Journal of Food Biochemistry最新文献

This study was designed to recover bioactive compounds, including artemisinin, phenolics, tannins, and amino acids (AAs), from the aerial parts of Artemisia annua L. (sweet wormwood) and Artemisia abrotanum L. (southern wormwood) using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Optimal extraction was achieved using 60% ethanol (EtOH) and 60 min of UAE, yielding the highest total phenolic content (TPC) of 43.55 mg GAE/g DW for A. annua and 33.11 mg GAE/g DW for A. abrotanum, along with total tannin content of 34.63 and 25.16 mg CE/g DW, respectively. Antioxidant activity, assessed via DPPH^• and FRAP assays, was significantly higher under these conditions. DPPH^• and FRAP values reached 11.29 and 15.57 mg TE/g DW for A. annua and 8.17 and 11.91 mg TE/g DW for A. abrotanum, respectively. Artemisinin was quantified exclusively in A. annua, with a maximum of 9.51 mg/100 g DW after 40 min of UAE with 96% EtOH, and 21 mg/100 g DW following scale-up and concentration. Free AA profiling revealed proline as the dominant AA in both species, with concentrations of 350.56 mg/100 g DW in A. annua and 427.80 mg/100 g DW in A. abrotanum. A. annua showed higher contents of essential and branched-chain AAs, at 163.75 and 88.43 mg/100 g DW, compared to 127.38 and 63.86 mg/100 g DW in A. abrotanum, respectively. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated moderate inhibition, with minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 25.0 mg/mL for A. annua and 12.5–50.0 mg/mL for A. abrotanum, depending on the microorganism. UAE allowed to effectively recover bioactive compounds and AAs from A. annua and A. abrotanum, with A. annua exhibiting superior TPC, AA, and antimicrobial profiles. These findings support the potential of Artemisia species as sources of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

This study evaluated the bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity of the ethanolic extracts of Tagetes patula (ETP) and Zingiber officinale (EZO) during simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were analyzed using the DPPH and FRAP methods at the oral, gastric, and intestinal stages. Simulated digestion led to a reduction in phenolic and flavonoid levels in both extracts. The T. patula extract retained 64.05 ± 4.63 mg GAE/g DE of phenolic compounds and 49.18 ± 7.97 mg RE/g DE of flavonoids in the UF. In contrast, Z. officinale exhibited higher susceptibility, with phenolic content decreasing from 130.13 ± 4.69 to 16.96 ± 0.14 mg GAE/g DE and flavonoid content from 64.97 ± 5.75 to 0.32 ± 0.09 mg RE/g DE. Nevertheless, during the final stage of digestion, an increase in DPPH radical scavenging capacity was observed compared to previous stages, reaching 23.29 ± 0.42 mg TE/g DE. Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that T. patula maintained its free phenolic compounds throughout digestion, while Z. officinale showed enhanced release of these compounds.

This study aimed to compare the enhancement of immune responses by hydroponically grown ginseng (HGG) extract, which has increased ginsenoside content, with that by red ginseng extract (RGE). This research utilizes hydroponic cultivation instead of conventional soil-based methods to enhance the ginsenoside content in ginseng seedlings, thereby increasing their immunomodulatory effects. This innovative cultivation methodology is expected to create a new standard for the future use of ginseng as a functional food ingredient. To this end, we evaluated the effect of hydroponically grown ginseng seedling extract (HGSE) and hydroponically grown ginseng plantlet extract (HGPE) on immune control in RAW 264.7 macrophages and mouse bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMDMs). Treatment with both HGSE and HGPE resulted in phagocytic activity superior to that of RGE in the presence of E. coli and stimulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production in a concentration-dependent manner under 12.5–50 μg/mL treatment conditions. In addition, treatment of BMDMs with HGSE and HGPE resulted in unrivaled enhancement of both TNF-α and interleukin-6 production, and both HGSE and HGPE have been shown to upregulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. In the final analysis, the efficacy of the HGPE extract was evaluated in the immunosuppressed BALB/c mouse model. Oral administration of the extract alleviated the significant reduction in spleen weight induced by cyclophosphamide. Additionally, cytokine array results demonstrated regulation of adiponectin, ICAM-1, and IGFBP-1 regulation. According to the results of the study, HGG seedlings can act as a suitable eco-friendly next-generation option for red ginseng as a functional food ingredient.

Garcinone C, a xanthone derived from Garcinia mangostana L, possesses antioxidant and anticancer effects. However, its role in gastric cancer remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of garcinone C on gastric cancer cell proliferation and its underlying mechanism. We found that garcinone C suppressed gastric cancer cell growth by inducing G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, garcinone C downregulated G0/G1 phase markers cyclin D1 and p21, as well as apoptosis markers Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-PARP, and c-caspase 3. Following the previous evidence demonstrated that aberrant Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is implicated in gastric cancer development, we confirmed that inhibiting Gli1/2 reduced the growth of AGS and MKN74 cells. Furthermore, garcinone C exerted similar effects to Gant61, inhibiting Hh signaling by reducing Gli1/2 levels and blocking their nuclear translocation. These findings suggest that garcinone C inhibits gastric cancer proliferation via the Hh signaling, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for treating gastric cancer.

Coccinia grandis (ivy gourd) leaves are widely utilized in traditional medicine across South and Southeast Asia yet remain underexplored from a comprehensive scientific perspective. This study addresses this knowledge gap by systematically examining their nutritional composition, phytochemical spectrum, and pharmacological attributes. Nutritional analyses revealed a high fiber content, moderate protein and lipid levels, and appreciable concentrations of essential minerals (e.g., calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron). Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of multiple classes of bioactive compounds, including terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Among the extracts, the n-butanol fraction exhibited the highest phenolic content and potent antioxidant capacity, while the hydromethanol fraction demonstrated significant cytotoxic and antibacterial activities, as well as comparable anti-inflammatory efficacy to diclofenac sodium. Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of C. grandis leaves as a promising source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications targeting oxidative stress, microbial infections, and inflammatory disorders.

Butterfly pea flowers (Clitoria ternatea L.) contain high levels of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity, making them a potential raw material for extracting and applying bioactive compounds in various fields. The enzymatic extraction process was optimized by initially evaluating the individual effects of key parameters: enzyme content, pH, temperature, and extraction time. Subsequently, response surface methodology (RSM) employing a central composite design (CCD) was applied to determine the optimal extraction conditions for Viscozyme-assisted hydrolysis: temperature 50°C, time 30 min, the activity of Viscozyme used is 14 FBGU/gram dry material, pH 3.5. Under these optimized conditions, total anthocyanin content (TAC) increased by 33.3% compared to the control extraction without enzyme treatment. The findings are supported by SEM images showing cell disruption. Anthocyanin profiles and concentrations in the Viscozyme-assisted extract were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for qualitative and quantitative characterization. The anthocyanin compositions in the Viscozyme-assisted extract are determined: kaempferol 3-(6′-coumaroyl)-rutinoside, cyanidin-3-(p-coumaroyl) glucose, kaempferol-rhamnosyl-malonyl-glucoside, cyanidin-3-(p-coumaroyl)-rutinoside. The predominance of cyanidin and kaempferol derivatives in the extract may indicate a degree of selectivity in Viscozyme’s action, potentially favoring the release of these compounds. This selective enrichment may reflect the enzymatic specificity of Viscozyme, suggesting a promising direction for optimizing targeted phenolic extraction in future studies.

I. Moualek, H. Bendif, K. Benarab, et al., “Impact of Bovine Serum Albumin on the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Arbutus unedo L. Extract,” Journal of Food Biochemistry 2025 (2025): 9947897, https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/9947897.

In the article titled “Impact of Bovine Serum Albumin on the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Arbutus unedo L. Extract,” author Fehmi Boufahja was affiliated to “Nedir Mohamed University Hospital Center, Tizi-Ouzou 15000, Algeria” which is incorrect. The correct affiliation for this author is

Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia

We apologize for this error.

RETRACTION: F. Li, “Purification, kinetic parameters, and isoforms of polyphenol oxidase from “Xushu 22” sweet potato skin,” Journal of Food Biochemistry 44, no. 11 (2020): e13452, https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.13452.

The above article, published online on 01 September 2020 in Wiley Online Library (https://wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors; the journal Editor-in-Chief, Prisca-Maryla Henheik; and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed due to concerns regarding the presented data.

The author contacted the journal stating that, while they identified polyphenol oxidase (PPO) isoenzymes, the complete protein sequences could not be determined, and the molecular structure of the identified PPO could not be obtained. Thus, the subsequent molecular docking analysis could not be carried out, limiting the reproducibility of the work.

In Figure 6 of the paper, a PPO protein structure is used for molecular docking, but the three protein sequences and structures are not determined. Therefore, this method of molecular docking cannot be used for further analysis.

As such, the results presented in this article cannot be reproduced and are therefore considered unreliable.

This research aims to assess the protective effects of extracts from cruciferous vegetables and plants (white cabbage [WC], red cabbage [RC], broccoli, and cauliflower) and pumpkin extract on regulating the immune system and improving oxidative stress. Ascorbic acid, flavonoid compounds, total phenolic content, and antioxidant properties were evaluated on their hydroethanolic extracts (70%). Then, C57 and Wistar rats were fed with the treatments that had the highest antioxidant properties (400 and 800 μg/mL), respectively, in amounts of 1 and 3 mL, for 15 consecutive days. The IgG, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17 factors and oxidative stress (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]) were studied. Also, the IL-17 enzymes were evaluated by the noncompetitive ELISA method. The obtained results indicated the highest amount of ascorbic acid (98.66 ± 13.29 mg/100 mL) and phenol (1.663 ± 0.004 mg GA/g) in the hydroethanolic extract of pumpkin and the highest amount of flavonoids in the hydroethanolic extract of WC (0.426 ± 0.004 mg QE/100 g). Also, in the DPPH method, the highest rate of free radical inhibition related to RC hydroethanolic extract was 98.26% at a concentration of 800 μg/mL. The evaluation of the immune system showed no significant difference between the treatments and the control group in any evaluated factor except IgG antibody (p > 0.05). Also, combined treatments of cabbage and pumpkin extracts increased SOD activity in the assessment of oxidative stress. In general, the results indicate that the combination of the extracts of these plants (800 μg/mL) can be a promising therapeutic agent with the ability to modulate the immune system and improve oxidative stress.

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, driving the urgent need for safer and more effective treatment options. Herbal medicine, with its diverse bioactive compounds, offers a promising source of novel anticancer agents that may enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. This study explores the phytochemical composition and cytotoxic potential of Ruta chalepensis extracts (acetone, aqueous, and hexane) in an in vitro model. According to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the acetone and aqueous extracts were high in both flavonoids and monoterpenes, whereas the hexane extract was high in fatty acids and triterpenoids. The cytotoxic effects of these extracts were tested using MTT assay against human lung (A549) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines, as well as normal fibroblasts (CCD-1064SK). With IC₅₀ values of 43.78 ± 1.18 μg/mL for A549 and 65.96 ± 2.33 μg/mL for PC3, the acetone extract showed the most potent anticancer activity among the examined extracts. These findings suggest that R. chalepensis acetone extract has the potential to be an effective anticancer agent, which requires additional research into its bioactive components and mechanisms of action.