Journal of Food Biochemistry最新文献

The present study aimed to systematically analyse the differences in metabolites, proteins, and the microbiota among white sufu (WS), red sufu (RS), and grey sufu (GS) by integrating multi-omics detection techniques. First, the various metabolites in sufu were identified through widely targeted metabolomics. Then, differential proteins in sufu were screened, and the principal functions of differential proteins were further mined using proteomic techniques. Finally, the microbiota in the sufu were analysed via 16S rRNA sequencing technology to observe differences in the microbial composition. The results showed that approximately 306 metabolites were present in the three kinds of sufu. Among them, there are 448 differential metabolites in RS and WS, 412 differential metabolites in WS and GS, and 517 differential metabolites in RS and GS. A total of 4663 proteins were identified. Among them, 448 differential proteins were found in RS and WS, 412 differential proteins were identified in WS and GS, and 517 differential proteins were detected in RS and GS. Approximately 77 types of microbes were distributed among three kinds of sufu. The population of WS is mainly distributed with 55.3% of protobacteria and 42.5% of Firmicutes. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant microbial phyla common to the three kinds of sufu: the dominant bacteria in WS, RS, and GS were Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Kluyveromyces. The integrative crosstalk of multi-omics analysis illustrated that the metabolites, proteins, and microorganisms in sufu are closely interrelated and together produce unique amino acids in different kinds of sufu.

The medicinal plant Phyllanthus emblica Linn. has been recognized for its health-beneficial properties and has a long history of cultivation in ancient China and India. However, its effects and main mechanism in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) have not been revealed yet. According to our findings, emblica fruit powder (EFP) through the freeze-drying process was able to modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota, with a significant increase in the beneficial bacteria genera Lactobacillus and Turicibacter. In addition, fecal metabolite profiling revealed that 20 metabolites were deferentially expressed, which were mainly organic acids, amino acids, and their derivatives. They are primarily enriched in the biological process of lipid metabolism, including the metabolism process of cholic acid, glycerophospholipid, and α-linoleic acid. Subsequent qPCR testing of the liver tissue suggested that the regulatory effects of EFP in HFD mice may stem from its influence on the expression levels of over 20 key genes involved in host metabolic processes. In conclusion, EFP is able to alleviate the MetS caused by HFD, and this positive impact may be partially through the regulation of the “gut-liver axis.” Consequently, EFP holds potential as a functional food ingredient for the prevention and management of MetS.

Calaminthaincana, a medicinal plant traditionally used for its therapeutic properties, has been investigated for its phytochemical constituents and biological activities. Through a specific LC-MS/MS analysis method, the phytochemical constituents of Calamintha incana methanolic extract have been identified and quantified. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method was used to measure the antioxidant properties. The antibacterial properties of this extract have been tested against four harmful bacteria using disc diffusion and the minimum inhibitory concentration methods. A colorimetric assay has evaluated the total phenolic and flavonoid content. The extract contained 34 compounds, with linolenic acid (11.2%) and myristic acid (10.3%) being the most abundant. Despite the low phenolic and flavonoid content, the extract exhibited antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ of 96.8 ± 0.3 μg/mL. Moreover, the extract demonstrated potent antimicrobial properties against B. cereus and S. aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 11.8 and 21.5 μg/mL, respectively. These robust results underscore the potential of C. incana methanolic extract in the development of effective antibacterial agents.

To determine whether voluntary exercise is capable of improving liver and adipose tissue dysfunction caused by the high-fat diet (HFD) combined with dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Young and middle-aged male C57BL/6J mice were divided into the control group, HFD group, HFD combined AGE group (HFD + AGE), and combined diet with exercise group (HFD + AGE + EX). For young mice, in the liver tissue, compared to the YCON group, RAGE from the YHFD + AGE group and SREBP1 from the YHFD + AGE and YHFD + AGE + EX groups were increased, while LXRα from the YHFD YHFD + AGE, and YHFD + AGE + EX groups was decreased. In epididymal fat, CLOCK from the YHFD group; RAGE, OST48, BMAL1, and Rev-Erbα from the YHFD + AGE group; RAGE, OST48, CLOCK, BMAL1, and Rev-Erbα from the YHFD + AGE + EX group; SIRT1 from the YHFD + AGE group; adiponectin from the YHFD group; and ATGL from the YHFD and YHFD + AGE groups were significantly lower, while p-HSLser660 from the YHFD + AGE group and p-Aktser473 from the YHFD + AGE + EX group were significantly higher than in the YCON group. Additionally, IL-10 and IL-1Ra mRNA expressions from the YHFD and YHFD + AGE group were significantly decreased, while IL-10 and IL-1Ra from the YHFD + AGE + EX group and TNF-α from the YHFD, YHFD + AGE, and YHFD + AGE + EX groups were significantly increased. For middle-aged mice, in the liver tissue, compared to the MACON group, CLOCK and Rev-Erbα from three intervention groups were increased, while p-Aktser473 from the MAHFD and MAHFD + AGE groups was decreased and PPARα from the MAHFD and MAHFD + AGE groups was decreased. In epididymal fat, compared to the MACON group, RAGE from the MAHFD + AGE group; p-Aktser473 from the MAHFD + AGE + EX group; and TNF-α gene expressions from three intervention groups were increased, while BMAL1 from the MAHFD + AGE and MAEX groups; PPARγ and IL-1Ra from the MAHFD + AGE group; SIRT1 from the MAHFD, MAHFD + AGE, and MAHFD + AGE + EX groups; adiponectin from the MAHFD group; and p-HSLser660, ATGL, and IL-10 from the MAHFD and MAHFD + AGE groups were decreased. In conclusion, HFD combined with AGE diet caused dysfunction in the liver and adipose glucolipid metabolism, especially in middle-aged mice, and voluntary exercise reversed metabolic abnormalities to some extent with different mechanisms involved for young and middle-aged mice.

Studies have demonstrated the potential therapeutic effects of Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) in various diseases. However, its effect on diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the underlying mechanisms are not clear. The expression of FUNDC1 in DN patients and high glucose-induced human renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) with or without AS-IV was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to quantify cell viability. The intracellular oxygen consumption rate was measured by using the seahorse energy analyzer, and the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ levels were determined by flow cytometry. A mice model of diabetes was constructed and treated with different doses of AS-IV. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were used to examine the pathological changes in renal tissue. Creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urinary protein were detected by the biochemical method. The results demonstrated increased FUNDC1 expression in patients with DN and high glucose-cultured HK-2 cells. FUNDC1 silencing inhibited high glucose-induced mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane formation and mitochondrial dysfunction in HK-2 cells. Importantly, AS-IV treatment inhibited FUNDC1-induced mitochondria-associated ER membrane formation and mitochondrial dysfunction in HK-2 cells. AS-IV treatment also protected against renal injury and improved renal function in mice. AS-IV alleviates the progression of DN by inhibiting FUNDC1-dependent mitochondria-associated ER membrane.

Investigating the different chemical species of soluble iron in food digests provides more relevant information on the nutritional potential of an iron-rich food. The objective of this study was to assess the bioaccessibility and speciation of iron from various aqueous extracts of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves. Aqueous extracts were prepared from fresh and dried Moringa leaves using infusion and decoction methods. Spectrophotometric assays were performed to quantify inhibitors and enhancers of iron absorption in the extracts, bioaccessible iron, and its different chemical species. The highest contents of inhibitors (239.43 mg/L for polyphenols and 2.92 mg/L for phytates) and enhancers of iron absorption (1.58 mmol/L for carotenoids and 488.00 mg/L for ascorbic acid) were found in the 5-minute decoction extract of fresh leaves, and the lowest in all infusion extracts (27.34 mg/L for polyphenols, 0.50 mg/L for phytates, 0.15 mmol/L for carotenoids, and 86.00 mg/L for ascorbic acid). The percentages of bioaccessible iron were higher for decoction extracts (42.57–52.70%) compared to infusion extracts (33.89–36.44%). Ferrous iron was the dominant inorganic species of bioaccessible iron and was more concentrated in the digests of decoction extracts (1.32–4.85 mg/L). The highest content of organic iron (5.33 mg/L) was found in the digest of the 8-minute decoction extract of dried leaves. Drinking decoction extracts of fresh and dried Moringa leaves could be recommended to alleviate iron deficiency in vulnerable groups of the population living in areas where this plant can grow.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a rapidly progressing malignancy with a poor prognosis. Quercetin is a flavonoid compound with various biological benefits that can be extracted from Chinese herbs or daily foods. Quercetin has anticancer properties in various types of cancers. However, its therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms in PDAC have not been investigated extensively. Here, we confirmed the therapeutic effect of quercetin in PDAC using a mouse model. Based on high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatic analysis, we propose that quercetin is involved in stromal infiltration of PDAC. Quercetin attenuates the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) via tumor-stromal interaction. Meanwhile, we have identified two quercetin-related prognostic models for patients with PDAC. Finally, we proposed a downstream target of quercetin, the ITGB4 gene, which could be a potential therapeutic target for PDAC.

The influence of origin on tea quality has been understudied. Little research has compared metabolites during tea processing from different origins. This study aims to address this gap by using nontargeted metabolomics to examine the differential metabolites present in Yingde black tea from various origins at different processing stages. Nontargeted metabolomics was employed to compare the differential metabolites present in fresh tea leaves, withered leaves, rolled leaves, fermented leaves, and processed tea from various origins. The study revealed significant differences in the metabolites present at each processing stage. Despite using identical processing techniques, the quality of finished teas from different regions was found to vary through sensory evaluation. The study found that taste differences between regions were primarily influenced by flavonoids and amino acids. The relative taste activity value (RTAV) approach was used to identify key contributors to taste differences and regulation. The quality of fresh tea leaves was found to be the main determinant of the taste of black tea from various regions. To reduce these differences, the same processing techniques were employed. These findings enhance our understanding of quality variations in dried tea from different origins and contribute to the theoretical foundation of tea processing.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a prevalent reproductive endocrine disorder, frequently coincides with insulin resistance, lipid dysregulation, and cellular apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Dried Zingiber officinale (DZO), renowned for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, in the context of PCOS. To this end, we induced a PCOS mouse model through the administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and a high-fat diet (HFD), followed by DZO treatment to assess its effects on ovarian pathology, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances. The anti-apoptotic effect of DZO on PCOS ovarian granulosa cells was confirmed through network pharmacological analysis, TUNEL staining, FITC-PI staining, and protein blotting. Notably, DZO treatment significantly alleviated ovarian pathological changes in PCOS mice and normalized hormone levels, including testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratios. Furthermore, our findings confirmed the anti-apoptotic effect of DZO on PCOS ovarian granulosa cells. Mechanistically, DZO primarily exerted its therapeutic effects in PCOS by inhibiting apoptosis induced by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In conclusion, our study demonstrates the promising therapeutic role of DZO in the management of obese PCOS patients, particularly in reversing ROS-mediated apoptosis in ovarian granulosa cells.

Extracts derived from various mushroom species have been documented to possess notable antimicrobial properties. However, the current corpus of knowledge pertaining to the precise evaluation of their structural characteristics is currently inadequate. In this study, a comprehensive analysis was undertaken to ascertain the antimicrobial attributes and effectiveness of phenolic compounds, such as ferulic acid, o-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, quercetin, gallic p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and protocatechuic acid, identified from P. ostreatus. These compounds were examined for potential antiproliferative properties against multidrug-resistant gonococcal clinical isolates. The results of this study revealed that p-hydroxybenzoic acid, o-coumaric acid, and chysin exhibited no antibacterial activity (MIC > 50 µg/ml) against any of the target N. gonorrhoeae isolates in the range of tested concentrations (0.1–50 µg/ml). A notable reduction in the growth activity of the target organisms was observed when subjected to cultivation in the presence of flavonoid compounds. The statistical significance of the parameter estimate for quercetin was observed at intercept (ISID 59), with a p value less than 0.0001 and a Chi-square value of 44.84. The combination of ferulic acid with either protocatechuic acid or p-coumaric acid showed a trend towards reduced antimicrobial efficacy against most target isolates. However, our findings highlight its remarkable promise, as quercetin exhibited both independent and cooperative effectiveness.