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Sweeteners are food additives used in processed foods and beverages, as well as health products and medicines. Due to low cost, zero calories, and intense sweetness, nonnutritive sweeteners have been widely used to replace table sugar and become the preferred strategy to manage human health. Non-nutritive sweeteners are traditionally considered to be metabolically inert, while more and more evidence indicates that they affect human health by perturbing gut microbiota and energy homeostasis. The impact of non-nutritive sweeteners on metabolic diseases still remains controversial. This review covered a total of 10 commonly used non-nutritive sweeteners, either naturally occurring or artificial, and summarized their origin, applications, and impacts on metabolic diseases, especially obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The sensory assessment methods were summarized and applied to evaluate the suitability and consumer acceptance of sweeteners. The purpose of this review is to summarize the potential impacts of sweeteners on metabolic diseases, guide the safe application of sweeteners, and speculate on the future development of sweeteners.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is one of main risk factors for liver injury, and xanthine oxidase (XOD) is an important target for HUA-induced liver injury. As a typical natural active ingredient, naringenin (NAR) has been confirmed the good therapeutic effect on variety of diseases. However, studies of NAR ameliorating HUA-induced liver injury have not been reported. Therefore, we evaluated the bioactivity of NAR in ameliorating HUA-induced liver injury and investigated the related molecular mechanisms. The inhibitory activity and type of NAR on XOD was investigated by enzymatic reactions and kinetic analyses, and molecular docking showed that NAR was able to bind tightly to XOD. In vivo activity studies showed that NAR ameliorated liver function while being able to inhibit XOD activity. NAR alleviated oxidative stress in the liver caused by excess reactive oxygen species through antioxidant activity. At the same time, NAR exerted anti-inflammatory activity by regulating the levels of inflammatory factors. The molecular docking results suggested that NAR was able to interact with Keap1 and AMPK to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This work demonstrated the therapeutic effect of NAR on HUA-induced liver injury, which was valuable for the further development of related functional foods.

Obesity has become a global public health concern, yet an effective, low-toxic, and high-compliance strategy for its control remains elusive. This study aims to develop a novel comprehensive intervention method for the management of obesity and its complications. Thus, we designed a functional solid beverage named RLMCR, which consists of medicinal and edible Chinese herbs. We identified its chemical composition and evaluated its efficacy. Our results indicated that RLMCR was abundant in various functional ingredients, including flavonoids, polyphenols, and terpenoids. It could mitigate lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells by upregulating the expression of lipolysis-related genes. We then established diet-induced obese (DIO) mice models, which were administered with low, middle, and high doses of RLMCR for 8 weeks. Our findings indicated that the optimal dosage of RLMCR for weight loss was 3.0 g/kg, which effectively mitigated weight gain, lipid accumulation, hepatic steatosis, and abnormal glucose metabolism. Following treatment, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and thermogenesis were increased in DIO mice, without affecting food intake. The content of brown adipose tissue was significantly elevated, and the expression of thermogenesis-related genes and lipolysis-related genes in the epididymal white adipose tissue was upregulated. So, we developed a novel functional food that effectively mitigates obesity and its related metabolic disorders.

Salvia, a widely recognized genus globally esteemed for its traditional and medicinal applications, prompted our investigation into the methanol and water extracts of eight Salvia species native to Turkey. These species included S. aucheri, S. candidissima, S. divaricata, S. virgata, S. multicaulis, S. palestina, S. trichoclada, and S. cerino-pruinosa. Our study aimed to assess their biological properties and chemical composition. Utilizing HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS, we identified chemical constituents in the extracts, while antioxidant (radical quenching, reducing power, and metal chelating) and enzyme inhibitory (amylase, glucosidase, tyrosinase, and cholinesterase) activities were evaluated for biological activities. One hundred thirty-one compounds were characterized in the tested extracts. Although many compounds belonging to different chemical families were identified, the main compounds in all the extracts were rosmarinic and sagerinic acids, along with several salvianolic acid isomers. Notably, the methanol extracts displayed superior antioxidant properties overall, with S. cerino-pruinosa exhibiting the highest activity among them, except for metal chelating. Similar to the antioxidant test results, the methanol extracts were more active than the water extracts in the enzyme inhibition tests. Multivariate analysis further highlighted the distinctiveness of the water extract of S. cerino-pruinosa. In conclusion, our findings underscore the biopharmaceutical potential of the tested Salvia species, suggesting their significance as sources of bioactive agents for health-promoting applications.

Chayote (Sechium edule) has been traditionally used in Mexico to manage diabetes, owing to its hypoglycemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of chayote juice (SEJ) in preventing pancreatic dysfunction remain underexplored. This study investigated the pancreatic protective effects and underlying mechanisms of SEJ in multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model and H₂O₂-treated mouse insulinoma cell line (MIN-6). C57BL/6 mice were administered MLD-STZ to induce pancreatic dysfunction and treated with SEJ. Diabetic parameters, pancreatic islet morphology, and protein expressions were evaluated. H₂O₂-treated MIN-6 cells were used to assess SEJ's protective mechanisms at the cellular level. Molecular docking studies were performed to elucidate interactions between SEJ phenolic compounds and key proteins involved in oxidative stress. SEJ significantly preserved pancreatic islet structure and insulin levels, reducing blood glucose levels. Mechanistically, SEJ suppressed the expression of apoptosis markers (caspase-3, PARP, BAX) and inflammatory markers (NF-κB, iNOS, NLRP3) in the pancreas and MIN6 cells, indicating protection of the pancreas and β-cells. Furthermore, SEJ upregulates endogenous anti-oxidant proteins (Nrf-2, HO-1), which are essential for mitigating oxidative stress-induced cell stress in diabetes circumstances. Molecular docking indicated that vicenin-2 in SEJ exhibit strong binding affinities to KEAP-1, Nrf-2, and HO-1 proteins. SEJ demonstrates substantial pancreatic protective effects through its anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory actions. These findings suggest that chayote juice could be developed as a functional food for diabetes management.

Kiwifruit is easy to ripen and soften after harvest. Tea tree oil (TTO) has important application value in postharvest fruit preservation. However, the effect of TTO on kiwifruit fruit ripening, quality maintenance and energy metabolism, has not been studied. In this research, we found that TTO could delay ‘Xuxiang’ kiwifruit ripening, and keep good quality even after 18 days of storage. In three different concentrations of TTO treatments, 2.0 mL L⁻¹ TTO has the best preservation effect on kiwifruit. TTO slowed down the softening and degreening, reduced the respiration intensity and delayed the peak of respiration. Moreover, TTO also delayed the decrease of total sugar, titratable acid (TA) and vitamin C (Vc). The fruit treated with TTO kept higher levels of ATP, ADP and energy charge (EC), and higher activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) and ATPase. Correlation analysis results showed that kiwifruit ripening was closely related to nutritional quality and energy metabolism. To summarize, TTO could delay kiwifruit ripening and keep fruit quality by maintaining higher energy level and activities of energy metabolism-related enzymes during the late storage. This study will provide theoretical and technical support for kiwifruit preservation.

Xanthohumol (XN) exhibits numerous physiological activities, yet its instability and proneness to degradation limit its use. Microemulsions, noted for effective drug solubilization and delivery, have been employed to enhance XN's stability and bioavailability in functional beers, using sophorolipids (SL) and Tween 80 (T80) as surfactants. Our development of T80-ME and T80-SL-ME stabilized XN, as confirmed by reduced degradation in high-performance liquid chromatography analysis and kinetic modeling. We established in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetic models, demonstrating improved outcomes with XN-enriched beer. Our study also assessed total phenols, flavonoids, and antiaging effects in the beer. The formulation minimally affected beer's physicochemical properties, including pH, turbidity, and bitterness. Notably, XN's bioavailability in beer improved 1.79- to 7.33-fold, underscoring microemulsion technology's role in enhancing XN absorption and metabolism. We analyzed the sensory flavor impact of SL biosurfactants in beer, finding them acceptable to consumers. This study highlights microemulsions' potential in elevating functional beer's nutritive value and applications.

This study aimed to enrich flavonoids from Dendrobium catenatum Wall ex Lindl flowers using macroporous resins and investigate their bioactivity. The optimal enrichment process with HP2MGL resin was established with a total flavonoid concentration of 0.50 mg/mL, a sample flow rate of 1 BV/h, and a sample volume of 25.5 BV. Desorption was performed using 80% ethanol at a flow rate of 3 BV/h and an eluent volume of 5 BV. The purified extract showed a 7.3-fold increase in purity compared to the crude extract. A total of 33 major compounds in the purified flavonoids were identified and quantified, including flavonols and flavonoid C-glycosides, with hyperoside being the most abundant. In vivo tests demonstrated that the enriched extract extended the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans, enhanced locomotion, and increased superoxide dismutase activity while significantly reducing oxidative stress markers such as lipofuscin, reactive oxygen species, and malondialdehyde. The findings provide a practical method for large-scale extraction of flavonoids from D. catenatum flowers and suggest that Dendrobium catenatum flower extract (DCFE-E) exhibits strong antiaging properties, indicating potential applications in functional foods and cosmetics. This research contributes to the scientific understanding of D. catenatum resource utilization and enhances the value of its products.

Celtis australis L. (Family: Cannabaceae) is commonly used to treat many diseases like gastrointestinal problems, menstrual bleeding and amenorrhea. The present study was designed to investigate the chemical constituents, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory and cytotoxic properties of different extracts from twigs, fruits and leaves of C. australis. EtOAc, EtOH, 70% EtOH and aqueous extracts were prepared by maceration. Results showed that the EtOH extract of the leaves had the highest total phenolic content and possessed remarkable antiradical, ion reducing and total antioxidant activities. Additionally, the leaves (EtOH or EtOAc extracts) exerted the best enzyme inhibition properties. The polar extracts of the leaves had significant cytotoxic effect against the human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29) and human prostate cancer (DU-145) cell lines while the EtOAc of the twigs was effective against the former cell line. Phytochemically, the twigs and fruits accumulated high content of vanillic acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid and syringic acid. Through a combination of in vitro and in silico approaches, we identified key phytochemicals exhibited significant inhibitory effects on several cancer-related proteins, through in vitro and in silico approaches that show significant inhibition of cancer-related proteins. In conclusion, these findings indicated that C. australis could be a promising source of bioactive molecules for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

Arbutin, a naturally occurring hydroquinone, has gained attention for its diverse pharmacological properties. Traditional uses include blood sugar regulation and wound healing, while modern applications focus on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Its synthesis involves complex biochemical pathways, contributing to its unique characteristics. Pharmacokinetic studies have shed light on its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, crucial for understanding its efficacy. Toxicity concerns underscore the need for further research into its safety. Additionally, novel dosage forms of arbutin are explored, presenting innovative strategies to enhance its delivery and efficacy in therapeutic applications. Arbutin's pharmacological activities span antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glucose metabolism regulation thus modulating various molecular pathways and targets, such as glucose transporter-4, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, offering promising therapeutic avenues in medicine. This review covers arbutin comprehensively, encompassing its sources, chemical properties, synthesis methods, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activities, food supplements, toxicity profiles, and novel dosage forms. By addressing these aspects, the review lays the groundwork for future research and development in natural therapeutics.