Food Science and Biotechnology最新文献

This study analyzes the flavonoid, carotenoid, and organic acid profiles of 18 commercial dried citrus chips, including 6 Korean and 12 imported cultivars, which are categorized into citron, pomelo, and mandarin groups based on their origin. Hesperidin and narirutin predominate in citron and mandarin groups, whereas naringin is prevalent in pomelo group. Green tangerine chip showed the highest contents of hesperidin (3180.24 ± 296.55 mg/100 g) and narirutin (424.98 ± 9.23 mg/100 g), while grapefruit chip had the highest naringin content (1916.66 ± 89.66 mg/100 g). β-cryptoxanthin was detected in the citron and mandarin groups, with tangerine chip containing the highest amount (18.35 ± 0.99 μg/g). The citron group exhibited higher organic acid concentrations than pomelo and other mandarin groups. The highest and lowest ascorbic acid contents were found in grapefruit chip and kumquat chip, at 2973.56 ± 56.78 and 111.84 ± 2.17 mg/100 g, respectively.

Moringa oleifera have been widely consumed in China and African countries to treat DM. This study investigated the arresting hypoglycemic effects of Moringa oleifera leaves extracts (MOLE) on T2DM via the gut microbiota pathway. The results displayed that MOLE treatment for 30 days significantly improved the plasma FBG and lipids (TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C) levels in T2DM rats in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), respectively. Also, MOLE treatment increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and decreased the abundance of Firmicutes, and dramatically increased the contents of the acetic acid, propionic acid, and total SCFAs in the feces of T2DM rats (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), respectively. KEGG signaling pathway further suggested that MOLE strongly participated in the carbohydrate metabolism in T2DM rats. This work indicates the noteworthy improvement of MOLE on metabolic disorders in T2DM rats via the regulation of gut microbiota and SCFAs.

Centella asiatica (CA) has served as a cornerstone of Ayurvedic and other traditional therapies for inflammatory disorders for decades. Although the anti-inflammatory properties of CA extracts have been increasingly recognized, the impact of CA juice (CA-Juice) on intestinal inflammation remains largely unexplored. This study explored the functional properties of CA-Juice in an in vitro model of intestinal inflammation and identified a key bioactive compound. CA-Juice significantly attenuated the secretion and gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. It not only upregulated tight junction-related proteins but also increased the expression of their corresponding genes. The observed effects were largely attributable to the modulation of key inflammatory signaling cascades, including those related to MAPKs and NF-κB. UHPLC-MS² revealed miquelianin as the dominant constituent and functional mediator. The results highlight CA-Juice as a promising functional approach for mitigating intestinal inflammation and offer insight into its potential as an alternative therapeutic option.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive liver disease lacking effective treatment. This study investigated 2’-Fucosyllactose (2’-FL) for its therapeutic potential. In vitro, 2’-FL reduced lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation in Hepa1-6 cells. In a NASH mouse model, 2’-FL alleviated key disease features: hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, 2’-FL intervention reversed NASH-associated gut microbiota dysbiosis, specifically by increasing Bacteroidota and decreasing Firmicutes at the phylum level. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) validated the role of gut microbiota in these effects. The findings indicate that 2’-FL ameliorates NASH by remodeling the gut microbiota, thereby reducing endotoxemia and improving lipid metabolism. This suggests 2’-FL as a promising dietary intervention for metabolic liver diseases.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women, characterized by disrupted ovarian function due to multiple factors. Angelica gigas Nakai (AG), known for its multi-compound and multi-target properties, was investigated as a potential therapy using an integrated approach combining network pharmacology and experimental validation. Active compounds of AG were matched with PCOS-related genes, and 45 overlapping targets were identified. Network analysis highlighted INS, LEP, and IGF1 as key nodes. KEGG enrichment indicated involvement of the AMPK signaling pathway. In vivo, estradiol valerate–induced PCOS rats treated with AG (1 mg/kg) displayed restored estrous cycles, normalized ovarian weight, reduced serum testosterone, and improved follicular maturation. Consistently, AG upregulated AMPK expression while downregulating INS, IGF1, Leptin, and PPAR-γ. These findings suggest that AG may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for PCOS.

Plant-derived polysaccharides offer metabolic benefits, but the synergistic effects of multi-component interventions remain unclear. This study investigated the combined treatment of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide (PCP) in diabetic mice using in vitro digestion, 16S rRNA sequencing, and hepatic metabolomics. Compared to individual polysaccharides, the combination more effectively delayed glucose release, increased fecal short-chain fatty acids (especially acetic acid), enriched beneficial microbes (Oscillospira, Desulfovibrio), and altered gut microbiota composition. Hepatic metabolomics and KEGG analysis revealed broader regulation of tryptophan metabolism, the TCA cycle, and amino acid and fatty acid pathways, along with greater reductions in pro-inflammatory metabolites such as oxaloacetic and linoleic acids. These improvements were closely associated with specific changes in gut microbiota, suggesting that KGM–PCP synergistically modulates multiple metabolic pathways via the gut–liver axis. This work provides insight into KGM–PCP as a functional dietary strategy against metabolic disorders.

In this study, the PAH content of sesame oil was analyzed, with particular emphasis on four representative compounds (PAH4): benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), and chrysene (CHR). Thirty commercially available sesame oil products were randomly selected and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The detection rates for each PAH were as follows: BaA (93.33%), BaP (66.67%), BbF (60.00%), and CHR (80.00%). The mean concentrations observed were 2.21 μg/kg for BaA, 1.28 μg/kg for BaP, 2.05 μg/kg for BbF, and 3.34 μg/kg for CHR. To evaluate the margin of exposure (MOE), the estimated daily dietary exposure was calculated based on the detected PAH4 compound content and daily consumption. Consequently, all MOE values exceeded the threshold of 10,000, thereby confirming a low health risk. As a result, the representative PAH4 compounds should be considered when managing overall PAH exposure.

This study aims to develop a plant-based cream cheese analog using pea protein isolate (PPI) and soybean oil by adjusting the protein-to-oil ratio to assess the impact of balancing interactions between emulsification and gelation. Emulsion gels with varying PPI-to-oil ratios were prepared and evaluated, with commercial dairy cream cheese as the control. Formulations with intermediate PPI-to-oil ratios exhibited optimal characteristics, including balanced spreadability, minimal fluid loss, and desirable viscoelastic properties. Rheological and textural analyses demonstrated that controlled balancing interactions enhance structural integrity without inducing excessive brittleness by influencing protein aggregation and network formation. The optimal formulation shows a textural profile comparable to commercial cream cheese, with a significantly higher protein content and reduced fat and energy content. These findings highlight the importance of managing balancing interactions between emulsification and gelation to optimize product quality, providing a robust scientific foundation for the development of high-quality plant-based cream cheese analogs.

Environmental pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has become increasingly severe. PM_2.5 easily penetrates the skin and causes oxidative damage and inflammatory skin diseases, resulting in skin cell death. In this study, we elucidated the protective effect of Vaccinium oldhamii ethanol extract (VOE) against PM_2.5-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in human keratinocytes. The results showed that VOE reversed PM_2.5-induced decrease in cell viability. VOE strongly inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by downregulating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), thereby reducing lipid peroxidation. VOE attenuated PM_2.5-induced upregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. In addition, VOE markedly reduced PM_2.5-induced autophagy activation and apoptosis. Overall, VOE prevented PM_2.5-induced apoptosis by inhibiting ROS generation and mitigating inflammation and autophagy activation. These results suggest the potential of VOE as an effective anti-pollution agent capable of preventing oxidative stress and inflammation caused by PM2.5.

Phyto-compounds play a considerable role in alleviating fungal diseases. However, the process for extraction, optimization, validation, comprehensive characterization and thorough evaluation is imperative to get the lead molecule. Gymnema sylvestre is loaded with multiple bioactives, therefore, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) process was optimized to produce bioactive components fraction (EGS), highly effective to inhibit storage pathogens, exhibiting significant effect against Aspergillus parasiticus 6365 (EC₅₀ 97.2 µg/mL) and Penicillium expansum 2995 (EC₅₀ 117.9 μg/mL). To ensure bulk production feasibility, the process was optimized using a factorial design, revealing a time of 17.45 min, 30.65 kHz. amplitude and 38.50 mL solvent to biomass ratio for the maximum yield (365.51 mg/ g sample). An untargeted metabolomics analysis unveiled the appearance of fifty-one compounds with the abundance of gymnemic acid I–VII, gymnemanol, gymnemagenin, gymnemoside C–E, gymnemasin A, D. Molecular modelling displayed the highest contribution of gymnemanol (− 20.00 kJ/mol), gymnemic acid II (− 19.6 kJ/mol) and gymnemagenin (− 19.5 kJ/mol) to inhibit the target-specific site of the fungal protein. Fungal growth inhibition was explained through molecular interactions, suggesting stable protein-triterpene complex formation with low distance H-bonds, hydrophobic pi-alkyl bonds. Major components predicted to exhibit a strong binding mechanism with the selective amino acid residues could be responsible for antimycotic action. Therefore, these findings provide empirical support to further explore these bioactive compounds as a promising, eco-friendly antimycotic agent.