Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107203
Min Zhang , Liping Xu , Fan Zhang , Juyi Zhao , Yanjie Chen , Xiaotong Chen , Xiangyun Yan , Xiaohui Chen , Shushu Li , Jun Zhang , Shuping Han
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants, and effective pharmacologic options are scarce. Studies have demonstrated that human milk peptides can improve NEC, β-casein 65 is a novel peptide derived from preterm human milk, yet its specific function and mechanism remain unclear. Here we evaluated the therapeutic potential role of β-casein 65 in a mouse model of NEC. β-casein 65 improved survival and mitigated abdominal distension and hematochezia in experimental NEC models. Concomitantly, β-casein 65 significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6 by approximately 56% and 71%, respectively) and increased intestinal barrier proteins compared with the NEC group. Using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, β-casein 65 altered gut microbiota profiling by lowering pathogenic Proteobacteria and promoting beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia. Metabolomics analysis showed notable changes in immune-regulating metabolites, especially enriched in the IgA immune network. This finding not only provides a mechanistic understanding but also highlights β-casein 65 as a promising candidate for the development of preventative therapeutics for this devastating neonatal disease.
{"title":"Novel human milk-derived peptide β-casein 65 repairs intestinal injury via modulating gut microbiota","authors":"Min Zhang , Liping Xu , Fan Zhang , Juyi Zhao , Yanjie Chen , Xiaotong Chen , Xiangyun Yan , Xiaohui Chen , Shushu Li , Jun Zhang , Shuping Han","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107203","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants, and effective pharmacologic options are scarce. Studies have demonstrated that human milk peptides can improve NEC, β-casein 65 is a novel peptide derived from preterm human milk, yet its specific function and mechanism remain unclear. Here we evaluated the therapeutic potential role of β-casein 65 in a mouse model of NEC. β-casein 65 improved survival and mitigated abdominal distension and hematochezia in experimental NEC models. Concomitantly, β-casein 65 significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6 by approximately 56% and 71%, respectively) and increased intestinal barrier proteins compared with the NEC group. Using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, β-casein 65 altered gut microbiota profiling by lowering pathogenic <em>Proteobacteria</em> and promoting beneficial bacteria like <em>Bifidobacterium</em> and <em>Akkermansia</em>. Metabolomics analysis showed notable changes in immune-regulating metabolites, especially enriched in the IgA immune network. This finding not only provides a mechanistic understanding but also highlights β-casein 65 as a promising candidate for the development of preventative therapeutics for this devastating neonatal disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107203"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107192
Jingjing Wang , Zhoujie Yang , Huaiqiang Zhang , Qin Pan , Hui Shi , Bing Lin , Liyan Zhang , Ying Zhou , Tingting Feng
This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of polysaccharides (FCSP) from coix seeds fermented by Limosilactobacillus reuteri. The extraction process of FCSP was optimized using Response Surface Methodology, and evaluated the hypoglycemic effects of FCSP both in vivo and in vitro. After process optimization, the extraction rate of FCSP was 8.74%. In vitro studies demonstrated that FCSP reduced oxidative stress levels in IR-HepG2 cells, significantly enhanced the activities of hexokinase (HK) and pyruvate kinase (PK), and promoted glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis. In T2DM mice, FCSP decreased glycated serum protein levels and improved glucose tolerance. The levels of blood lipids and oxidative stress were also significantly ameliorated. Furthermore, FCSP significantly reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and enhanced the abundance of beneficial microbiota, including Lactococcus, Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Weissella and Adlercreutzia in the mouse gut. Overall, these findings provide clear scientific evidence for the hypoglycemic potential of FCSP.
{"title":"Effects of crude polysaccharides from Coix seeds fermented by Limosilactobacillus reuteri on hyperglycemia and gut microbiota in type 2 diabetic mice","authors":"Jingjing Wang , Zhoujie Yang , Huaiqiang Zhang , Qin Pan , Hui Shi , Bing Lin , Liyan Zhang , Ying Zhou , Tingting Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107192","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107192","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of polysaccharides (FCSP) from coix seeds fermented by <em>Limosilactobacillus reuteri</em>. The extraction process of FCSP was optimized using Response Surface Methodology, and evaluated the hypoglycemic effects of FCSP both in vivo and in vitro. After process optimization, the extraction rate of FCSP was 8.74%. In vitro studies demonstrated that FCSP reduced oxidative stress levels in IR-HepG2 cells, significantly enhanced the activities of hexokinase (HK) and pyruvate kinase (PK), and promoted glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis. In T2DM mice, FCSP decreased glycated serum protein levels and improved glucose tolerance. The levels of blood lipids and oxidative stress were also significantly ameliorated. Furthermore, FCSP significantly reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and enhanced the abundance of beneficial microbiota, including <em>Lactococcus</em>, <em>Akkermansia</em>, <em>Lactobacillus</em>, <em>Bifidobacterium</em>, <em>Weissella</em> and <em>Adlercreutzia</em> in the mouse gut. Overall, these findings provide clear scientific evidence for the hypoglycemic potential of FCSP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107192"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107187
Sunita Karki , Nicola Gasparre , Thomas Netticadan , Cristina M. Rosell
Bread is a major dietary carbohydrate source, but its rapid starch digestion promotes a high glycemic index. Resveratrol (RSV), a plant polyphenol, and amyloglucosidase (AMG) can modify starch structure which could potentially alter the starch digestibility. This study examined whether the individual and combined use of RSV and AMG could lower starch digestibility while preserving bread quality. The pasting and hydrolysis behavior of white and whole-wheat flours enriched with RSV, AMG, or their combination were analyzed by Rapid Visco Analyzer and modeled with Box–Lucas kinetics. Breads were evaluated for texture, color, RSV recovery, and in-vitro starch digestibility. In white flour, AMG reduced peak viscosity, whereas RSV mitigated this effect and increased setback, indicating enhanced retrogradation. The combined RSV-AMG treatment yielded the lowest hydrolysis rate (k = 0.56 min−1), suggesting a denser starch–polyphenol network that restricted enzymatic access. Whole-wheat flours, bran and fiber led to different effects, with RSV increasing starch retrogradation during cooling. The combination of the treatment led to softer white crumbs and reduced the RSV induced firmness of whole-wheat crumbs. In both breads, RSV shifted starch fractions from rapid digestible starch to slowly digestible starch in both matrices, slowing the in vitro starch hydrolysis. Overall, RSV and AMG acted synergistically to modulate starch chain length and matrix structure, reducing starch digestibility without compromising technological performance. These findings highlight a feasible strategy to design lower-glycemic breads through enzyme–polyphenol co-modulation of starch retrogradation and digestibility.
{"title":"Synergistic effect of amyloglucosidase and resveratrol on reducing in vitro starch digestibility","authors":"Sunita Karki , Nicola Gasparre , Thomas Netticadan , Cristina M. Rosell","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bread is a major dietary carbohydrate source, but its rapid starch digestion promotes a high glycemic index. Resveratrol (RSV), a plant polyphenol, and amyloglucosidase (AMG) can modify starch structure which could potentially alter the starch digestibility. This study examined whether the individual and combined use of RSV and AMG could lower starch digestibility while preserving bread quality. The pasting and hydrolysis behavior of white and whole-wheat flours enriched with RSV, AMG, or their combination were analyzed by Rapid Visco Analyzer and modeled with Box–Lucas kinetics. Breads were evaluated for texture, color, RSV recovery, and <em>in-vitro</em> starch digestibility. In white flour, AMG reduced peak viscosity, whereas RSV mitigated this effect and increased setback, indicating enhanced retrogradation. The combined RSV-AMG treatment yielded the lowest hydrolysis rate (<em>k</em> = 0.56 min<sup>−1</sup>), suggesting a denser starch–polyphenol network that restricted enzymatic access. Whole-wheat flours, bran and fiber led to different effects, with RSV increasing starch retrogradation during cooling. The combination of the treatment led to softer white crumbs and reduced the RSV induced firmness of whole-wheat crumbs. In both breads, RSV shifted starch fractions from rapid digestible starch to slowly digestible starch in both matrices, slowing the <em>in vitro</em> starch hydrolysis. Overall, RSV and AMG acted synergistically to modulate starch chain length and matrix structure, reducing starch digestibility without compromising technological performance. These findings highlight a feasible strategy to design lower-glycemic breads through enzyme–polyphenol co-modulation of starch retrogradation and digestibility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107187"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107198
Junhao Liu , Xiaodong Xu , Sijia Sun , Tiantian Zhou , Yimeng Cai , Zi Wang , Zhao Ding
Dietary polysaccharides are promising candidates for managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, their efficacy is typically assessed in acute, chemically-induced models that poorly reflect human disease. We therefore evaluated the succinoglycan riclin in a novel spontaneous IBD model, Period2-deficient (Per2−/−) mice. Following a 4-month dietary intervention, riclin significantly ameliorated spontaneous intestinal inflammation. Treatment reduced inflammatory immune cell infiltration, suppressed oxidative stress, and enhanced antioxidant capacity. Riclin also restored intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins and rescued the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by Period2 deficiency. These findings demonstrate that riclin's benefits are associated with a multi-targeted mechanism that includes remodeling of the gut microbiome, reinforcement of the antioxidant system, and restoration of immune and barrier homeostasis. This study positions the dietary succinoglycan riclin as a potent prebiotic and functional food ingredient for microbiota-directed therapy of chronic gut inflammation.
{"title":"Dietary succinoglycan riclin ameliorates spontaneous gut inflammation by restoring immune homeostasis in Period2-deficient mice","authors":"Junhao Liu , Xiaodong Xu , Sijia Sun , Tiantian Zhou , Yimeng Cai , Zi Wang , Zhao Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dietary polysaccharides are promising candidates for managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, their efficacy is typically assessed in acute, chemically-induced models that poorly reflect human disease. We therefore evaluated the succinoglycan riclin in a novel spontaneous IBD model, <em>Period2</em>-deficient (<em>Per2</em><sup>−/−</sup>) mice. Following a 4-month dietary intervention, riclin significantly ameliorated spontaneous intestinal inflammation. Treatment reduced inflammatory immune cell infiltration, suppressed oxidative stress, and enhanced antioxidant capacity. Riclin also restored intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins and rescued the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by <em>Period2</em> deficiency. These findings demonstrate that riclin's benefits are associated with a multi-targeted mechanism that includes remodeling of the gut microbiome, reinforcement of the antioxidant system, and restoration of immune and barrier homeostasis. This study positions the dietary succinoglycan riclin as a potent prebiotic and functional food ingredient for microbiota-directed therapy of chronic gut inflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107198"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107199
Fenghua Xu , Yan Zheng , Yun Zhang , Kechun Liu , Shanshan Zhang , Bing Li , Guohai Su
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disease of the colon. Compared with current therapeutic drugs, bioactive peptides are safer and more promising for UC prevention and treatment. Our previous studies demonstrated that the MHLWAAK peptide derived from C-phycocyanin exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its potential therapeutic effects on UC remain unexplored. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potency of MHLWAAK in UC and its underlying mechanism using in vivo and in vitro experiments. The in vivo results showed that MHLWAAK effectively alleviated the inflammatory responses and intestinal tissue damage in the zebrafish model with UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium. An RNA-seq analysis revealed that MHLWAAK regulated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway at the transcriptional level. The qRT-PCR results consistently indicated that lipid-related genes were upregulated after peptide administration. Additionally, in vitro studies demonstrated that MHLWAAK exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses by suppressing the expression of inflammatory genes and proteins. Additionally, western blotting revealed that PPARγ activation inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathways at the protein level after MHLWAAK administration. In summary, this study highlighted the anti-inflammatory activities of MHLWAAK in vitro and in vivo. MHLWAAK peptide development represents a novel and promising strategy for UC prevention and treatment.
{"title":"The MHLWAAK peptide derived from C-phycocyanin ameliorated ulcerative colitis by regulating the PPAR pathway in vivo and in vitro","authors":"Fenghua Xu , Yan Zheng , Yun Zhang , Kechun Liu , Shanshan Zhang , Bing Li , Guohai Su","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disease of the colon. Compared with current therapeutic drugs, bioactive peptides are safer and more promising for UC prevention and treatment. Our previous studies demonstrated that the MHLWAAK peptide derived from C-phycocyanin exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its potential therapeutic effects on UC remain unexplored. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potency of MHLWAAK in UC and its underlying mechanism using <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> experiments. The <em>in vivo</em> results showed that MHLWAAK effectively alleviated the inflammatory responses and intestinal tissue damage in the zebrafish model with UC induced by dextran sulfate sodium. An RNA-seq analysis revealed that MHLWAAK regulated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway at the transcriptional level. The qRT-PCR results consistently indicated that lipid-related genes were upregulated after peptide administration. Additionally, <em>in vitro</em> studies demonstrated that MHLWAAK exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses by suppressing the expression of inflammatory genes and proteins. Additionally, western blotting revealed that PPARγ activation inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathways at the protein level after MHLWAAK administration. In summary, this study highlighted the anti-inflammatory activities of MHLWAAK <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>. MHLWAAK peptide development represents a novel and promising strategy for UC prevention and treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107199"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study aimed to prepare and screen alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-activating peptides from sturgeon meat. Only myofibrillar protein had the potential to generate ADH-activating peptides through trypsin hydrolysis, and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the 1–3 kDa peptide fraction from the hydrolysate could prevent alcohol-induced liver injury by restoring ADH activity, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing pro-inflammatory factors, with a preventive effect of 0.45 g/kg equivalent to 0.30 g/kg of metadoxine. Subsequently, two potential ADH-activating peptides, DIDIRKDLYANN and GVPADNVKDVIIW, were further screened via simulation-based prediction of molecular properties from the 1–3 kDa fraction. Synthetic validation not only confirmed the effectiveness of the screening but also revealed that the ADH activation ability of DIDIRKDLYANN even surpassed that of metadoxine at high concentrations, coupled with favorable solubility and non-allergenic properties. In conclusion, both the 1–3 kDa peptide fraction and DIDIRKDLYANN demonstrated significant industrial potential for development as anti-alcohol biopharmaceuticals or liver-protective functional foods.
{"title":"Antagonistic effects of sturgeon meat protein hydrolysate on alcohol-induced liver injury in mice and screening of peptides that activate alcohol dehydrogenase","authors":"Yizhou Fang , Lechen Zhang , Zhengmei Yin , Jianhua Liu , Guangrong Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to prepare and screen alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-activating peptides from sturgeon meat. Only myofibrillar protein had the potential to generate ADH-activating peptides through trypsin hydrolysis, and <em>in vivo</em> experiments demonstrated that the 1–3 kDa peptide fraction from the hydrolysate could prevent alcohol-induced liver injury by restoring ADH activity, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing pro-inflammatory factors, with a preventive effect of 0.45 g/kg equivalent to 0.30 g/kg of metadoxine. Subsequently, two potential ADH-activating peptides, DIDIRKDLYANN and GVPADNVKDVIIW, were further screened <em>via</em> simulation-based prediction of molecular properties from the 1–3 kDa fraction. Synthetic validation not only confirmed the effectiveness of the screening but also revealed that the ADH activation ability of DIDIRKDLYANN even surpassed that of metadoxine at high concentrations, coupled with favorable solubility and non-allergenic properties. In conclusion, both the 1–3 kDa peptide fraction and DIDIRKDLYANN demonstrated significant industrial potential for development as anti-alcohol biopharmaceuticals or liver-protective functional foods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107188"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-16DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107191
Youjie Huang, Qiurui Hu, Gangliang Huang
Lycium barbarum has the characteristics of homology of food and medicine. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is a natural plant polysaccharide isolated from Lycium barbarum fruit and one of the key bioactive substances in Lycium barbarum. According to the latest scientific research, Lycium barbarum polysaccharide shows a wide range of biological effects, including anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, regulating blood sugar, neuroprotection, reproductive protection, liver protection and so on, and it has good application potential and value in food, health care and medicine and other related fields. Ultrasonic extraction of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide is an efficient and energy-saving modern extraction technology. Its core principle is to use the cavitation effect, mechanical effect and thermal effect of ultrasonic to destroy plant cell walls and accelerate the dissolution of polysaccharide. Herein, the extraction technology, structural characteristics and activities of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide were systematically reviewed. The advantages and limitations of the existing technology were summarized in order to provide feasible reference for the standardization, standardization, scientific development and application of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide. However, we must overcome the bottlenecks in structural analysis, standardized production and clinical translation. Strengthening interdisciplinary and international cooperation will promote the transformation from basic research to industrial application, thus establishing a comprehensive and high-quality Lycium barbarum polysaccharide industrial chain and making contributions to human health.
{"title":"Extraction, characteristics and activities of polysaccharides from Lycium barbarum","authors":"Youjie Huang, Qiurui Hu, Gangliang Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107191","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107191","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lycium barbarum</em> has the characteristics of homology of food and medicine. <em>Lycium barbarum</em> polysaccharide (LBP) is a natural plant polysaccharide isolated from <em>Lycium barbarum</em> fruit and one of the key bioactive substances in <em>Lycium barbarum</em>. According to the latest scientific research, <em>Lycium barbarum</em> polysaccharide shows a wide range of biological effects, including anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, regulating blood sugar, neuroprotection, reproductive protection, liver protection and so on, and it has good application potential and value in food, health care and medicine and other related fields. Ultrasonic extraction of <em>Lycium barbarum</em> polysaccharide is an efficient and energy-saving modern extraction technology. Its core principle is to use the cavitation effect, mechanical effect and thermal effect of ultrasonic to destroy plant cell walls and accelerate the dissolution of polysaccharide. Herein, the extraction technology, structural characteristics and activities of <em>Lycium barbarum</em> polysaccharide were systematically reviewed. The advantages and limitations of the existing technology were summarized in order to provide feasible reference for the standardization, standardization, scientific development and application of <em>Lycium barbarum</em> polysaccharide. However, we must overcome the bottlenecks in structural analysis, standardized production and clinical translation. Strengthening interdisciplinary and international cooperation will promote the transformation from basic research to industrial application, thus establishing a comprehensive and high-quality <em>Lycium barbarum</em> polysaccharide industrial chain and making contributions to human health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107191"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-17DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107214
Xuzhou Liu , Ying Ju , Liangliang Qi , Chao Wang , Bingchuan Tian , Mingguo Jiang , Preecha Prathepha , Jianan Huang , Zhonghua Liu
Building on prior evidence of enhanced in vitro lipid-lowering activity of Sanghuangporus vaninii-fermented green tea, this study evaluated its anti-obesity mechanisms in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Components of the fermented tea were characterized, and network pharmacology predicted potential lipid-modulating targets. Seventy male C57BL/6 J mice were allocated to seven groups: a normal diet group, a high-fat diet group, a high-fat diet group treated with orlistat (positive control), and high-fat diet groups treated with either non-fermented tea or the fermented tea product at two dosages (200 or 400 mg/kg/day). After a four-week intervention, the fermented tea product significantly reduced body weight, serum total cholesterol, and hepatic lipid accumulation compared to the high-fat diet controls. Treatment also enhanced gut microbial diversity, reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and increased fecal triglyceride excretion. Hepatic transcriptomics revealed upregulation of genes including Gadd45a and Bcl6, with pathway analysis confirming involvement in FoxO signaling. Mechanistically, the fermented tea product suppressed hepatic lipogenic genes while upregulating markers of fatty acid oxidation and lipolysis, consistent with network pharmacology predictions. These findings demonstrate that the fermented tea product alleviates diet-induced obesity through coordinated modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota, outperforming non-fermented tea and providing novel insights into fermented tea as a dietary intervention.
{"title":"Sanghuangporus vaninii-fermented green tea targets FoxO1/SIRT1 to alleviate obesity via integrated network pharmacology and multi-omics","authors":"Xuzhou Liu , Ying Ju , Liangliang Qi , Chao Wang , Bingchuan Tian , Mingguo Jiang , Preecha Prathepha , Jianan Huang , Zhonghua Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Building on prior evidence of enhanced in vitro lipid-lowering activity of <em>Sanghuangporus vaninii</em>-fermented green tea, this study evaluated its anti-obesity mechanisms in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Components of the fermented tea were characterized, and network pharmacology predicted potential lipid-modulating targets. Seventy male C57BL/6 J mice were allocated to seven groups: a normal diet group, a high-fat diet group, a high-fat diet group treated with orlistat (positive control), and high-fat diet groups treated with either non-fermented tea or the fermented tea product at two dosages (200 or 400 mg/kg/day). After a four-week intervention, the fermented tea product significantly reduced body weight, serum total cholesterol, and hepatic lipid accumulation compared to the high-fat diet controls. Treatment also enhanced gut microbial diversity, reduced the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and increased fecal triglyceride excretion. Hepatic transcriptomics revealed upregulation of genes including <em>Gadd45a</em> and <em>Bcl6</em>, with pathway analysis confirming involvement in FoxO signaling. Mechanistically, the fermented tea product suppressed hepatic lipogenic genes while upregulating markers of fatty acid oxidation and lipolysis, consistent with network pharmacology predictions. These findings demonstrate that the fermented tea product alleviates diet-induced obesity through coordinated modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota, outperforming non-fermented tea and providing novel insights into fermented tea as a dietary intervention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107214"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High-intensity combat sports such as taekwondo impose considerable oxidative and metabolic stress, potentially impairing recovery and performance. Policosanol has demonstrated antioxidant and metabolic effects in non-athletic populations; however, evidence in trained athletes, particularly regarding performance outcomes, remains limited. In this 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 44 male taekwondo athletes received either policosanol (25 mg/day) or placebo under standardized training conditions. Body composition, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, aerobic capacity (Cooper test), and anaerobic power (RAST) were assessed before and after intervention. Compared with placebo, policosanol supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Improvements were also observed in anaerobic performance, VO₂max and Cooper test distance (p < 0.05). Although favorable within-group changes occurred in some antioxidant and lipid parameters, most cardiometabolic variables did not differ significantly between groups after baseline adjustment. Policosanol supplementation may support oxidative stress modulation and selected aspects of athletic performance in trained taekwondo athletes, while cardiometabolic effects appear modest.
{"title":"Ergogenic and cardiometabolic benefits of policosanol in male taekwondo athletes: a double-blind trial","authors":"Hamidreza Razmi , Aliakbar Alizadeh , Ahmad Zare Javid , Bijan Helli","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107190","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107190","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-intensity combat sports such as taekwondo impose considerable oxidative and metabolic stress, potentially impairing recovery and performance. Policosanol has demonstrated antioxidant and metabolic effects in non-athletic populations; however, evidence in trained athletes, particularly regarding performance outcomes, remains limited. In this 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 44 male taekwondo athletes received either policosanol (25 mg/day) or placebo under standardized training conditions. Body composition, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, aerobic capacity (Cooper test), and anaerobic power (RAST) were assessed before and after intervention. Compared with placebo, policosanol supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA). Improvements were also observed in anaerobic performance, VO₂max and Cooper test distance (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Although favorable within-group changes occurred in some antioxidant and lipid parameters, most cardiometabolic variables did not differ significantly between groups after baseline adjustment. Policosanol supplementation may support oxidative stress modulation and selected aspects of athletic performance in trained taekwondo athletes, while cardiometabolic effects appear modest.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107190"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107202
Tsubasa Mizokami, Shintaro Ono
Glucose-containing beverages enhance water absorption from the lumen of the small intestine into capillaries via Na+-dependent glucose transporters. However, considering the harmful effects of excessive sugar, water absorption-promoting substances that do not worsen calorie intake and glucose metabolism are desirable. Alternative tools that avoid animal studies and clinical trials are required to quantitatively evaluate such substances. Here, we employed an in vitro system using human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells (hiPSC-SIECs) to evaluate the effects of glucose, amino acids, erythritol, and allose on water transport. Among the 15 amino acids, L-alanine had the greatest effect. Significant increases in water transport were also observed with erythritol and allose, which are promising sugar substitutes. Furthermore, L-alanine and erythritol showed synergistic effects. Overall, we demonstrate the efficacy of hiPSC-SIECs as an alternative tool for quantitation of water absorption and propose that L-alanine and erythritol can synergistically promote water absorption.
{"title":"Combination of L-alanine and erythritol synergistically enhances water transport in an in vitro system using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells","authors":"Tsubasa Mizokami, Shintaro Ono","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107202","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2026.107202","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glucose-containing beverages enhance water absorption from the lumen of the small intestine into capillaries <em>via</em> Na<sup>+</sup>-dependent glucose transporters. However, considering the harmful effects of excessive sugar, water absorption-promoting substances that do not worsen calorie intake and glucose metabolism are desirable. Alternative tools that avoid animal studies and clinical trials are required to quantitatively evaluate such substances. Here, we employed an <em>in vitro</em> system using human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells (hiPSC-SIECs) to evaluate the effects of glucose, amino acids, erythritol, and allose on water transport. Among the 15 amino acids, L-alanine had the greatest effect. Significant increases in water transport were also observed with erythritol and allose, which are promising sugar substitutes. Furthermore, L-alanine and erythritol showed synergistic effects. Overall, we demonstrate the efficacy of hiPSC-SIECs as an alternative tool for quantitation of water absorption and propose that L-alanine and erythritol can synergistically promote water absorption.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"138 ","pages":"Article 107202"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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