Journal of Food and Drug Analysis最新文献

The highly selective SGLT2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) is reported to have beneficial effects on diabetic cardiac hypertrophy; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotection of SGLT2i are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of the SGLT2 Inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) on diabetic hearts and its regulatory mechanisms in high-fat-diet (HFD)- and streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. Male rats orally administered HFD/STZ treatment for eight weeks, with or without EMPA (10 mg/kg), were used as our in vivo model. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used for histological examination. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze the expression of proteins. Daily EMPA administration prevented the HFD/STZ treatment-induced cardiac hypertrophy by activating the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated upregulation of autophagy- and antioxidant-related proteins. Moreover, EMPA treatment decreased oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant capacity and protein expression of antioxidant proteins while downregulating the levels of 4-hydroxy-2E-nonenal in the hearts of diabetic rats. Furthermore, EMPA treatment decreased cardiomyocyte apoptosis and increased heart mitochondrial function. The AMPK/TFEB signaling-mediated increase in autophagy, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial function, and attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis may be crucial in the anti-hypertrophic effect conferred by SGLT2i. Our clinical implications suggest a novel pharmacological approach for treating diabetic cardiomyopathy by modulating autophagy and redox homeostasis.

Leydig cells are anatomically located in the testicular interstitial tissue, and their main function is to produce and secrete testosterone and indirectly support spermatogenesis. We previously reported that the combination treatment of cordycepin and radiation can effectively induce Leydig tumor cell apoptosis through cell cycle arrest, caspase activation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and DNA damage. However, there is still a lack of scientific evidence for the susceptibility of normal Leydig cells to the combination treatment. In the present study, mouse TM3 Leydig progenitor cells were used as a model to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of the combination treatment on normal Leydig cells. It was found that 2-fold higher concentration of cordycepin (50 μM) plus 1.5-fold higher dosage of radiation (6 Gy) induce death-related morphological changes and reduce cell viability to a similar extent in TM3 cells as compared to the effects on MA-10 Leydig tumor cells. The treated TM3 cells showed a significant augmented percentage in sub-G1 and G2/M phases with a decreased percentage of G1 and S phase in the cell cycle progression. Interestingly, protective autophagy with the regulation of autophagy-related proteins, including an increase in LC3 conversion, Atg5 and Atg12-Atg5 expressions, and a decrease in Beclin-1 expression were observed in TM3 cells following the combination treatment. However, p62 accumulation became more pronounced over time after 24 h of treatment, accompanied by a rising percentage of apoptotic cells. In conclusion, normal Leydig cells show higher resistance to the combination treatment of cordycepin and radiation than Leydig tumor cells. Although apoptosis is eventually induced in TM3 cells, protective autophagy is also activated to mitigate the cytotoxic impact of the combination treatment. This finding may provide a reference for the development of safe therapeutic regimen for Leydig cell tumors.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, driven by carcinogens such as tobacco-derived nitrosamines, dioxins, and urethane. This study evaluated the chemopreventive effects of two monoterpenes, α-pinene and d-limonene, using NNK/TCDD- and urethane-induced lung tumor models and A549 lung cancer cells. Both compounds significantly reduce tumor number and size, with enhanced effects when combined. Mechanistic studies revealed suppression of PRC1, β-catenin, and c-Myc, alongside activation of p53, Bax, and caspase-3, indicating inhibition of the PRC1-Wnt/β-catenin pathway and induction of apoptosis. These findings suggest α-pinene and d-limonene as safe, promising agents for lung cancer chemoprevention.

Evidence had accumulated that serotonin (5-HT), a hormone and neurotransmitter, was not only involved in a variety of different physiological and central nervous system functions but also in the development and manifestation of psychiatric diseases. Here, DNA tetrahedron-Au NPs-GO for enhanced fluorescence sensor was designed for detecting serotonin. Au NPs-GO was used as a fluorescence quencher, while fluorophore-labeled DNA tetrahedron was used as a donor, resulting in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the fluorophore to Au NPs-GO (signal off). With the strong binding ability of aptamer to serotonin, S5 was released from Aptamer: S5 duplex, then reacted with the tail of DNA tetrahedron (DTNs), followed by the formation of three double stranded DNA products in the tail of DTNs, bringing in signal readout responses (signal on). Consequently, a reliable, sensitive and selective sensor was obtained for one-step quantificative detection of serotonin from 50 pM to 200 nM with a detection limit of 16.8 pM. Furthermore, satisfactory stability, reproducibility, specificity and good recovery efficiency in human serum samples revealed that the proposed sensor could be served as a prospective tool for serotonin detection.

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), a major bioactive component derived from fungi of the genus Cordyceps, has garnered significant attention in recent years for its potent antitumor properties. Drawing on literature indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2004 to 2025, this study employs bibliometric tools-specifically CiteSpace and VOSviewer-to systematically examine developmental trends, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers in the field of cordycepin-related cancer research. The analysis maps a shift in focus from early-stage pharmacological validation to more advanced investigations into molecular mechanisms, with particular emphasis on cell cycle regulation. Keyword burst analysis highlights bursts in terms such as "apoptosis," "cell cycle," "gene," and "expression," underscoring that modulating the cell cycle to induce cancer cell apoptosis has become a central research theme. Building on these findings, the review further delineates the specific molecular mechanisms by which cordycepin regulates cell cycle progression in various tumor types-primarily through downregulation of Cyclin/CDK complexes, upregulation of p21 and p27, and activation of DNA damage response pathways. Additionally, growing evidence indicates that cordycepin's influence on gene expression and epigenetic modulation is emerging as a critical area of focus. Taken together, cordycepin demonstrates multitargeted potential in inhibiting tumor growth, positioning it as a promising candidate for natural anticancer drug development. Future research should prioritize pharmacokinetic characterization, investigation of combinatorial therapeutic strategies, and pathways toward clinical translation. Intracellular exposure appears to be shaped by two complementary axes: interference with 3'end polyadenylation and ENT1/ENT2-mediated uptake with ADA-catalyzed deamination.

The quality of avocado oil is influenced by multiple factors, including cultivar, growing region, drying method, harvest season, fruit maturity, extraction technique, and storage conditions. This review aims to show how fatty acid profiles (FAP), combined with principal component analysis (PCA), can be used to characterize avocado oil based on various established factors. A total of 23 peer-reviewed articles were included, encompassing 143 data points. PCA was applied as an exploratory tool to reduce dimensionality and visualize patterns in the data. Among the evaluated variables, the fruit part emerged as the most influential determinant, allowing clear categorization of avocado oils based on whether the pulp, peel, or seed was used. Additional separation was achieved based on varietal, geographical origin, harvest month, and extraction method. However, insufficient evidence was found to support consistent differentiation based on ripening stage or drying protocol. These findings also highlight key research gaps and underscore the need to update FAP standards to include oils derived from whole fruits, varied grades, and diverse extraction technologies, advancing sustainability and minimizing food waste.

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common complaints among young women. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chamomile and 1-theanine beverage intake on menstrual symptoms, pain intensity, mood, and sleep quality in young adult females with primary dysmenorrhea, using a two-phase continuous study design. In the first phase, a cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea. In the second phase, participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 15), which consumed chamomile and 1-theanine beverage (CTT), or the control group (n = 15), which consumed chamomile-flavored beverage (non-CTT). Beverages were consumed daily for five consecutive days, starting two days before the expected onset of menstruation and continuing through the first three days of menstruation. Compared to baseline values, consumption of CTT significantly reduced ( p < 0.001) visual analog scale and numerical rating scale values by 57.17% and 55.46%, respectively. Additionally, CTT intake led to significant reductions ( p < 0.05) in the severity of lower abdominal pain, loss of appetite, backpain, complexation, stomachache, body pain, depression, and irritability by 52.86%, 47.24%, 56.29%, 31.03%, 43.14%, 42.52%, 49.46%, 45.11%, respectively. CTT consumption also significantly decreased ( p < 0.05) daytime dysfunction by 31.97% compared to baseline. Meanwhile, non-CTT consumption significantly reduced ( p < 0.05) the severity of complexation, neuroticism, and confusion in the control group. The CTT beverage could be a potential alternative for managing primary dysmenorrhea. Further studies with longer durations are warranted to assess its potential long-term physiological effects.

Gut microbiota has recently gained attention for its role in regulating multiple host pathways and contributing to disease developments. Fecal metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) offers a promising approach to study gut microbial metabolites; however, it remains technically challenging due to the complex, heterogeneous nature of fecal samples and the lack of standardized protocols. This study aimed to establish a robust and reproducible untargeted fecal metabolomics workflow. We systematically evaluated sample preparation parameters-including sample amount, extraction solvent, numbers of extraction, and sample-to-solvent ratio-and assessed method reproducibility. Additionally, we compared three LC-MS data acquisition workflows using 10 samples from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and healthy controls (HC) to improve the identification of biologically relevant metabolites. In sample preparation, our results showed that 50 mg of lyophilized feces was sufficient to capture inter-individual metabolic variation. Additionally, methanol outperformed acetonitrile and showed comparable results to three binary solvent mixtures. A single extraction with methanol was sufficient, and a 1:20 (w/v) sample-to-solvent ratio maximized feature detection. Among the acquisition methods, data-dependent acquisition (DDA) with simultaneous MS1 and MS2 scans provided the highest metabolite coverage with acceptable annotation reliability. In summary, we recommend a single extraction of 50 mg lyophilized feces with 1 mL methanol and the use of DDA for sample acquisition to ensure comprehensive and reproducible untargeted analysis. This optimized protocol improves metabolite detection in human feces and offers a practical strategy to support future studies exploring gut microbial contributions to human health and disease.

Excessive fructose intake leads to fatty liver and kidney dysfunction, with associated inflammation and metabolic disturbances. This study evaluated the effects of fish oil rich in ω-3 fatty acid on these conditions in rats fed a high-fructose diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: normal diet, high-fructose (HF) diet, and high-fructose diet with 5% fish oil supplementation. The experiment lasted for 21 weeks. Fish oil supplementation significantly reduced blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in HF-fed rat. It also improved liver function markers and kidney function indicators. Mechanistically, fish oil suppressed fructokinase expression, activated phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), and decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ expression, reducing triglyceride synthesis-related proteins in the liver. In the kidneys, fish oil supplementation increased p-AMPK and PPARγ, while decreasing inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and fibrosis-related protein α-smooth muscle actin. Histological analysis confirmed that fish oil alleviated liver degeneration and kidney fibrosis. These findings suggest that fish oil not only helps regulate blood lipid levels but also alleviates fructose-induced liver and kidney damage, suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention for metabolic disorders caused by excessive fructose consumption.