Journal of Food and Drug Analysis最新文献

We employed a straightforward microwave-assisted extraction technique to investigate the presence of carbon dots (CDs) in Chinese herbal extracts derived from fructus gardeniae and gardenia charcoal, designated as CDs-1 and CDs-2, respectively. The found CDs exhibited unique photoluminescence with quantum yields of 0.95% for CDs-1 and 1.81% for CDs-2, indicating significant potential for bioimaging applications. Both CD types maintain approximately 80% of their fluorescence intensity after 120 min of continuous 365 nm UV exposure, underscoring their stability and suitability for prolonged biological studies. Moreover, antioxidant activity tests showed that CDs-2 have a higher scavenging capacity, with an SC-50 value of 21.7 μg/mL, compared to 35.9 μg/mL for CDs-1, attributed to their higher content of surface functional groups during the extraction procedure. Notably, the results indicated that the carbonization process of fructus gardeniae leads to the formation of CDs, suggesting a potential link between traditional herbal treatments and modern nanotechnology. This research demonstrates that active compounds in Chinese herbal medicine could possess therapeutic properties when adsorbed on the surface of CDs.

In this study, nanostructured thin films were produced from thymoquinone (TQ)-loaded composites encapsulated with different ratios of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to chitosan (CS). The study aimed to investigate their characterization, antibacterial effects, and potential as drug film coating materials. Chemical features and morphological characteristics were determined, and release tests and antibacterial assays were conducted on the thin film layers. As a result, BNC/CS-thymoquinone composite films obtained at different ratios were found to exhibit the highest antibacterial effect, particularly films with a 70% BNC/CS to 30% thymoquinone ratio, against Salmonella typhimurium bacteria.

A sustainable solution to prevent the waste of fruits and vegetables from spoilage is the use of edible coatings or films. This research project aimed to create a fresh coating recipe that could effectively extend the shelf life of mangoes. The coating was composed of chitosan, glycerol, and gum Arabic mixed with the extract obtained from the extraction of Cleistocalyx operculatus plant. The prepared exact has a total polyphenol content of 17% and showed potent free radical scavenging abilities in a dose-dependent manner. The chitosan/gum Arabic/Glycerol/extract edible coatings were analyzed using SEM and FTIR spectroscopy, revealing a smooth and uniform coating with a well-integration of components. Coating the mangoes with this formulation resulted in significant improvements in their appearance, brightness, weight loss, firmness, titratable acidity, and CO₂ respiration rate compared to uncoated samples. The optimal concentration of the extract in the coating was determined to be 0.25% w/w for the best protective performance. After 21-day storage at room temperature, uncoated mangoes were found to be rotten, while coated mangoes remained fresh.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Researchers have conducted numerous studies to find accurate biomarkers for early AD diagnosis and develop more effective treatments. The main pathological hallmarks of AD are amyloid beta and Tau proteins. Other biomarkers, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, can also be helpful in early AD diagnosis. To diagnose and treat AD promptly, it is essential to accurately measure the concentration of biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid or blood. However, due to the low concentrations of these biomarkers in the body, highly sensitive analytical techniques are required. To date, sensors have become increasingly important due to their high sensitivity, swift detection, and adaptable manipulation features. These qualities make them an excellent substitute for conventional instruments. Nanomaterials are commonly employed in sensors to amplify signals and improve sensitivity. This review paper summarized the integration of nanomaterials in optical sensor systems, including colorimetric, fluorescent, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors for AD biomarkers detection.

Overuse of levofloxacin (LEV) is often associated with bacterial resistance and serious health problems, underscoring the need for reliable sensing and monitoring of LEV molecules. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate LEV using boron-doped diamond (BDD) and boron-doped diamond modified with MXene (Ti₃C₂T_X) (BDD-MXene) electrode. The successful deposition of MXene on the BDD surface was confirmed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) methods were also applied to evaluate the electrochemical behavior. The results showed that both electrodes had a linear response in the range of 30-100 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were found to be 1.0 × 10^-6 M and 3.37 × 10^-6 M for bare-BDD, while on BDD-MXene, the values were 3.90 × 10^-7 M and 1.30 × 10^-6 M, respectively. Furthermore, both electrodes showed good responses on selectivity tests with glucose and another fluoroquinolone antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin. The results also indicated good precision with %RSD less than 5%. In real sample applications using wastewater, bare-BDD and BDD-MXene produced excellent %recovery of 92.96% and 101.29%, respectively.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have become the rising stars in the field of nanotechnology and made a revolution in exploiting the profundity of genomics due to their distinguished properties such as stability, ease in preparation and conjugation, biocompatibility, and unique optical properties. These characteristics have greatly expanded their applications such as sensitive and selective quantitation of nucleic acids and as effective carriers for specifically delivering various important molecules/biomolecules to various targets, which are the cornerstone in treating genetic disorders. This review comprehensively discusses the most recent progress in utilization of AuNPs in quantitation and delivery of nucleic acids. The future prospects and challenges of various methods have also been illustrated. It is believed that researchers will continue to overcome the limitations in previous approaches and AuNPs will still play vital roles in the development of diagnosis and treatment of gene-related diseases.

Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (MOC), an herbal drug, contains polyphenolic lignans mainly magnolol (MN) and honokiol (HK). Methotrexate (MTX), a critical drug for cancers and autoimmune deseases, is a substrate of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). This study investigated the effect of coadministration of MOC on the pharmacokinetics of MTX and relevant mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered MTX alone and with single dose (2.0 and 4.0 g/kg) and repeated seven doses of MOC (2.0 g/kg thrice daily for 2 days, the 7th dose given at 0.5 h before MTX). The serum concentrations of MTX were determined by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The results showed that a single dose of MOC at 2.0 g/kg significantly increased the AUC_0-t and MRT of MTX by 352% and 308%, and a single dose at 4.0 g/kg significantly enhanced the AUC_0-t and MRT by 362% and 291%, respectively. Likewise, repeated seven doses of MOC at 2.0 g/kg significantly increased the AUC_0-t and MRT of MTX by 461% and 334%, respectively. Mechanism studies indicated that the function of MRP2 was significantly inhibited by MN, HK and the serum metabolites of MOC (MOCM), whereas BCRP was not inhibited by MOCM. In conclusion, coadministration of MOC markedly enhanced the systemic exposure and mean residence time of MTX through inhibiting the MRP2-mediated excretion of MTX.

Increased leptin resistance and methylglyoxal (MG) levels are observed in obese patients. However, whether MG deposits contribute to leptin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in peripheral tissues remains unclear. In addition, the edible fruit of Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica L.) contains abundant bioactive components such as vitamin C, β-glucogallin (β-glu), gallic acid (GA), and ellagic acid (EA). Water extract of Indian gooseberry fruit (WEIG) and GA has been shown to improve cognitive decline by suppressing brain MG-induced insulin resistance in rats administered a high-fat diet (HFD). Accordingly, this study investigated the functions of WEIG and GA in inhibiting MG-induced leptin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the peripheral tissues of HFD-fed rats. The results showed that MG, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and leptin resistance accumulation in the liver, kidney, and perinephric fat were effectively restored by elevated glyoxalase-1 (Glo-1) activity after WEIG and GA administration comparable to that of alagebrium chloride (positive control) treatment in HFD-fed rats. Furthermore, WEIG and GA supplementation increased adiponectin and antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase) and decreased inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) in the peripheral tissues of HFD-fed rats. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that MG may trigger leptin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation in peripheral tissues, which could be abolished by WEIG and GA treatment. These results show the potential of P. emblica for functional food development and improving obesity-associated metabolic disorders.