Food Bioscience最新文献

Glycidol (CAS: 556-52-5), a known carcinogen and genotoxicant, is often found in refined vegetable oils. Human exposure predominantly occurs through consumption of these oils and their byproducts, which contain glycidyl esters (GEs). Upon ingestion, GEs are metabolized to release glycidol, posing substantial health hazards. Historical studies have reported the tumorigenic properties of glycidol across various organs in mice models, encompassing the stomach, liver, lungs, brain, mammary gland, and skin. In this study, we employed a Balb/c mice model to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of glycidol following exposure to escalating doses (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg bw/day). The hepatotoxicity was evidenced by a significant elevation in liver enzymes (ALT, AST), indicative of liver cell damage. Furthermore, biochemical analysis revealed heightened levels of oxidative stress indicators (SOD, MDA, GSH) and the upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins, underscoring the cellular stress response. The induction of hepatocyte apoptosis served as a direct marker of liver damage caused by glycidol exposure. Additionally, glycidol altered the composition of intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which unbalanced homeostasis. Gut barrier integrity markers (ZO-1, Claudin-1, Occludin, TLR4, LPS) indicated increased permeability of harmful substances to the liver via the gut-liver axis, which exacerbated hepatic injury. These findings highlight glycidol's disruption of gut homeostasis and its hepatotoxic potential.

Crosslinking is a promising way to fabricate high-performance aerogels. In this study, vanillin (Van) crosslinked gelatin–polyvinyl alcohol (Gel−PVA) aerogels were prepared by vacuum freeze-drying method. The effects of different addition levels of Van on FTIR spectra, microstructures and physicochemical properties including water stability, mechanical properties, thermal stability and thermal insulation properties of aerogels were characterized, and antimicrobial activity of aerogels were validated. The results showed that Van exerted its crosslinking function through Schiff base bonding with Gel and hydrogen bonding with Gel and PVA. Although Van addition caused a slight decline in the thermal insulation performance and the obvious increase in pore diameter of aerogels, moderate Van crosslinking contributed to water stability, mechanical properties and thermal stability of aerogels. Besides, Van crosslinked Gel−PVA aerogel could effectively inhibit the growth of E. coli and B. cinerea. This suggests that the aerogel has promising applications in antimicrobial food packaging.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism through which a degraded sweet corn cob polysaccharide (UE-DSCCP-A) mitigates T2DM by modulating hepatic lipid metabolism. Biochemical indices pertinent to lipid metabolism were assessed, and liver pathology was examined in T2DM mice following UE-DSCCP-A treatment. Additionally, metabolomics, PCR, and Western blot analyses were employed to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. These findings indicated that UE-DSCCP-A ameliorated hepatic lipid metabolism disorders, decreased lipid accumulation, and mitigated hepatic fibrosis. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that UE-DSCCP-A modulated pathways associated with steroid biosynthesis and bile acid synthesis and metabolism in T2DM mice. The bile acid assay results demonstrated that UE-DSCCP-A treatment reduced bile acid levels in both the serum and liver but increased fecal bile acid levels in T2DM mice. Furthermore, alterations in bile acid distribution within the liver were observed. UE-DSCCP-A has the capacity to activate the hepatic FXR-SHP pathway as well as the gut-liver axis involving FXR-FGF15-FGFR4 signaling. Consequently, UE-DSCCP-A is capable of modulating critical target genes and proteins associated with bile acid synthesis and metabolism, regulating steroid biosynthesis, and influencing bile acid synthesis and transport within the liver. Additionally, it has beneficial effects on lipid metabolism disorders in individuals with T2DM. Thus, UE-DSCCP-A represents a promising candidate for functional foods with inherent hypoglycemic properties.

In humans, excess accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produces oxidative stress, resulting in cell and tissue damage, and eventually, leading to variety of diseases. Excess ROS can be eliminated, and its detrimental repercussions avoided by combining endogenous and exogenous antioxidants. A plant-based diet and dietary supplements are a major source of exogenous antioxidants; however, fungi, bacteria, lichens, insects, and algae (macroalgae and microalgae) are also deemed as potential sources for exogenous antioxidants. For example, algal biomass and extracts can be directly consumed or their purified metabolites can be used as antioxidants. Furthermore, some exogenous antioxidant molecules can be synthesized only by algae but not by other organisms. Antioxidant molecules derived from algae, include a variety of polysaccharides, pigments (carotenoids, phycobiliproteins etc), mycosporins-like amino acids, phytosterols, phenolic compounds (phenolic acids, bromophenols, phlorotannins, flavonoids etc), fatty acids, and alkaloids. They exhibit potent antioxidant activities confirmed by in vitro scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide radicals) and/or by reducing or chelating metal ions. In addition, algal-derived antioxidants have also been tested in in vivo models and have demonstrated high antioxidant activities achieved by upregulation of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. This review study focuses on the antioxidant potential of different natural compounds obtained from different algal groups (macroalgae, eukaryotic microalgae and prokaryotic microalgae). This review is based primarily on research and review articles published in the last five years (2019–2023) and written in English.

Chronic wounds incidence is increasing and affects millions of people around the world, causing great psychological and socio-economic impacts. However, treatments that can effectively promote wound healing are still lacking. In this study, grape pomace (GP), the main residue from winemaking production was explored as a source of high added-value raw material directed for the topical treatment of Staphylococcus aureus chronic wound infections. Crude GP extracts (composed of stalks or a skin and seeds mixture–from red and white grape varieties) obtained using a modified solid-liquid extraction (water, ethanol, and acetone solvents) were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays), as well as the richness of phenolic compounds (total phenolic content-TPC, total flavonoid content-TFC, and HPLC-DAD assays). The GP extracts with the most favorable results were incorporated in a chitosan-alginate hydrogel (cross-linked with glutaraldehyde and calcium chloride), characterized (swelling, degradation, and release properties), and tested for its bioactivity (antioxidant and antimicrobial potential). TPC and TFC were higher in red GP extracts, as confirmed by the HPLC analysis, indicating a greater diversity of compounds in these extracts. Ethanolic white GP extracts (from skin-seeds mixture) showed the highest extraction yield and antioxidant activity. Their incorporation into the chitosan-alginate hydrogel improved its swelling and antimicrobial properties (total cytoplasmic membranes disruption and culturability reduction). A biomaterial with high swelling capacity and antibacterial activity against S. aureus was obtained, which can potentially promote wound healing by exudate absorption and infection clearance while promoting valorization of by-products and stimulating a circular economy.

Enzyme based starch modification has attracted much attention form recent years due to formation various functional derivatives with novel processing and functional properties such as resistant to digestion, thermos-reversible gel formation, etc. It has emerges as a promising method due to their high specificity, safety, and eco-friendly nature. Starch-modifying enzymes hydrolyse or form glycosidic bonds causing alteration in the amylose/amylopectin ratio, molecular weight and distribution of branch chain-length that has reduced limitation possessed by NSs i.e., low water-holding capacity, insolubility, syneresis retrogradation, etc. The review delves into the key enzymes used for modifying starch, affecting the structural and functional properties of starch. These alteration in starch properties provide guidelines in designing a new starch-based products with desired structure and properties for the food industry.

Selenium (Se), as an essential element for the human body, cannot be produced by itself, making Se-rich products research a current hotspot. Microorganisms are common Se-rich carriers and previous experiments mainly focused on yeast and lactic acid bacteria, lacking mold. In this study, the total Se and organic Se content in Monascus purpureus (M. purpureus) were determined by a liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry after fermentation, applying inorganic sodium selenite as exogenous Se. The research results indicated that M. purpureus successfully converted inorganic Se into organic Se, with an organic Se to total Se ratio of 30.50%, 36.14%, 39.94%, 46.18%, and 53.00% at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg/L sodium selenite, respectively. The proportion of Se-protein (28.04%–47.33%) was highest in organic Se, especially water-soluble Se-protein, followed by Se-polysaccharide (3.80%–5.07%) and Se-nucleic acid (1.84%–3.07%). Furthermore, Se-enriched treatment did not significantly alter the morphology or structure of M. purpureus, while enriching the types and content of volatile components in the fermentation broth. Thus, this study was expected to lay the foundation for the development and utilization of Se-rich M. purpureus products.

The extension of bread shelf life through natural preservatives has received significant attention, yet the effects of such preservatives under specific storage conditions and their impact on microbial diversity remain underexplored. This study aimed to prepare and characterize microencapsulated cinnamon essential oil (CEO-Ms) using the spray drying method. The CEO-Ms were analyzed for their morphology, structure, and thermal stability using scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Furthermore, antimicrobial sachets containing CEO-Ms were prepared to evaluate the impact on the shelf life and microbial diversity of packaged bread. The results confirmed the successful encapsulation of CEO, preserving its volatile components and demonstrating excellent thermal stability. Notably, CEO-Ms effectively prolong the shelf life of bread without direct contact, while also inhibiting dominant genera and enhancing community diversity. These findings demonstrate that CEO-Ms can alter the microbial community structure and diversity, providing a new insight into the relationship between microbial dynamics and food shelf life.

Certain instances of medicine food homology (MFH) have an antihypertensive effect, which has a therapeutic effect on hypertension, but their mechanism in treating hypertension and improving blood pressure is still unclear. The objective of this study is to analyze the potential bioactive substances and the hypotensive mechanism by which the MFH compound solution (Hawthorn:Lycium barbarum:Cassia = 4:1:1) with a high angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition rate. This will be achieved through the use of network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques, which will be further validated through experimental testing. The key components in the MFH compound solution were obtained by constructing the component-disease target network, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were used to explore the pathways of the MFH compound solution participating in anti-hypertension. The content of the main active ingredients in the MFH compound solution was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The main active components were quercetin, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin, while the identified core genes were AKT1 and TP53. Through pathway analysis, the mechanisms of the MFH compound solution against hypertension may be Lipid and atherosclerosis, Calcium signaling pathway, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, etc. Moreover, the molecular docking of five key compounds and the top five targets verified the reliability of network pharmacology results. HPLC analysis revealed that these five active substances were detected in the MFH compound solution, where kaempferol was the most abundant. This study revealed that the MFH compound exerted a hypotensive effect through multiple targets and pathways.

Wild plants provide important bioactive compounds, and their analysis relies heavily on selecting the right extraction techniques and solvents. This study was conducted to determine the phenolic content and biopharmaceutical potential of four different extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol, 70% ethanol, and water) from the aerial parts of wild plant Tordylium apulum L. The biochemical profile of the extract was screened using high performance liquid chromatography -mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was examined using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and the aluminium trichloride assay, respectively. The antioxidant activity was evaluated through several tests, including 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), phosphomolybdenum (PBD), and metal chelating activity (MCA). Five types of enzyme inhibition activity were tested against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Additionally, For the first time, the inhibitory activity of T. apulum extract against human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I and II (hCA-I and hCA-II) was evaluated. Fifty-five compounds for negative ionization mode, and twenty-eight compounds for positive ionization mode were recorded in HPLC-MS analysis and they were polyphenolic, flavonoids, carbohydrates, sugar alcohol and amino acids. These results indicate that different solvents extract varying levels of antioxidants from T. apulum, with ethanol and water extracts generally exhibiting superior antioxidant activities. The ethanol extract of T. apulum exhibited the maximum contents of total phenolics measuring 33.71 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g. The ethanol extract exhibited the highest inhibition of AChE with 2.28 mg galanthamine equivalent (GALAE)/g. The ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts also showed the highest hCA-I and hCA-II inhibition potential, respectively. The ethanol-water and water extracts acted on the biofilm of E. coli (49.93% and 45.22%, respectively), and the biofilm of P. aeruginosa (50.68% and 44.46%, respectively). The extracts were tested on different cell lines for cytotoxic potentials and in particular the water extract induced the apoptotic pathways in cervical cancer (HELA) cell lines. In conclusion, T. apulum exhibit multidirectional biological properties and it could be considered as a versatile agent for the development of health-promoting applications.