NPJ Science of Food最新文献

Plant-derived self-assembled nanoparticles, especially from food-medicine homology sources, are gaining attention, yet their structure-function relationships remain unclear. This study identified such nanoparticles from leaf decoction of Eucommia ulmoides, a key plant in traditional Asian medicine and diet, termed EUPs. These spherical particles (~287.8 nm) were primarily composed of polysaccharides and polyphenols, with 268 polyphenolic compounds detected via UPLC-QTOF-MS. Stepwise dissociation-ultrafiltration and spectroscopic analyses revealed that polyphenols were bound to the polysaccharide through noncovalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic forces, forming a layered structure with sustained-release and thermo-responsive properties. Compared with free polyphenols, EUPs exhibited significantly prolonged anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, reflected by the suppression of key inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6 and NO. Therefore, it aims to offer mechanistic insights into the multi-component synergistic anti-inflammatory effects of E. ulmoides and supporting the material basis of food-medicine homology.

Lithocarpus litseifolius (sweet tea) is a medicinal and edible plant rich in flavonoids and essential nutrients, with potential as a hepatoprotective beverages and natural sweetener. Although widely cultivated across several provinces in China, the quality and consistency of its raw material remain poorly regulated. To address this, 163 samples (n ≥ 18) from 7 main producing regions were analyzed for 22 functional compounds, 4 stable isotope ratios, and 49 multi-element to discriminate cultivation practices and geographical origins. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) successfully generated prediction models across two cultivation regions. Integrating 8 machine-learning algorithms with multi-level data fusion identified 6 key variables-caffeine, Rb, Ce, δ¹⁵N, Sr, and 3"-O-acetylphlorizin. Five base learners built on these variables were then combined via soft-voting ensemble learning, yielding an optimal origin classifier with 100.00% accuracy. Additionally, the study delivered the first comprehensive analysis of quality variations in sweet tea and identified seven primary influenced environmental factors, offering insights into cultivation strategies and quality formation mechanisms.

Manufacturing adulteration is the major cause of discrepancies between the declared and actual composition of food products. While high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of DNA barcodes is a promising method to identify adulterants, its practical application is hampered by technical challenges. Food pre-processing and differences in GC composition can lead to unequal amplification or complete loss of DNA barcode components. Consequently, HTS results require independent confirmation using an orthogonal method based on very different physical principles than DNA sequencing. To address this, we evaluated the suitability of a multi-omic approach that coupled DNA barcode HTS analysis with proteomic analysis, to enhance the detection of food fraud in herbal beverages. To resolve discrepancies between genomic and proteomic findings, we employed traditional botanical morphology as an arbiter. Among the samples studied, the combined approach revealed two main adulterations of Epilobium with Lythrum - a substitution potentially hazardous to consumers - as well as several minor substitutions, all confirmed by orthogonal methods. Our findings demonstrate that proteomic analysis provides enhanced confidence for verifying the presence or absence of plant components identified by HTS. However, its effective application is guided by prior sequencing to define specific targets for subsequent proteomic verification. This study established that a multimodal analytical approach is not only beneficial, but essential for the reliable and comprehensive characterization of components in complex plant mixtures.

Polysaccharides are structurally diverse biopolymers that interact intimately with the colonic mucus barrier, modulating its physicochemical properties and biological functions. This review explores direct and indirect interactions between polysaccharides and colonic mucus that collectively shape mucus rheology, penetrability, and barrier function. After brief, separate descriptions of colonic mucus (bilayered architecture and goblet cell-driven secretion) and polysaccharide structural classes (e.g., charge, molecular weight, branching, and substitution patterns), we dissect the molecular and biophysical mechanisms governing polysaccharide-mucus interactions-including electrostatic and hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic association, and steric or depletion effects-and integrate evidence from in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo, organoid, and gut-on-a-chip models. Functional consequences for mucin secretion and degradation, mucus viscosity and structure, barrier integrity, and epithelial and immune signalling are critically evaluated, with particular focus on protection against oxidative stress-induced mucosal dysfunction. By linking specific physicochemical features of polysaccharides to their behaviour within the mucus barrier, we outline design principles for improving gastrointestinal health, optimising mucosal drug delivery, and guiding the development of next-generation polysaccharide-based therapeutics.

Antarctic krill oil (KO) is a richsource of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Endogenous PUFA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) have garnered attention due to their beneficial effects on body, especially the cardiovascular system. This study integrated non-targeted and targeted lipidomics to investigate KO's time-dependent effects on the comprehensive lipid profile and SPMs in rats. After 1- and 6-week supplementation, KO significantly altered lipid profiles, reducing arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4)-containing lipids while elevating eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6)-containing lipids. Targeted analysis identified and quantified 33 PUFA-derived oxylipins, including derivatives of ARA, 8 derivatives of EPA, and 13 derivatives of DHA. Notably, KO consumption substantially decreased pro-inflammatory oxylipins like LTB₄, PGE₂, and TXB₂, while increasing anti-inflammatory LXA₄ and SPMs such as RvE1, RvE2, RvD1, RvD4, and MaR1. Long-term intake amplified SPM accumulation, suggesting temporal regulation. These findings elucidate KO's potential mechanism in inflammation management through lipidome remodeling, supporting its application in functional foods for metabolic health enhancement.

In this 12-week trial, 136 participants with moderately dyslipidemia were randomly assigned to receive Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) or placebo. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the group-by-time interaction did not reach statistical significance. However, in per-protocol set (adherence ≥85% and no antibiotic use), LP supplementation reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (-0.118 mmol/L) and total cholesterol (TC) (-0.163 mmol/L), compared with the placebo (both P_group×time < 0.05). Post-intervention group differences were identified in gut microbial genera and species, correlated with changes in bile acids, which in turn were jointly related to lipid reduction. Microbiota-based machine learning models well-predicted the lipid reductions. Subjects with lower genetic risk scores experienced large decreases in LDL-C (Mean ± SD: -0.749 ± 0.632 mmol/L) and TC (-1.306 ± 0.436 mmol/L) (both P_trend and P_interaction < 0.001). Our data supported the beneficial effects of LP in patients with moderate dyslipidemia involving gut microbiota and host genetics.

Food packaging is critical for ensuring food safety, quality, and shelf life. However, growing environmental concerns with conventional plastics drive the search for sustainable alternatives. A major challenge is that many biobased and biodegradable materials show poor barrier properties, limiting their use for food. This study provides a proof-of-concept for classifying sustainable packaging materials by clustering oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) data. A dataset from 49 studies (2000 to 2016) was analyzed using K-Means, Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN). DBSCAN emerged as best performing algorithm, achieving the highest Silhouette Score (0.910) and lowest Davies-Bouldin Index (0.374). Results validated that while many sustainable films exhibit high permeability, nanocomposites achieved improved barrier performance. This data-driven framework demonstrates clustering as a tool for systematic grouping of packaging materials, with future work requiring broader datasets, industrial benchmarks, and standardized reporting for practical application.

Growing demands for healthier diets are driving agricultural and food scientists to develop climate-resilient crops and food systems that ensure nutritionally effective food. Beyond providing basic energy requirements, nutrients may actively influence human physiology and health. One such molecule, spermidine, a polyamine abundant in wheat and soybean, has attracted particular interest. From the aspect of human health, spermidine is mainly studied for healthy ageing properties and has been associated with cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-cancerogenic effects. On the other hand, being present in all plants, spermidine is essential for growth, development, and stress adaptation. Endogenously or when exogenously applied, spermidine can help plants adapt to harsh climate change conditions. Bringing together current knowledge on the significance of spermidine in both plants and humans, this review aims to trace its journey From Farm to Pharm, highlighting its importance for sustainable crop production, improved nutrition, and emerging pharmacological applications.

This study aimed to identify novel saltiness-enhancing peptides derived from Pleurotus eryngii and evaluate their influence on saltiness perception. Utilizing an integrated virtual screening strategy, 6 candidate peptides exhibiting potential saltiness-enhancing properties were identified. Sensory analysis revealed that these peptides displayed distinct taste profiles, with detection thresholds ranging between 0.04 and 0.12 mmol/L. Notably, peptides AGHDDFP, GYDTF, and NGYDMR enhanced the saltiness of a 3 mg/mL NaCl solution, demonstrating synergistic or additive effects, consistent with electronic tongue. Molecular docking analysis revealed that three saltiness-enhancing peptides primarily interacted with TMC4 through hydrogen bonding, identifying key interaction residues including Gln527, Glu531, Asp491, Asn404, Arg437, Lys567, Pro409, and Val498. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the structural stability and tightness of saltiness-enhancing peptides-TMC4 complexes, supporting their potential effectiveness in modulating saltiness perception. These results indicate a promising approach for identifying saltiness-enhancing peptides derived from Pleurotus eryngii, potentially serving as taste modulators in reduced-sodium food formulations.

Due to the significant healthcare burden associated with foodborne illness, developing platforms suitable for the on-site detection of food pathogens is of critical importance to public health. Low-cost, equipment-free approaches are desired to allow for point-of-use contamination monitoring along the food supply chain. Here, we demonstrate the compatibility of an Escherichia coli responsive colorimetric DNAzyme-crosslinked hydrogel sensor with a wide range of food products. Sensor functionality involves an E. coli detecting DNAzyme-substrate complex that cleaves the hydrogel crosslinking in the presence of the target bacteria, resulting in a release of gold nanoparticles that is visible to the naked eye. Naked-eye detection of E. coli at concentrations of 10⁵ CFU mL^-1 has been shown in milk as well as samples extracted from produce, leafy greens, and ready-to-eat foods such as rotisserie chickens. The functionality, simplicity, and versatility of this sensing platform may improve the feasibility of frequent pathogen monitoring in the food production pipeline, with the potential to mitigate future outbreaks of foodborne illness.