.23% and its retention time during storage was increased up to 15 days. TGA analysis further verified higher retention of CEO during heating. In addition, a delayed and sustained release of CEO was observed, thus enhancing antimicrobial activities of composite films. However, when the ratio of CS/GA was at 1: 4, the electrostatic interactions between CS and GA tended to reach maximum, leading to the formation of insoluble complexes, which was not beneficial for the retention and release properties of CEO in composite films.

In this study, Laponite RD (LRD) cross-linked hydrogels consisting of starch, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared by freezing/thawing process and the influence of LRD content on structure and properties of hydrogels was investigated. FTIR showed a new structure of hydrogen bonding might result from cross-linking reactions between LRD and polymers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that high degree of exfoliation of LRD clay layers had occurred during the preparation of hydrogels. The synergistic effect of physical cross-linking by freeze/thaw cycles and by LRD led to more porous, uniform and stable network, which was shown in SEM images. The melting temperature decreased and thermal stability got improved with the increase of LRD content. Reswelling ratios of hydrogels had the highest value when LRD content was 10%. Additionally, cadmium ion absorption capacity of the hydrogel was studied and the results showed that increasing the concentration of LRD increased absorption ratio and amount of Cd2+ ion in the solution. In a word, LRD could be used as a physical crosslinker and reinforced agent for starch-PVA based hydrogels and the formed hydrogels could be used as novel type and high capacity absorbent materials in heavy metal removing processes.

Dysbiosis, a broad spectrum of imbalance of the gut microbiota, may progress to microbiota dysfunction. Dysbiosis is linked to some human diseases, such as inflammation-related disorders and metabolic syndromes. However, the underlying mechanisms of the pathogenesis of dysbiosis remain elusive. Recent findings suggest that the microbiome and gut immune responses, like immunoglobulin A production, play critical roles in the gut homeostasis and function, and the progression of dysbiosis. In the past two decades, much progress has been made in better understanding of production of immunoglobulin A and its association with commensal microbiota. The present minireview summarizes the recent findings in the gut microbiota dysbiosis and dysfunction of immunoglobulin A induced by the imbalance of pathogenic bacteria and commensal microbiota. We also propose the potentials of dietary carotenoids, such as β-carotene and astaxanthin, in the improvement of the gut immune system maturation and immunoglobulin A production, and the consequent promotion of the gut health. Impact statement The concept of carotenoid metabolism in the gut health has not been well established in the literature. Here, we review and discuss the roles of retinoic acid and carotenoids, including pro-vitamin A carotenoids and xanthophylls in the maturation of the gut immune system and IgA production. This is the first review article about the carotenoid supplements and the metabolites in the regulation of the gut microbiome. We hope this review would provide a new direction for the management of the gut microbiota dysbiosis by application of bioactive carotenoids and the metabolites.

An electrochemical sensor was fabricated by modifying nanoporous gold (NPG)-coated glassy carbon electrode (NPG/GCE) with functionalized graphene oxide /chitosan/ionic liquid nanocomposites (fGO/CS/IL). The introduction of ionic liquid (IL) and chitosan (CS) induced higher dispersibility of functionalized graphene oxide (fGO), and was beneficial for the combination of fGO/CS/IL with NPG/GCE. As a result of the synergistic effect of NPG and fGO/CS/IL, the resulted functionalized graphene oxide/chitosan/ionic liquid nanocomposites/nanoporous gold /glassy carbon electrode (fGO/CS/IL/NPG/GCE) showed the highest redox peak current response signal of Amaranth (E123) due to ultrahigh surface area, electronic conductivity as well as the improvement of the surface structure. Under optimized conditions, the enhanced peak currents represented excellent analytical performance for detection of Amaranth in the concentration range from 8.0 to 1200.0 nM. Meanwhile, the fGO/CS/IL/NPG/GCE presented satisfactory sensitivity and selectivity, excellent reproducibility, and long-time stability. For practical applications, the fGO/CS/IL/NPG/GCE was validated for the determination of Amaranth in three types of drinks with satisfactory results.

Ferric citrate has been used to treat hyperphosphatemia, a prevalent symptom in patients with chronic kidney disease while ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), a more dissolvable format, is widely used as food additive. However, excess iron is associated with osteoporosis. Dietary soybean products have been shown to prevent the progression of osteoporosis. In this study, a group of peptides, referred as P3, was identified from the enzymolysis of soybean protein isolates, and its biological functions were investigated. The results showed that MC3T3-E1 cell cycle progression from G0/G1 to S phase was accelerated by P3 treatment. MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation was enhanced by P3 via ERK1/2 activation. Importantly, P3 treatment abolished the antiproliferative effect of FAC on MC3T3-E1 cell. In addition, P3 treatment increased the expression of ALP, COL-1, OCN, consequently promoting the differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells via activation of p38 MAPK pathway. Consequently, P3 treatment was able to reverse the inhibitory effect of FAC on osteoblasts differentiation and mineralization. Our findings suggest P3, as a dietary supplement, has a potential therapeutic function to attenuate the adverse effects of FAC on bone metabolism and to prevent osteoporosis progression.

β-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2) is a carotenoid cleavage enzyme located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Ablation of BCO2 impairs mitochondrial function leading to oxidative stress. Herein, we performed a targeted metabolomics study using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy to discriminate global metabolites profiles in liver samples from six-week-old male BCO2 systemic knockout (KO), heterozygous (Het), and wild type (WT) mice fed a chow diet. Principal components analysis revealed distinct differences in metabolites in the livers of KO mice, compared to WT and Het mice. However, no marked difference was found in the metabolites of the Het mouse liver compared to the WT. We then conducted random forest analysis to classify the potential biomarkers to further elucidate the different metabolomics profiles. We found that systemic ablation of BCO2 led to perturbations in mitochondrial function and metabolism in the TCA cycle, amino acids, carnitine, lipids, and bile acids. In conclusion, BCO2 is essential to macronutrient and mitochondrial metabolism in the livers of mice. The ablation of BCO2 causes dysfunctional mitochondria and altered energy metabolism, which further leads to systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. A single functional copy of BCO2 largely rescues the hepatic metabolic homeostasis in mice.

Summary The effect of soy protein addition on physical properties of extruded corn starch was studied. The correlations between the chemical bonds in proteins and the physical properties of extrudates were analysed. Increasing soy protein isolate content resulted in higher expansion ratio (ER) but lower bulk density (BD), hardness, water solubility index (WSI), degree of starch gelatinisation (DSG), content of sulphydryl (SH) groups and protein solubility in phosphate buffer. In the other hand, increasing the processing temperature resulted in higher ER, water absorption index, DSG, contents of the SH group and disulphide (SS) bond but in lower specific mechanical energy, BD, hardness and WSI. The results indicated that changes in the chemical bonds in proteins had a significant effect on the apparent physical properties of extrudates. More protein–protein and protein–starch cross-linking reactions occurred through new chemical linkages, such as the nondisulphide covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds, which are beneficial to the expansion of starch-based products.

Eupatorium lindleyanum has traditionally been used as folk medicine in Asian countries for its therapeutic effects on tracheitis and tonsillitis. Investigation of the anti-inflammatory active constituents from E. lindleyanum led to the isolation of two novel sesquiterpene lactones, named eupalinolide L (1) and eupalinolide M (2), and seven known sesquiterpene lactones (3–9). The structures and configurations of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D NMR techniques. In vivo experiments showed that the sesquiterpenes fraction significantly reduced mouse ear edema induced by xylene (18.6%, p

The aim of this study was to provide a basis for the preparation of medical adhesives from soybean protein sources. Effects of guar gum (GG) on the adhesion properties, microstructure and bond strength of soybean protein isolate (SPI) glues onto porcine bones were investigated. The results indicated that the tensile-bond strength of SPI adhesives first increased with an increase in GG concentration and later decreased after reaching a peak. The bond strength of 5% SPI adhesive was maximal with the addition of 0.5% GG, for which the strength was 2.8-fold higher than the control. GG addition significantly increased the zero-shear viscosity and hydrogen bonding, and changed the protein secondary structure of SPI adhesives with a decline in the α-helix content and an increase in the β-sheet content. X-ray diffraction analysis showed significant interactions between GG and SPI molecules and good miscibility of GG and SPI. The protein structure tended to loosen, and the adhesives formed an amorphous structure that favors the bonding between adhesives and bones. Taken together, GG addition caused an increase in the hydrogen bonding, density of protein aggregates and zero-shear viscosity of SPI adhesives, leading to a significant increase in the bond strength of SPI adhesives onto porcine bones.