Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108280
Wanyi Wang , Haiyu Shi , Meng Zhang , Jia Mi , Lu Lu , Bo Jin , Lutao Zhang , Abdul Rehman , Chunhong Liu , Yamei Yan , Linwu Ran
Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy and functional food, contains polysaccharides (LBP) as its main active constituents. LBP has been shown to improve blood glucose and immune function. However, its effects under ageing conditions, particularly with high-fat diet (HFD) consumption, remain unclear. Herein, we evaluated the effects of water-soluble LBP on glucose and lipid metabolism and on immune function in elderly mice fed a high-fat diet. 2-month-old and 17-month-old female C57BL/6 mice were used. The mice were assigned to 5 groups: young, ageing, ageing +0.3 % LBP, ageing + HFD, and ageing + HFD +0.3 % LBP. The results showed that 0.3 % LBP extract treatment significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and improved glucose tolerance in HFD-fed ageing mice. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that LBP extract ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation and adipocyte hypertrophy and increased GLUT4 expression in adipocytes. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that in HFD-fed ageing mice, LBP extract intervention significantly decreased the proportion of peripheral MDSCs and increased the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Additionally, correlation analysis revealed significant associations among fasting blood glucose, MDSCs proportion, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio. These findings highlight the preventive effect of LBP on aging-associated metabolic and immune dysfunction.
{"title":"Water soluble polysaccharides from the fruits of Lycium barbarum L. improve glucose and lipid metabolism and boost immune function in elderly mice fed a high-fat diet","authors":"Wanyi Wang , Haiyu Shi , Meng Zhang , Jia Mi , Lu Lu , Bo Jin , Lutao Zhang , Abdul Rehman , Chunhong Liu , Yamei Yan , Linwu Ran","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Goji berry (<em>Lycium barbarum</em> L.), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy and functional food, contains polysaccharides (LBP) as its main active constituents. LBP has been shown to improve blood glucose and immune function. However, its effects under ageing conditions, particularly with high-fat diet (HFD) consumption, remain unclear. Herein, we evaluated the effects of water-soluble LBP on glucose and lipid metabolism and on immune function in elderly mice fed a high-fat diet. 2-month-old and 17-month-old female C57BL/6 mice were used. The mice were assigned to 5 groups: young, ageing, ageing +0.3 % LBP, ageing + HFD, and ageing + HFD +0.3 % LBP. The results showed that 0.3 % LBP extract treatment significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and improved glucose tolerance in HFD-fed ageing mice. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that LBP extract ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation and adipocyte hypertrophy and increased GLUT4 expression in adipocytes. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that in HFD-fed ageing mice, LBP extract intervention significantly decreased the proportion of peripheral MDSCs and increased the CD4<sup>+</sup>/CD8<sup>+</sup> ratio. Additionally, correlation analysis revealed significant associations among fasting blood glucose, MDSCs proportion, and CD4<sup>+</sup>/CD8<sup>+</sup> ratio. These findings highlight the preventive effect of LBP on aging-associated metabolic and immune dysfunction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108280"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108281
Pierre Liboureau , Klevia Dishnica , Agnes Mols-Mortensen , Daniela Maria Pampanin
Seaweeds contain diverse bioactive compounds and are promising candidates for functional foods and nutraceuticals, though many studies lack in vivo relevance. This research used cell-based assays and transcriptomics to assess the effects of digested extracts from dried Alaria esculenta (Phaeophyceae), Palmaria palmata (Rhodophyta), and combinations of the two on human intestinal epithelium health. Caco-2 cells were exposed to seaweed extracts obtained through in vitro digestion and tested for viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, wound healing, and IL-8 inflammatory response. At realistic intake concentrations (0.5–2 g), all extracts significantly inhibited ROS production induced by external stress. Cell viability was significantly increased by both species and their 1:1 mixture. No changes in anti-inflammatory or wound healing activities were recorded. Transcriptomics analysis revealed species-specific molecular response: A. esculenta activated cell defence pathways, while P. palmata enhanced nutrient transport and cellular functions. These differences suggest a potential complementary aspect of the two species for intestinal health, although analyses of the mixture effects suggest they may be antagonistic rather than synergistic. Small, significant differences between Norwegian and Faroese seaweed extracts suggest population and environmental effects on bioactive properties. Overall, both species showed protective properties against oxidative stress and may be good candidates as intestinal health supplements.
{"title":"Protective effects of Alaria esculenta and Palmaria palmata extracts on intestinal epithelial cells: insights from cell-based assays and transcriptomics","authors":"Pierre Liboureau , Klevia Dishnica , Agnes Mols-Mortensen , Daniela Maria Pampanin","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seaweeds contain diverse bioactive compounds and are promising candidates for functional foods and nutraceuticals, though many studies lack <em>in vivo</em> relevance. This research used cell-based assays and transcriptomics to assess the effects of digested extracts from dried <em>Alaria esculenta</em> (Phaeophyceae), <em>Palmaria palmata</em> (Rhodophyta), and combinations of the two on human intestinal epithelium health. Caco-2 cells were exposed to seaweed extracts obtained through <em>in vitro</em> digestion and tested for viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, wound healing, and IL-8 inflammatory response. At realistic intake concentrations (0.5–2 g), all extracts significantly inhibited ROS production induced by external stress. Cell viability was significantly increased by both species and their 1:1 mixture. No changes in anti-inflammatory or wound healing activities were recorded. Transcriptomics analysis revealed species-specific molecular response: <em>A. esculenta</em> activated cell defence pathways, while <em>P. palmata</em> enhanced nutrient transport and cellular functions. These differences suggest a potential complementary aspect of the two species for intestinal health, although analyses of the mixture effects suggest they may be antagonistic rather than synergistic. Small, significant differences between Norwegian and Faroese seaweed extracts suggest population and environmental effects on bioactive properties. Overall, both species showed protective properties against oxidative stress and may be good candidates as intestinal health supplements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108281"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108260
Lixia Ma, Dina Chang, Jiaxin Lv, Yan Yan, Anxu Zheng, Xuehang Wang, Yue Leng, Bin Jiang, Dayong Ren, Ji Wang
Walnuts are nutrient-dense with diverse physiological functions. This study developed a walnut-milk dual-protein yogurt (WY) using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JLAU103, investigating its refrigerated storage (4 °C) properties, microstructure, volatile profile, sensory traits, antioxidant activity, and isolating antioxidant peptides. The WY exhibited excellent storage stability over a 21-day period, maintaining an optimal and stable pH range of 4.48–4.78 and titratable acidity of 63.3–72.66 °T. Compared with the MY control, WY showed markedly reduced syneresis, enhanced water-holding capacity, and superior textural and viscosity properties, while sustaining viable L. plantarum JLAU103 populations above 107 CFU/mL. Rheological and microstructural analyses showed WY had higher elastic (G′)/viscous (G″) moduli and a denser protein network, enhancing gel stability. WY contained 200 volatile compounds, with higher aldehydes/furans (key for nutty/roasted aromas) and better sensory acceptability than MY. Ultrafiltration fractionated WY proteins into <3 kDa (superior antioxidant) and 3–10 kDa fractions; the <3 kDa fraction was purified to sub-fraction B1, which exhibited strong radical scavenging (ABTS+: 15.86 %, DPPH: 53.48 %, •OH: 48.21 %) and Fe2+ chelating (98.23 %) capacities. Nano-LC-MS/MS identified 1972 peptides in B1, 10 peptides with predicted antioxidant activity via BIOPEP-UWM. Peptide GPYHFR bound Aβ1-42 oligomers (−7.7 kcal/mol), showing potential to mitigate memory impairment. This study provides a theoretical/technical basis for high-quality functional walnut fermented dairy products and walnut bioactive peptide exploitation.
核桃营养丰富，具有多种生理功能。本研究利用植物乳杆菌JLAU103制备了核桃乳双蛋白酸奶（WY），研究了其冷藏（4°C）特性、微观结构、挥发性特征、感官特性、抗氧化活性和抗氧化肽的分离。在21天内，WY表现出良好的储存稳定性，保持了4.48-4.78的最佳稳定pH范围和63.3-72.66°T的可滴定酸度。与MY对照相比，WY显著降低了植物L. plantarum JLAU103的协同作用，增强了保水能力，并具有优越的结构和黏度特性，使植物L. plantarum JLAU103的活菌数量维持在107 CFU/mL以上。流变学和微观结构分析表明，WY具有更高的弹性（G′）/粘性（G″）模量和更致密的蛋白质网络，增强了凝胶的稳定性。WY含有200种挥发性化合物，具有较高的醛类/呋喃（坚果/烘烤香气的关键），并且比MY具有更好的感官接受度。超滤将WY蛋白分成3 kDa（优质抗氧化剂）和3 - 10 kDa两部分；3 kDa组分纯化为B1亚组分，具有较强的自由基清除能力（ABTS+: 15.86%, DPPH: 53.48%，•OH: 48.21%）和Fe2+螯合能力（98.23%）。通过BIOPEP-UWM，纳米lc -MS/MS鉴定了B1中1972个肽类，其中10个肽类具有预测的抗氧化活性。肽GPYHFR结合a - β1-42寡聚物（−7.7 kcal/mol），显示出减轻记忆障碍的潜力。本研究为优质功能性核桃发酵乳制品和核桃活性肽的开发提供了理论/技术依据。
{"title":"Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JLAU103 fermented walnut-milk dual-protein yogurt: Physicochemical property, volatile flavor profile, antioxidant activity, and isolation of neuroprotective peptides targeting Aβ1-42 oligomers","authors":"Lixia Ma, Dina Chang, Jiaxin Lv, Yan Yan, Anxu Zheng, Xuehang Wang, Yue Leng, Bin Jiang, Dayong Ren, Ji Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108260","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108260","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Walnuts are nutrient-dense with diverse physiological functions. This study developed a walnut-milk dual-protein yogurt (WY) using <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> JLAU103, investigating its refrigerated storage (4 °C) properties, microstructure, volatile profile, sensory traits, antioxidant activity, and isolating antioxidant peptides. The WY exhibited excellent storage stability over a 21-day period, maintaining an optimal and stable pH range of 4.48–4.78 and titratable acidity of 63.3–72.66 °T. Compared with the MY control, WY showed markedly reduced syneresis, enhanced water-holding capacity, and superior textural and viscosity properties, while sustaining viable <em>L. plantarum</em> JLAU103 populations above 10<sup>7</sup> CFU/mL. Rheological and microstructural analyses showed WY had higher elastic (G′)/viscous (G″) moduli and a denser protein network, enhancing gel stability. WY contained 200 volatile compounds, with higher aldehydes/furans (key for nutty/roasted aromas) and better sensory acceptability than MY. Ultrafiltration fractionated WY proteins into <3 kDa (superior antioxidant) and 3–10 kDa fractions; the <3 kDa fraction was purified to sub-fraction B1, which exhibited strong radical scavenging (ABTS<sup>+</sup>: 15.86 %, DPPH: 53.48 %, •OH: 48.21 %) and Fe<sup>2+</sup> chelating (98.23 %) capacities. Nano-LC-MS/MS identified 1972 peptides in B1, 10 peptides with predicted antioxidant activity via BIOPEP-UWM. Peptide GPYHFR bound Aβ<sub>1-42</sub> oligomers (−7.7 kcal/mol), showing potential to mitigate memory impairment. This study provides a theoretical/technical basis for high-quality functional walnut fermented dairy products and walnut bioactive peptide exploitation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108260"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145940128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108272
Xuran Fu , Jiadi Sun , Honglin Yan , Xiyu Cao , Chuanzhi Jiang , Jin Ye , Wei Wang , Jia-Sheng Wang , Xiulan Sun
Climate change could affect the growth and colonization of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) in maize, increasing the risk of mycotoxins in aflatoxins (AFs) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). However, changes in ecophysiological characteristics of A. flavus under future climate scenarios remain unclear, particularly under alternating temperatures resulting from day and night variations. This study aims to explore the interactive effects of alternating temperatures (28/20 °C and 33/25 °C) under the photoperiod with 13 h light/11h darkness, CO2 (400 ppm and 1000 ppm), and different water activities (0.93 aw, 0.95 aw and 0.99 aw). The growth rate, lag phase, conidia production, oxidative stress indicators and related mycotoxins (AFs and CPA) of A. flavus were analyzed under a combination of different climatic factors in maize flour agar (MFA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The results indicate that water activity is the primary factor regulating A. flavus growth, conidia production, and mycotoxin production. Its single-factor effects and interactions with other factors exert a highly significant influence on all indicators (p < 0.001). Elevated alternating temperatures promote the growth of A. flavus. The impact of CO2 is relatively limited, with significant effects observed only on conidia and CPA. The interaction between alternating temperature, water activity, and CO2 concentration have an effect on growth and mycotoxin production in A. flavus. However, mycotoxin production does not fully correlate with gene expression. These findings provide valuable baseline data on the interactions between temperature, water activity, and CO2 concentration in relation to A. flavus growth and mycotoxin production.
{"title":"Interactive effects of abiotic factors on the ecophysiology characteristics of Aspergillus flavus under future climate conditions","authors":"Xuran Fu , Jiadi Sun , Honglin Yan , Xiyu Cao , Chuanzhi Jiang , Jin Ye , Wei Wang , Jia-Sheng Wang , Xiulan Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change could affect the growth and colonization of <em>Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus)</em> in maize, increasing the risk of mycotoxins in aflatoxins (AFs) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). However, changes in ecophysiological characteristics of <em>A. flavus</em> under future climate scenarios remain unclear, particularly under alternating temperatures resulting from day and night variations. This study aims to explore the interactive effects of alternating temperatures (28/20 °C and 33/25 °C) under the photoperiod with 13 h light/11h darkness, CO<sub>2</sub> (400 ppm and 1000 ppm), and different water activities (0.93 aw, 0.95 aw and 0.99 aw). The growth rate, lag phase, conidia production, oxidative stress indicators and related mycotoxins (AFs and CPA) of <em>A. flavus</em> were analyzed under a combination of different climatic factors in maize flour agar (MFA) and potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The results indicate that water activity is the primary factor regulating <em>A. flavus</em> growth, conidia production, and mycotoxin production. Its single-factor effects and interactions with other factors exert a highly significant influence on all indicators (p < 0.001). Elevated alternating temperatures promote the growth of <em>A. flavus</em>. The impact of CO<sub>2</sub> is relatively limited, with significant effects observed only on conidia and CPA. The interaction between alternating temperature, water activity, and CO<sub>2</sub> concentration have an effect on growth and mycotoxin production in <em>A. flavus</em>. However, mycotoxin production does not fully correlate with gene expression. These findings provide valuable baseline data on the interactions between temperature, water activity, and CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in relation to <em>A. flavus</em> growth and mycotoxin production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108272"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108277
Cassamo U. Mussagy , Jonatas L. Duarte , Felipe M. Tashiro , Camila C.B. Medeiros , Rodrigo Sorrechia , Rosemeire C.L.R. Pietro , Marlus Chorilli , Juan M. Guzmán-Flores , Angie V. Caicedo-Paz
Astaxanthin (AXT) from microalgae is widely recognized for its potent antioxidant properties, yet the biological potential of bacterial AXT remains poorly characterized. This study provides the first integrative evaluation of free and nanoencapsulated AXT obtained from bacteria Paracoccus carotinifaciens, combining sustainable extraction, advanced formulation, antimicrobial assays, and in silico target prediction. A green dimethyl carbonate (DMC) extraction process was optimized by assessing temperature, extraction time, and solid–liquid ratio, achieving high AXT recovery (>85 %) with efficient solvent recyclability. The AXT-rich extracts were incorporated into poloxamer-407 nanoparticles producing stable colloidal systems with controlled size (≈230–340 nm), low polydispersity, and negative surface charge, supporting their suitability for biological applications. Antimicrobial assays revealed that neither free nor nanoencapsulated AXT exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, or Staphylococcus aureus. However, nanoencapsulation selectively enhanced antifungal activity, yielding weak but fungistatic effects against Trichophyton rubrum (MIC = 125 μg/mL), whereas Candida albicans remained unaffected. To clarify this specificity, in silico screening identified key T. rubrum targets, primarily enzymes related to tryptophan metabolism and acetylation pathways. The results demonstrate that although Paracoccus-derived AXT lacks antibacterial activity, it exhibits a formulation-enhanced and highly selective fungistatic effect. Importantly, the absence of antibacterial action represents a safety advantage, as it reduces the risk of disrupting beneficial microbiota or selecting for antibiotic resistance, features that are critical for food applications. These findings suggest that Paracoccus-derived AXT may be more appropriate for microbiota-compatible applications, given its lack of antibacterial activity, rather than for use as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound.
{"title":"Paracoccus carotinifaciens as a bacterial source of astaxanthin for food applications: integrated experimental and in silico analysis reveals a safe non-antibacterial profile and weak selective fungistatic activity","authors":"Cassamo U. Mussagy , Jonatas L. Duarte , Felipe M. Tashiro , Camila C.B. Medeiros , Rodrigo Sorrechia , Rosemeire C.L.R. Pietro , Marlus Chorilli , Juan M. Guzmán-Flores , Angie V. Caicedo-Paz","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Astaxanthin (AXT) from microalgae is widely recognized for its potent antioxidant properties, yet the biological potential of bacterial AXT remains poorly characterized. This study provides the first integrative evaluation of free and nanoencapsulated AXT obtained from bacteria <em>Paracoccus carotinifaciens</em>, combining sustainable extraction, advanced formulation, antimicrobial assays, and <em>in silico</em> target prediction. A green dimethyl carbonate (DMC) extraction process was optimized by assessing temperature, extraction time, and solid–liquid ratio, achieving high AXT recovery (>85 %) with efficient solvent recyclability. The AXT-rich extracts were incorporated into poloxamer-407 nanoparticles producing stable colloidal systems with controlled size (≈230–340 nm), low polydispersity, and negative surface charge, supporting their suitability for biological applications. Antimicrobial assays revealed that neither free nor nanoencapsulated AXT exhibited antibacterial activity against <em>Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis</em>, or <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. However, nanoencapsulation selectively enhanced antifungal activity, yielding weak but fungistatic effects against <em>Trichophyton rubrum</em> (MIC = 125 μg/mL), whereas <em>Candida albicans</em> remained unaffected. To clarify this specificity, <em>in silico</em> screening identified key <em>T. rubrum</em> targets, primarily enzymes related to tryptophan metabolism and acetylation pathways. The results demonstrate that although <em>Paracoccus</em>-derived AXT lacks antibacterial activity, it exhibits a formulation-enhanced and highly selective fungistatic effect. Importantly, the absence of antibacterial action represents a safety advantage, as it reduces the risk of disrupting beneficial microbiota or selecting for antibiotic resistance, features that are critical for food applications. These findings suggest that <em>Paracoccus</em>-derived AXT may be more appropriate for microbiota-compatible applications, given its lack of antibacterial activity, rather than for use as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108277"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108274
Fengzhi Qiao, Meijun Liu, Wenhao Ding, Sitong Lyu, Zhe Zhang, Tongjie Liu, Huaxi Yi, Lanwei Zhang, Kai Lin
Membrane phospholipid composition critically determines microbial membrane fluidity and stress resistance. Exogenous phospholipid precursors can promote endogenous membrane remodeling. In a previous lipidomic screen, we identified cardiolipin (CL) as the candidate lipid subclass associated with resistance to thermal desiccation. Herein, we demonstrated that supplementation with cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG), a key intermediate in phospholipid biosynthesis, enhanced the survival rate of Lactobacillus bulgaricus L4-2-12 by 3.5-fold and significantly improved fermentation vigor. Targeted lipidomic analysis revealed that supplementation with CDP-DAG resulted in membrane phospholipid remodeling in L. bulgaricus L4-2-12, including an increase in CL and phosphatidylcholine (PC) content, higher content of saturated fatty acyl chains, and extended carbon chain lengths. These changes suggest that the improved spray-drying survival was due to increased membrane rigidity, which provides a new perspective for enhancing the spray-drying resistance of LAB.
{"title":"Exogenous phospholipid intermediates mediate membrane lipid composition remodeling to enhance spray-drying survival of Lactobacillus bulgaricus","authors":"Fengzhi Qiao, Meijun Liu, Wenhao Ding, Sitong Lyu, Zhe Zhang, Tongjie Liu, Huaxi Yi, Lanwei Zhang, Kai Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Membrane phospholipid composition critically determines microbial membrane fluidity and stress resistance. Exogenous phospholipid precursors can promote endogenous membrane remodeling. In a previous lipidomic screen, we identified cardiolipin (CL) as the candidate lipid subclass associated with resistance to thermal desiccation. Herein, we demonstrated that supplementation with cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG), a key intermediate in phospholipid biosynthesis, enhanced the survival rate of <em>Lactobacillus bulgaricus</em> L4-2-12 by 3.5-fold and significantly improved fermentation vigor. Targeted lipidomic analysis revealed that supplementation with CDP-DAG resulted in membrane phospholipid remodeling in <em>L. bulgaricus</em> L4-2-12, including an increase in CL and phosphatidylcholine (PC) content, higher content of saturated fatty acyl chains, and extended carbon chain lengths. These changes suggest that the improved spray-drying survival was due to increased membrane rigidity, which provides a new perspective for enhancing the spray-drying resistance of LAB.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108274"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108248
Hui Dou , Guangqiang Wang , Le Chu , Guangpeng Liu , Fatao He , Xin Song , Yongjun Xia , Nan Zhao , Shumao Cui , Zibo Song , Zhiqiang Xiong , Lianzhong Ai
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a well-known functional food rich in bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant properties. Probiotics are live microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on health and are widely used in fermented foods such as kimchi and yogurt. However, the impact of probiotic fermentation on the antioxidant capacity of ginger juice remains insufficiently studied. This study systematically investigated the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum AR72 and AR307 fermentation on the antioxidant profile and sensory characteristics of ginger juice using GC-MS and LC-MS analyses. The results showed that fermentation improved the sensory properties of ginger juice by producing new flavour compounds, such as fruity esters, and retaining beneficial terpenes. AR 72 fermentation preserves the antioxidant capacity of natural ginger juice, which may be related to its gingerol content. We believe L. plantarum AR72 can biotransform gingerol compounds (10-gingerol, 4-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 6-shogaol and gingerdione), endowing its fermentation products with excellent antioxidant properties.
生姜（Zingiber officinale Roscoe）是一种众所周知的功能性食品，富含具有有效抗氧化特性的生物活性化合物。益生菌是一种对健康有益的活微生物，广泛用于泡菜和酸奶等发酵食品中。然而，益生菌发酵对姜汁抗氧化能力的影响研究尚不充分。本研究采用气相色谱-质谱联用和液相色谱-质谱联用技术，系统研究了植物乳杆菌AR72和AR307发酵对姜汁抗氧化特性和感官特性的影响。结果表明，发酵通过产生新的风味化合物，如果味酯，并保留有益的萜烯，改善了姜汁的感官特性。ar72发酵保留了天然姜汁的抗氧化能力，这可能与其姜辣素含量有关。我们认为L. plantarum AR72可以生物转化姜辣素类化合物（10-姜辣素、4-姜辣素、8-姜辣素、6-姜辣素和姜二酮），使其发酵产物具有优异的抗氧化性能。
{"title":"Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation on sensory and in vitro antioxidant properties of ginger","authors":"Hui Dou , Guangqiang Wang , Le Chu , Guangpeng Liu , Fatao He , Xin Song , Yongjun Xia , Nan Zhao , Shumao Cui , Zibo Song , Zhiqiang Xiong , Lianzhong Ai","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ginger (<em>Zingiber officinale Roscoe)</em> is a well-known functional food rich in bioactive compounds with potent antioxidant properties. Probiotics are live microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on health and are widely used in fermented foods such as kimchi and yogurt. However, the impact of probiotic fermentation on the antioxidant capacity of ginger juice remains insufficiently studied. This study systematically investigated the effects of <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> AR72 and AR307 fermentation on the antioxidant profile and sensory characteristics of ginger juice using GC-MS and LC-MS analyses. The results showed that fermentation improved the sensory properties of ginger juice by producing new flavour compounds, such as fruity esters, and retaining beneficial terpenes. AR 72 fermentation preserves the antioxidant capacity of natural ginger juice, which may be related to its gingerol content. We believe <em>L. plantarum</em> AR72 can biotransform gingerol compounds (10-gingerol, 4-gingerol, 8-gingerol, 6-shogaol and gingerdione), endowing its fermentation products with excellent antioxidant properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108248"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108232
Xinge Yi , Bingyu Chen , Yingying Li , Jun Mei , Jing Xie
This study investigated the flavor impact of specific spoilage organism (Pseudomonas fragi and Serratia liquefaciens) on grouper fillets during cold storage. Physicochemical properties and volatile flavor compounds in fillets inoculated with different bacterial strain were evaluated. A total of 47 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified by GC-IMS. The results demonstrated that Pseudomonas fragi acted as a potent spoilage bacterium, generating substantial quantities of esters (e.g. Ethyl acetate, Ethyl butanoate) and fishy-smelling compounds (dimethyl disulfide and ammonia) through accelerating lipid oxidation and protein degradation. These metabolic activities led to significantly increased pH (7.14), TBARAs (0.616 mg MDA/kg) and trimethylamine (2.24 mg/100 g) levels, reduced water holding capacity, and the development of pronounced spoilage odors. In contrast, Serratia liquefaciens showed weaker VOCs production, primarily generating ketones such as acetone and 2-butanone. Our findings also established the relationships between specific spoilage organisms and characteristic VOCs including aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols. These VOCs can serve as effective indicators for real-time monitoring of grouper fillets quality.
{"title":"Volatile flavor compounds dynamics in grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) spoilage during cold storage: Deciphering the role of specific spoilage microorganisms","authors":"Xinge Yi , Bingyu Chen , Yingying Li , Jun Mei , Jing Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the flavor impact of specific spoilage organism (<em>Pseudomonas fragi</em> and <em>Serratia liquefaciens</em>) on grouper fillets during cold storage. Physicochemical properties and volatile flavor compounds in fillets inoculated with different bacterial strain were evaluated. A total of 47 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified by GC-IMS. The results demonstrated that <em>Pseudomonas fragi</em> acted as a potent spoilage bacterium, generating substantial quantities of esters (e.g. Ethyl acetate, Ethyl butanoate) and fishy-smelling compounds (dimethyl disulfide and ammonia) through accelerating lipid oxidation and protein degradation. These metabolic activities led to significantly increased pH (7.14), TBARAs (0.616 mg MDA/kg) and trimethylamine (2.24 mg/100 g) levels, reduced water holding capacity, and the development of pronounced spoilage odors. In contrast, <em>Serratia liquefaciens</em> showed weaker VOCs production, primarily generating ketones such as acetone and 2-butanone. Our findings also established the relationships between specific spoilage organisms and characteristic VOCs including aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols. These VOCs can serve as effective indicators for real-time monitoring of grouper fillets quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108232"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108275
Yini Liu , Rui Xiao , Min Guo , Jingyu Lu , Jianxin Zhao , Ruojie Zhang , Hao Zhang , Gang Wang , Zipei Zhang
As core functional components of fermented foods, probiotics play an important role in maintaining host health by modulating gut microbiota and enhancing immune function. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a key structural component Gram-positive bacterial wall, has emerged as a representative postbiotic of host immune responses. In this study, RAW 264.7 cells were used to systematically evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of LTA extracted from 15 bacteria, including 12 Lactobacillus spp. and 3 Staphylococcus aureus, at two concentrations (1 μg/mL and 5 μg/mL) under both healthy and LPS-stimulated inflammatory conditions. Our results showed limited concentration-dependent effects in the LTA from 15 strains but revealed striking inter and intra species variability in immunoregulatory potency. Among the three S. aureus strains examined, only S. aureus N1 LTA exhibited strong proinflammatory activity, demonstrating the strain-specific nature of its immunogenicity. Notably, among the 12 Lactobacillus spp. tested, no significant differences were observed among L. acidophilus, L. reuteri, and L. johnsonii. However, LTA derived from Lactobacillus fermentum 24-1 exhibited pronounced anti-inflammatory potential, significantly inhibiting LPS-stimulated NO production, downregulating IL-1β and TNF-α expression at both mRNA and protein levels, and exerting immunomodulatory effects by suppressing the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and mitigating apoptosis. Collectively, these findings reveal the functional diversity of LTA from different bacterial sources and provide significant theoretical and experimental evidence supporting the potential application of probiotics and their postbiotic components in host immune regulation.
{"title":"Strain-dependent immunomodulatory activities of lipoteichoic acids from probiotics: From interspecies to intraspecies variation","authors":"Yini Liu , Rui Xiao , Min Guo , Jingyu Lu , Jianxin Zhao , Ruojie Zhang , Hao Zhang , Gang Wang , Zipei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As core functional components of fermented foods, probiotics play an important role in maintaining host health by modulating gut microbiota and enhancing immune function. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a key structural component Gram-positive bacterial wall, has emerged as a representative postbiotic of host immune responses. In this study, RAW 264.7 cells were used to systematically evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of LTA extracted from 15 bacteria, including 12 <em>Lactobacillus</em> spp. and 3 <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, at two concentrations (1 μg/mL and 5 μg/mL) under both healthy and LPS-stimulated inflammatory conditions. Our results showed limited concentration-dependent effects in the LTA from 15 strains but revealed striking inter and intra species variability in immunoregulatory potency. Among the three <em>S. aureus</em> strains examined, only <em>S. aureus</em> N1 LTA exhibited strong proinflammatory activity, demonstrating the strain-specific nature of its immunogenicity. Notably, among the 12 <em>Lactobacillus</em> spp. tested, no significant differences were observed among <em>L. acidophilus</em>, <em>L. reuteri</em>, and <em>L. johnsonii</em>. However, LTA derived from <em>Lactobacillus fermentum</em> 24-1 exhibited pronounced anti-inflammatory potential, significantly inhibiting LPS-stimulated NO production, downregulating IL-1β and TNF-α expression at both mRNA and protein levels, and exerting immunomodulatory effects by suppressing the activation of the TLR<sub>4</sub>/NF-κB signaling pathway and mitigating apoptosis. Collectively, these findings reveal the functional diversity of LTA from different bacterial sources and provide significant theoretical and experimental evidence supporting the potential application of probiotics and their postbiotic components in host immune regulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108275"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108273
Yajing Jiao , Ling Chen , John Nsor-Atindana , Feifei Xu , Fei Liu , Maoshen Chen , Fang Zhong
Hypoalbuminemia treatment is constrained by the cost and supply of human serum albumin (HSA). This study aims to investigate whether bioactive peptides can promote albumin (ALB) synthesis and to determine which factors within their nutritional effects and biological activity contribute to this effect. A key methodological advantage over previous studies was the rational blending of six distinct peptides into fourteen combinations, which produced a library with broader functional spectra and reduced the risk of result homogeneity. We then correlated peptide properties with albumin-promoting efficacy. Our findings revealed a dual, context-dependent mechanism: the effect correlated primarily with Amino Acid Ratio Coefficient (SRC) under nutritional stress, but shifted to depend on antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and OH radical scavenging capacities, and ferric reducing power) under oxidative stress. Notably, ALB synthesis increased by up to 95.88 % in vitro under high antioxidant conditions. In a CCl4-induced mouse model, three selected peptides significantly elevated ALB levels (up to 22.97 %) and mitigated liver injury by activating the Nrf2 pathway to upregulate ALB-related transcription factors HNF4α and C/EBPα. The core innovation lies in this comprehensive correlation analysis, moving beyond simple efficacy verification to clarify which specific property governs the pro-albumin effect under given conditions. This work underscores the importance of elucidating structure-activity relationships and seeking HSA alternatives, with a key advantage over prior research being the definition of this conditional dual-action mechanism via a blended peptide strategy. These findings establish a foundation for translating peptide-based strategies into targeted nutritional interventions, highlighting their considerable therapeutic potential for hypoalbuminemia.
{"title":"Bioactive peptides promote albumin expression via nutritional effects and antioxidant activity","authors":"Yajing Jiao , Ling Chen , John Nsor-Atindana , Feifei Xu , Fei Liu , Maoshen Chen , Fang Zhong","doi":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypoalbuminemia treatment is constrained by the cost and supply of human serum albumin (HSA). This study aims to investigate whether bioactive peptides can promote albumin (ALB) synthesis and to determine which factors within their nutritional effects and biological activity contribute to this effect. A key methodological advantage over previous studies was the rational blending of six distinct peptides into fourteen combinations, which produced a library with broader functional spectra and reduced the risk of result homogeneity. We then correlated peptide properties with albumin-promoting efficacy. Our findings revealed a dual, context-dependent mechanism: the effect correlated primarily with Amino Acid Ratio Coefficient (SRC) under nutritional stress, but shifted to depend on antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and OH radical scavenging capacities, and ferric reducing power) under oxidative stress. Notably, ALB synthesis increased by up to 95.88 % <em>in vitro</em> under high antioxidant conditions. In a CCl<sub>4</sub>-induced mouse model, three selected peptides significantly elevated ALB levels (up to 22.97 %) and mitigated liver injury by activating the Nrf2 pathway to upregulate ALB-related transcription factors HNF4α and C/EBPα. The core innovation lies in this comprehensive correlation analysis, moving beyond simple efficacy verification to clarify which specific property governs the pro-albumin effect under given conditions. This work underscores the importance of elucidating structure-activity relationships and seeking HSA alternatives, with a key advantage over prior research being the definition of this conditional dual-action mechanism via a blended peptide strategy. These findings establish a foundation for translating peptide-based strategies into targeted nutritional interventions, highlighting their considerable therapeutic potential for hypoalbuminemia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12409,"journal":{"name":"Food Bioscience","volume":"76 ","pages":"Article 108273"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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