Journal of Food Biochemistry最新文献

Losses provoked by insect pests on stored cereals and legumes contribute immensely to reduce food security, especially in rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The application of integrated control strategies, involving the use of synthetic pesticides, is often expensive and hazardous to humans and the environment. This study was conducted to optimize the production and use of biosilica from rice husk ashes, for the control of Sitophilus zeamais and Acanthoscelides obtectus, major insect pests of stored maize and common bean grains. The amorphous nature of the derived silica molecules coupled with the silanol and siloxane groups on their surfaces seemed to account for silica’s insecticidal effects on the pests, which were more on A. obtectus on common beans than S. zeamais on maize grains, with full mortalities obtained at doses of about 1.25 g per 50 g bean seeds and about 2.25 g per 50 g maize seeds, within 3 and 12 days, respectively. Similarly, the daily lethal dose (LD₅₀) of silica powder required to obtain the mortality of half of the insects was lower on common beans than on maize seeds. The reduced phytotoxic activity of the biosilica on the stored common bean and maize grains indicates therefore that it could make an ecofriendly alternative to conventional protectants for small quantities of stored grains. However, large-scale studies are needed in order to evaluate its potential use in grain storage systems.

Increasingly, insects are heralded as a sustainable and efficacious solution to global challenges of malnutrition and protein scarcity. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) advocates for the use of insects as a sustainable substitute for conventional animal-based proteins, in response to the escalating pressures on natural resources and the environment. This study focuses on Nudaurelia dione, exploring its nutritional and antinutritional profiles through rigorous laboratory analyses employing standardized methodologies. Our findings establish that N. dione is a potent source of macronutrients, providing significant quantities of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, with a calculated energy content of 413.64 ± 13.32 kcal per 100 g of dry matter (DM). The lipid fraction is particularly rich in essential fatty acids, including α-linolenic and linoleic acids. Additionally, the insect species contains high levels of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Despite these nutritional benefits, the presence of considerable amounts of phytates (2059.96 ± 5.12 mg per 100 g of DM) poses potential health risks. Therefore, it is imperative to develop and apply appropriate processing methods to reduce these antinutritional factors effectively.

Tea plants, as essential health beverages, are widely recognized for their rich content of antioxidant metabolites. This study utilized metabolomics analysis techniques to compare the metabolic differences between Camellia tachangensis F. C. Zhang, Camellia gymnogyna Hung T. Chang, and Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kunzte, aiming to reveal their potential antioxidant activities. By applying UPLC–MS/MS technology, we analyzed metabolites in the samples and identified 1056 metabolites. We utilized statistical methods such as orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and principal component analysis to evaluate and compare the variations in the samples. An intersection analysis of metabolites from the three types of tea plants identified 29 major differential metabolites. Functional annotation and pathway analysis of these differential metabolites were conducted, ultimately discussing 24 antioxidant-related metabolites, primarily belonging to flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other categories. Among the three types of tea, C. tachangensis has the highest content of procyanidin B4, which is the most abundant substance in this tea. In terms of the impact of this substance on tea, it is known to have antioxidant properties and contributes to the overall antioxidant capacity of tea. In both C. gymnogyna and C. sinensis, the top 5 antioxidant metabolites include substances such as apigenin-6,8-di-C-glucoside (vicenin-2), epigallocatechin, and apigenin-5-O-glucoside. These substances belong to the flavonoid class and contribute to the antioxidant properties of these teas. Beyond the flavonoids and phenolic acids, other classes of metabolites in tea plants also exhibited significant antioxidant properties. These different metabolites play a key role in the antioxidant function of tea, contributing to their potential health benefits. The metabolites provide crucial insights for exploring and developing high-antioxidant products that occur naturally.

In the past few years, much research has been conducted on edible mushrooms, among which Pleurotus ostreatus (PO)—also known as oyster mushrooms—has received attention due to its many health and medicinal benefits. Some research has shown that PO and its active compounds, such as lectins, polysaccharides, primarily β-glucans, phenols, polyphenols, terpenoids, ergosterols, and glycoproteins, are strong immune system modulators, have anti-inflammatory properties, and have potentially positive effects on the cardiovascular system and athletic performance. In this narrative review, an extensive search (academic databases from inception to April 25, 2024) was conducted in the scientific literature, and various aspects of PO and its effects on health and athletic performance were investigated. This narrative review article thereby demonstrates the potential benefits of PO for improving the overall baseline health and concomitant athletic sports performance, recovery, and cardiovascular system function. In addition to potential enhancements in antioxidant defense, substrate metabolism, and being a rich source of many essential nutrients, we describe a possible positive relationship between PO intake and improved athletic performance and recovery in athletes after intense exercise by reducing inflammation, modulating the microbiome, neutralizing free radicals, and strengthening the cardiovascular system. However, more research in basic studies and clinical trials is needed to investigate PO’s clinical applications, mechanisms, and effects on athletes.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a dietary phenolic acid widely distributed in daily food and plants, but its role in vascular dementia (VaD) is still unclear. Hence, this study aimed to investigate whether CGA could rescue cognitive impairment in VaD, providing a new option for drug discovery. Novel object recognition and Morris water maze experiments revealed that CGA enhanced the learning and memory abilities in VaD rats. Nissl staining, Western blot, and transmission electron microscopy results demonstrated that CGA inhibited neuronal loss in the hippocampal CA1 region of VaD rats, increased the expression of synaptic-related markers SYP and PSD95, thickened the postsynaptic density, and suppressed mitochondrial ridge rupture in neurons. GSH detection, MDA detection, and Western blot experiments indicated that CGA alleviated hippocampal GSH reduction and MDA elevation and increased the protein levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11. Cell activity, ROS detection, lipid peroxidation detection, intracellular Fe²⁺ level detection, GSH detection, and Western blot revealed that CGA inhibited the increase of intracellular Fe²⁺, ROS, and lipid peroxidation induced by OGD in PC12 cells, mitigated GSH reduction, and increased the protein levels of GPX4, SLC7A11, SYP, and PSD95. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining showed that CGA increased the expression of pSer40-Nrf2 in the hippocampal tissue of VaD rats and PC12 cells, promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation. Knockdown of Nrf2 prevented CGA from rescuing ferroptosis and synaptic damage induced by OGD in PC12 cells, as well as Nrf2 pathway activation. Molecular docking analysis suggested that CGA competitively bound to the Kelch domain of Keap1 with Nrf2 and then promoted Nrf2 release and activated downstream signaling pathways. In conclusion, our study suggests that CGA may activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway by disrupting the interaction between Nrf2 and Keap1 proteins, thereby inhibiting hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis and synaptic damage and ameliorating cognitive impairment in VaD. Practical Applications. Vascular dementia (VaD) stands as the second most prevalent type of dementia following Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is no effective clinical treatment drug available, and its pathogenic mechanisms remain elusive. This study proposed that CGA might activate the Nrf2-GPX4 signaling pathway by competitively binding to Keap1, thereby attenuating hippocampal neuronal ferroptosis and synaptic damage and consequently ameliorating cognitive impairment in VaD. Our study may provide a novel option for drug research and development for VaD.

The lack of effective treatments for alleviating irreversible skeletal muscle atrophy caused by peripheral nerve dysfunction is a clinical problem. To identify therapeutic targets, signaling pathways in muscle cells activated by denervation have been explored, including the important roles of Cx43, a kind of protein that forms gap junctions, in other types of pathological process. The present study investigated the negative role of Cx43 in aggravated muscle cell degeneration following denervation. The blueberry extract was applied orally on mice models, and its protective effect against denervated skeletal muscle atrophy was found by wet weight measurement and tissue staining observation. Cx43/Akt pathway in denervated muscle cells was modulated by blueberry extract. In conclusion, the negative effects of Cx43 on denervated skeletal muscle atrophy were attenuated by blueberry extract by regulating the Akt pathway.

In LPS-stimulated mouse inflammation model, Laoshan black tea polysaccharides (BTPSs) showed significant anti-inflammatory activity. Three water-soluble acidic polysaccharides (BTPS 3-1, BTPS 3-2, and BTPS 3-3) were purified. They contained glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), fucose (Fuc), rhamnose (Rha), glucuronic acid (GlcA), and mannose (Man) at molar ratios of 9.0 : 4.9 : 4.9 : 1.7 : 1.5 : 1.0, 9.5 : 5.3 : 4.9 : 1.7 : 1.6 : 1.0, and 5.3 : 3.5 : 2.0 : 2.1 : 0.9 : 1.0 with average molecular weights of 28.38, 14.39, and 11.00 kDa, respectively. Three polysaccharides reduced the levels of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, and BTPS 3-2 had the strongest anti-inflammatory effects. Based on analyses of the monosaccharide composition, methylation, and NMR, the main chain of BTPS 3-2 was composed of ⟶4) -β-D-Glcp- (1⟶, ⟶2) -α-L-Fucp- (1⟶, and ⟶6) -β-D-Galp- (1⟶, and Rhap, GlcpA, and Manp units were attached as side chains to the backbone. BTPS 3-2 also downregulated the expression levels of p-NF-κB p65, p-IκBα, TLR4, MyD88, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6. BTPS 3-2 ameliorated LPS-induced inflammation by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the main water-soluble polyphenolic constituent of Danshen, is noted for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties, particularly in cardiovascular protection. However, the mechanisms by which Sal B affects myocardial fibrosis require further investigation. In vivo, we established a diabetic mouse model using a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) administration. Mice were then treated with Sal B, the transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) inducers, or their combination. Upregulation of TRPC6 worsened myocardial pathology, leading to cardiac hypertrophy and collagen fiber deposition. In vitro, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 induced transdifferentiation of cardiac fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, creating a myofibroblast cell model. Sal B, TRPC6 inducers, or their combination were administered. TRPC6 upregulation increased procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide (PICP) and procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) secretion, promoting myofibroblast proliferation and migration. Our study indicates that TRPC6 expression is upregulated in myocardial fibrosis, enhancing TGF-β/Smad3 signaling and promoting collagen I (COL-1) synthesis. Sal B inhibited abnormal TRPC6 expression and TGF-β/Smad3 activation, mitigating these effects. Thus, Sal B alleviates myocardial fibrosis in diabetes by modulating TRPC6 expression and TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Fenugreek extracts have remarkable antioxidant properties and can be used as natural preservatives for products containing a large amount of oil, such as mayonnaise. In this study, mayonnaise was enriched with phenolic extracts of fenugreek seeds (FSE) and fenugreek leaves (FLE), and the quality attributes of the enriched mayonnaises were investigated during storage. FSE and FLE were added to mayonnaise at three different levels (0.05, 0.10, and 0.20%), and the samples were stored at 4°C for 12 weeks and at 25°C for 6 weeks. Antioxidant activity, peroxide value, titratable acidity, color change, and microbial and sensory analysis were performed. As a result, enrichment of mayonnaise with FSE and FLE improved its quality properties during storage. The antioxidant activities of the added FSE and FLE samples were preserved ∼87% and ∼47% at 4°C, and 81% and ∼27% at 25°C, respectively. Furthermore, the increase in the peroxide values of the enriched mayonnaise with extracts during storage was less than that of the added synthetic antioxidant (EDTA) samples. The highest total color change (ΔE) was observed for FLE-added samples for all levels of addition. Multifactorial ANOVA showed significant effects (p < 0.05) of type and concentration of additives, storage time, and their interactions on antioxidant activity, peroxide value, titratable acidity, and color change at both storage temperatures (4°C and 25°C). R² and adj-R² values indicated highly accurate models for all parameters. The addition of FLE and FSE at the highest level (0.20%) prevented the growth of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria by 2.1 and 3.2 logs and the growth of total yeast/mold by 1.0 and 1.3 logs at 25°C, respectively. Sensory attributes (color, odor, taste, texture, and general acceptance) of the mayonnaises added to FSE and FLE had higher scores than the control sample at the end of storage.

Acrylamide is a hazardous chemical mainly synthesized during the thermal processing of foods representing a significant concern within the broader issue of food contaminants and their impact on public health. Acrylamide can be absorbed by the human body through dietary intake, respiration, dermal contact, and mucosa. The metabolic conversion of acrylamide into mercapturic acid metabolites and glycidamide results in several adverse and toxic effects. Therefore, this review explores the formation, toxicity, and metabolism of acrylamide. Hence, it is crucial to detect and ensure product quality via risk evaluation. Traditional analytical techniques for acrylamide detection often require expensive instrumentation and complex sample preparation, prompting the exploration of alternative, cost-effective, sustainable methods. Here, we propose the utilization of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized through green approaches as a novel solution. CQDs display their immense potential for diverse applications due to their valuable properties such as biocompatibility, photocatalysis, and strong fluorescence. This review highlights the distinct potential of CQDs as a fluorescence probe for detecting acrylamide, showcasing their efficacy in addressing food safety concerns. In addition, various extraction and purification techniques for acrylamide such as QuEChERS, solid phase extraction, Carrez clarification, and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction are comprehensively reviewed. QuEChERS is regarded as a most promising technique for the extraction of acrylamide owing to its cost-effective, rapid, and higher recovery rates.