Journal of Food Biochemistry最新文献

The quality and flavor development of fermented koumiss are intricately connected to metabolic processes in microbial communities. This study utilized a combination of macrogenome sequencing technology and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to explore variations in bacterial and fungal communities, flavor compounds, and environmental factors and mine their associated functional genes in traditional Kazakh fermented koumiss from Altay, Tacheng, and Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang. A total of 87 volatile flavor compounds were successfully identified. Flavor compounds exhibited a close correlation with Lactobacillus, which was identified as a potential core functional microbial group in koumiss fermentation on the basis of its abundance and hypothesized flavor contributions. The analysis of environmental factors revealed the significant influence of geographical location on the distribution of microbial communities. The microbial flavor network highlighted the significance of Lactobacillus and Kluyveromyces as pivotal microbial groups with crucial contributions to the formation of flavor-active substances. Kluyveromyces and Acetobacter followed these genera in importance. Moreover, the types and concentrations of acids, esters, and alcohols had a substantial effect on the formation of koumiss flavor. Furthermore, metagenomic data were annotated and analyzed by using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and evolutionary genealogy of genes: Nonsupervised Orthologous Groups databases. Microorganisms in koumiss possessed prominent functions in carbohydrate and amino acid degradation pathways. Annotation with the Carbohydrate-Active enZYmes Database revealed that glycoside hydrolases constituted the highest proportion. The enzymatic features corresponding to genes in bacteria with high abundance were also characterized. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for screening and applying aroma-producing microorganisms in fermented koumiss. They facilitate the targeted isolation of functional microbes, which are ideally suited for koumiss fermentation processes.

R. Cao, J. Yang, Z. Meng, et al., “Linking Microbial Communities and Organic Matter Dynamics in Longjing and Fuding Tea Ecosystems,” Journal of Food Biochemistry 2025 (2025): 9981444, https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/9981444.

In the article titled “Linking Microbial Communities and Organic Matter Dynamics in Longjing and Fuding Tea Ecosystems,” information was omitted in the Funding section. The corrected section appears below.

Funding

This study was funded by the Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Project ([2023] General 085 and [2022] General 144), Postgraduate Research Fund of Guizhou Province (2024YJSKYJJ051) and Guizhou University Talent Introduction Research Project (No. 11 [2022]).

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Black chokeberry, scientifically known as Aronia melanocarpa, is native to the eastern part of North America and belongs to the Rosaceae family, specifically falling within the Maloideae subfamily. A sour taste makes fresh chokeberries difficult to eat raw, but they are widely used in the food sector to make wines, fruit teas, juices, jams, jellies, and dietary supplements. Black chokeberries are a rich source of several bioactive compounds. It has been discovered that the fruits of A. melanocarpa exhibit a variety of bioactivities that may be advantageous to human health, such as antioxidant, antiobesity, anti-infective, antidiabetic, and liver- and heart-protective properties. However, to determine the therapeutic capacity, safety, and underlying mechanisms of action of black chokeberries, a comprehensive examination similar to other natural plants and medical items is required. This review provides a comprehensive overview of Aronia plants, covering aspects such as botany, cultivation, bioactive chemical composition, and therapeutic activities to explore their potential health benefits. The findings are expected to significantly influence future research, particularly in the development of functional food products centered around chokeberries.

Research has demonstrated that certain microRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in governing milk protein synthesis in mice and dairy cows. However, there remains a limited understanding of specific miRNAs that regulate milk protein synthesis in buffalo. While our previous transcriptome data identified miR-29c and miR-106b as potential regulators influencing buffalo milk protein synthesis, the precise mechanism by which they modulate this process remains elusive. To address this gap, we conducted overexpression and knockdown experiments in this study. Our findings reveal that miR-29c and miR-106b exhibit inhibitory effects on the mRNA levels of CSN2 and CSN3 genes, along with diminishing β-casein production, within buffalo mammary epithelial cells (BuMECs). Furthermore, these miRNAs exert regulatory effects on the transcription and phosphorylation states of pivotal components within the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and JAK2–STAT5 signaling pathways. Employing the luciferase reporter system and qPCR, we confirmed the PTHLH gene as a shared target of miR-29c and miR-106b. Notably, they collaboratively regulate PTHLH gene expression. Our previous investigation highlighted the role of the PTHLH gene in augmenting milk protein production within BuMECs, achieved via stimulation of the mTOR and JAK2–STAT5 signaling cascades. Consequently, the inhibitory effect of miR-29c and miR-106b on buffalo milk protein synthesis is attributed to their coregulation of PTHLH. These findings emphasize the significance of miR-29c and miR-106b as essential regulators of milk protein synthesis, shedding light on the underlying mechanism governing milk production in buffalo.

This study aimed to evaluate the bioaccessibility, stability to brush border peptidases, bioavailability, intestinal safety, and bioactivity of low molecular weight (LMW)-milk protein hydrolysate on intestinal Caco-2 and STC-1 cellular models. Milk proteins were first subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and the resulting peptide mixture was analyzed for intestinal absorption using differentiated human Caco-2 cells. Using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), 82 peptides from casein and 16 peptides from β-lactoglobulin were identified as bioaccessible and stable, with some peptides already known to circulate in human plasma. Notably, 47% of apical peptides successfully crossed the epithelial barrier to the basolateral side. Importantly, the peptide mixtures preserved the intestinal monolayer integrity as shown by unchanged transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values at 5 mg/mL and demonstrated the intestinal safety through the absence of cytotoxicity in 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability experiment in differentiated Caco-2 cells. Moreover, the bioactivity of the LMW-milk protein hydrolysate was assessed through in vitro and cell-based assays. Antioxidant potential was assessed using the 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, revealing a strong radical scavenging effect (up to 72.6%) and a FRAP increase of 3864% at 2.5 mg/mL. In addition, LMW hydrolysate significantly inhibited dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) activity by 70.1% in vitro and 20.9% in Caco-2 cells at 10 mg/mL and stimulated glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion in STC-1 cells by up to 122.4%. Finally, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition reached 23% at 6.67 mg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that LMW-milk peptides are safe, bioavailable, and exert multifunctional biological activities antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypotensive, supporting their potential application in functional food development.

Introduction: Paraquat (PQ) induces pulmonary fibrosis through mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and fibrotic reactions. During this process, the overexpression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) promotes the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, leading to excessive protein accumulation in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Echinophora cinerea Boiss. (E. cinerea) is an herb known for its antioxidant effects. The goal of this study is to assess the protective effects of E. cinerea in PQ-induced lung injury.

Methods: Fifty adult male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 220–250 g, were randomly assigned to five groups: (1) Sham received daily gavage of Tween 20, 3% for 6 weeks, along with inhalation of nebulized sterile distilled water (10 mg/m³ for 30 min, three times a week) during Weeks 3 and 4 of treatment. (2) PQ was administered via inhalation of nebulized PQ in sterile distilled water at a concentration of 10 mg/m³ for 30 min, three times a week, during Weeks 3 and 4 of treatment. (3) PQ and emulsion 100 were administered via daily gavage at a dosage of 100 mg/kg emulsion in a 3% Tween 20 solution for 6 weeks, alongside inhalation of PQ, similar to Group 2. The animals in Groups 4 (PQ + E200) and 5 (PQ + E400) were administered with higher doses of emulsion. At the end of the study period, the animals’ lungs were excised for histological analysis.

Results: PQ exposure caused lung injury and an elevation in α-SMA relative to the sham group. The administration of emulsion at doses of 400 and 200 mg/kg, along with PQ, reduced lung injury and α-SMA levels relative to the PQ group. No significant differences were observed in the protective effects of the emulsion at doses of 400 and 200 mg/kg.

Conclusion: Echinophora cinerea essence emulsion attenuates PQ toxicity and mitigates lung injury, with more studies needed to confirm these effects further.

Terpenoids have emerged as essential ingredients in the functional food industry due to their diverse bioactivities and potential health benefits. This review examines recent advances in green extraction techniques and characterization methods for terpenoids from plants, with further focus on their applications as functional food ingredients. The study explores novel extraction methods, including supercritical fluid, ultrasound-assisted, high-pressure, and microwave-assisted extraction, detailing their underlying extraction mechanisms, operating conditions, and compatibility for extracting terpenoids. It also evaluates various qualitative and quantitative characterization techniques, including chromatographic, spectroscopic, and computational methods. Additionally, the review discusses the current and potential applications of terpenoids in functional foods, highlighting their roles in food preservation, flavoring, coloring, packaging, and health promotion. By synthesizing recent research, this work offers insights into the efficient extraction, accurate characterization, and innovative utilization of terpenoids in the functional food sector.

Amomum tsao-ko (AT) is an important medicinal and edible plant. Its fruit has various colors, commonly available in green, red and dark red colors. There may be significant differences in chemical composition and pharmacological activity among ATs with different fruit colors. In this study, we systematically analyzed the metabolite composition of ATs of different fruit colors and their potential pharmacological mechanisms of action using a combination of widely targeted metabolomics and network pharmacology. Through widely targeted metabolomics techniques, we identified and quantified a variety of metabolites in ATs, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and alkaloids. The results showed that there were significant differences in metabolite composition among AT with different fruit colors, especially in the contents of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Among them, flavonoid components such as kaempferol, isorhamnetin derivatives, and epigallocatechin analogs play a major role in the color formation of ATs. Furthermore, through the network pharmacological analysis, we constructed the metabolite-target-disease network of AT and revealed the potential pharmacological mechanism of AT with different fruit color. Five compounds, ent-Epicatechin, (4e_(6e))-1,ent-Epicatechin(4-hydroxyphenyl)hepta-4,6-dien-3-one, beta-daucosterol_qt, (−)-catechin and quercetin, which are effective in the treatment of tumor, were obtained by screening. They had good docking ability to the protein target of tumor. After screening the metabolites of four kinds of fruit color, quercetin was the common component of four kinds of fruit color AT, but the other four compounds could not be detected. In terms of the relative content of the detected compounds, light red AT > dark red AT > red AT > green AT; generally speaking, the content is relatively high, the more potential biological activity, so in theory, the light red AT is more effective in the treatment of tumor, but further pharmacological verification is needed.

This study not only provides a new scientific basis for the chemical differences and pharmacological effects of different fruit colors, but also provides theoretical support.

Background: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is a critical clinical challenge, and lycopene, a natural carotenoid with antioxidant properties, has shown potential in mitigating organ damage. This research evaluated the therapeutic potential and mechanistic basis of lycopene against HIRI utilizing in vivo and in vitro approaches.

Methods: A rat HIRI model and AML-12 cell models (H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress and hypoxia/reoxygenation [H/R]) were established.

Results: Lycopene significantly alleviated HIRI in rats, evidenced by improved hepatic histopathology (HE staining), restored antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD1 and GSH), and reduced proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β). Notably, HRD1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, exhibited dynamic temporal expression: In mild HIRI (30 min ischemia/6 h reperfusion), HRD1 initially increased adaptively but declined thereafter, whereas severe ischemia (60 min) caused persistent HRD1 upregulation during reperfusion, exacerbating apoptosis and liver dysfunction. Lycopene treatment normalized HRD1 levels, reducing apoptosis markers (Bax, Cleaved-Caspase-3) and enhancing antiapoptotic Bcl-2. In vitro, lycopene attenuated H₂O₂- and H/R-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Mechanistically, genetic manipulation of HRD1 (silencing or overexpression) confirmed that it targets Nrf2, the central regulator of antioxidant defense, for degradation. Lycopene suppressed HRD1-mediated Nrf2 ubiquitination, thereby stabilizing Nrf2 and activating downstream antioxidant genes (HO-1 and NQO1).

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that lycopene ameliorates HIRI by modulating the HRD1-Nrf2 axis, highlighting its therapeutic potential via dual antioxidant and antiapoptotic mechanisms. This study provides novel insights into HRD1’s context-dependent roles in HIRI and positions lycopene as a promising candidate for clinical translation.

Murraya tetramera Huang (MTH) is a traditional medicinal plant in western Guangxi and southeastern Yunnan, China. Residents commonly use it as tea. Preliminary experiments conducted by our research team revealed that the Murraya tetramera Huang polysaccharides (MTHPs) exhibit significant inhibitory effects on alpha-glucosidase (α-glucosidase) and alpha-amylase (α-amylase). In this study, MTHPs were purified using diethylaminoethyl cellulose-52 (DEAE-52) anion-exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-75 gel chromatography, resulting in a homogeneous polysaccharide named MTHP-2-a. Structural analysis indicates that MTHP-2-a has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 62.25 kDa. It primarily consists of rhamnose (Rha), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), and glucose (Glc). The backbone fragments include Araf-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 3)-Rhap-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 3)-Araf-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 5)-Araf-(1 ⟶, Glcp-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 2)-Araf-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 2,5)-Araf-(1 ⟶, Galp-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 4)-Galp-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 3)-Galp-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 6)-Glcp-(1 ⟶, ⟶ 6)-Galp-(1 ⟶, and ⟶ 3,6)-Galp-(1 ⟶. In vitro antidiabetic activity assays demonstrate that MTHP-2-a effectively inhibits α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC₅₀ values of 1.24 ± 0.02 and 0.32 ± 0.004 mg/mL, respectively. For comparison, the well-known antidiabetic drug acarbose exhibited similar inhibitory effects, with IC₅₀ values of 1.80 ± 0.06 mg/mL for α-amylase and 0.21 ± 0.006 mg/mL for α-glucosidase. These results suggest that MTHP-2-a exhibits comparable inhibitory potency to acarbose, a widely used antidiabetic agent. Furthermore, through both in vitro and in vivo experiments, MTHP-2-a can significantly exhibit hypoglycemic effects. The molecular structure and sugar composition of MTHP-2-a were purified and elucidated for the first time, revealing its strong potential for antihyperglycemic activity. These findings provide new insights into the pharmacological properties of MTHP and lay the foundation for its future development as an antidiabetic drug, supporting further pharmacological studies and preclinical trials.