Food frontiers最新文献

The globalization of food distribution has made it necessary to ensure the delivery of fresh food to the consumers. Protein-rich foods produce a significant amount of tyramine when spoiled. Therefore, it was envisaged to develop localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)—sensor for monitoring tyramine content in beef, mackerel, and cheese. For this purpose, the sensors were developed by coating the LSPR chip with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) followed by conjugation of tyramine-specific peptide (TYR1). The TYR1 was synthesized and screened by phage display and binding efficiency was evaluated by DockThor. The optimized LSPR sensor showed highest binding efficiency at TYR1 concentration of 20 µg/mL with reaction time of 40 min. The sensor also showed an excellent detection range for beef, mackerel, and cheese were 0.01–10 ppb, 0.01–10 ppm, and 0.01–10 ppb, respectively, in comparison to standard. These findings indicated that this sensor can be used as a promising tool for on-site monitoring of food quality.

Mycoprotein is critical in a dietary shift toward a more sustainable food system. However, the strain improvement for enhancing mycoprotein via genetic manipulation is lacking. Here, we investigated the functions of proteins related to ubiquitin and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modifications using a gene-knockout strategy in Fusarium venenatum, a mycoprotein fungus closely related to the fungal genetics model species Fusarium graminearum. Among the candidate genes, we specifically focused on the putative SUMO-associated gene UBQ14 based on phenotypic characteristics in F. graminearum. In the FvUBQ14 knockout mutant in F. venenatum, nutritional profiles showed prominent differences in amino acid and fatty acid composition compared to the wild-type strain. Furthermore, through proteomic analysis, we confirmed that the loss of FvUBQ14 leads to metabolic changes, particular in amino acid biosynthesis and degradation, resulting in an increase in amino acid composition in F. venenatum. Our findings provide new insights into filamentous fungal food improvement through genetic engineering and contribute to advances in alternative protein industry.

Baicalin is a natural flavonoid shown to attenuate inflammation, tumor, and cardiovascular diseases. However, its effect on endothelial function in diabetes remains unclear and was investigated in current study. A high-fat diet (60% kcal fat diet) was used to feed male C57BL/6 mice for 14 weeks to build a diet-induced obese (DIO) diabetic mouse model. Baicalin (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was applied to DIO mice by oral gavage in the last 4 weeks. Separated mouse aortic rings were induced by high glucose and primary rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were stimulated by advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and cotreated with or without varying doses of baicalin and 5′AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor Compound C. Forty-eight-hour exposure to high glucose impaired acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations in mouse aortas and produced excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Similar phenomenon was observed in aortas from DIO mice. Baicalin treatment could alleviate these damage through preventing expression and translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 pathway, accomplished with decreased expressions of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) as well as proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). These improvements were AMPK-dependent as Compound C abolished the effects. Similar beneficial effects of baicalin and inhibitory effects of Compound C were observed in AGEs (200 µg/mL, 24 h)-induced RAECs. To conclude, baicalin protects against vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction associated with diabetes through suppression on inflammation and oxidative stress via activating AMPK.

In the realm of experimental and epidemiological research, the impact of endotoxemia caused by obesity on male fertility is widely acknowledged. However, the existing body of evidence lacks rigorous studies to substantiate this notion. To address this gap, we have selected protocatechuic acid (PCA) as a potential inhibitor of endotoxemia induced by obesity. This selection is further supported by our utilization of a male model of C57BL/6J mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and the fecal microbiota transplantation assay. Our findings reveal a negative correlation between semen quality and endotoxin levels in the mice model induced by an HFD. Furthermore, intervention with PCA resulted in the restoration of testicular morphology, sperm traits, and function. The transplantation of PCA did not exhibit restorative effects on semen quality, but it did effectively prevent obesity-induced intestinal leakage and endotoxemia. By directly enhancing antioxidant capacity, PCA successfully reversed the fertility reduction caused by obesity. These findings offer substantiation that endotoxemia does not play a significant role in the diminished fertility observed in obese males and propose that the inclusion of dietary antioxidant supplementation can potentially restore male fertility.

Mesopelagic species are unexplored novel low-trophic sources of essential micronutrients and may contribute to combat malnutrition. In this study, common mesopelagic species from the North Sea including Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica), glacier lanternfish (Benthosema glaciale), and Muller's pearlside (Maurolicus muelleri) were supplemented in mice feed using a Western diet recipe. The metabolic outcomes were subsequently compared to those of ordinary seafood. Consumption of mesopelagic species induced a large variation in weight gain, in the following order: lanternfish (7.1 g) > krill (14.4 g) > control (19.7 g) > pearlside (22.6 g). The lanternfish-supplemented diet containing wax esters reduced weight gain and obesity and improved insulin sensitivity. The wax esters from the lanternfish-supplemented diet were efficiently absorbed, with more than 92% of the fatty alcohols being assimilated. The inclusion of lanternfish and pearlside led to improvements in the fatty acid (FA) composition in the mouse liver, evidenced by increased levels of essential long-chain polyunsaturated FAs and an increased n-3/n-6 ratio (0.7 to 1.45 vs. 0.46 in control group). Notably, no adverse effects were found in mice fed pearlside and lanternfish, although an elevated level of fluoride in femur bone was observed in mice fed a diet supplemented with krill followed by reduced sperm concentration and sperm motility. Collectively, our findings underscore the diverse array of metabolic and physiological effects induced by the consumption of mesopelagic species. Furthermore, these species can be considered as good sources of n-3 FAs and essential vitamins, suggesting their potential value to human nutrition.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), an abundant and widely utilized anthocyanin monomer, has been shown to significantly inhibit cholesterol absorption. Building on our previous research demonstrating the role of Lactobacillus as a specific intestinal microflora associated with C3G-mediated cholesterol absorption inhibition, the present study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of C3G on high-fat diet–induced cholesterol absorption. Results indicate that C3G significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels while suppressing red grease formation in Caco-2 cells. In vivo, C3G ameliorated blood lipid levels and mitigated small intestinal damage, as evidenced by restored villus length and basal thickness. Additionally, C3G upregulated intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) mRNA expression and inhibited the expression of key cholesterol absorption proteins, Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2. Furthermore, C3G increased short-chain fatty acid content and activated ileal bile acid-binding protein expression. C3G also inhibited intestinal bile acid (BA) reabsorption, promoted fecal BA excretion, and obstructed cholesterol emulsification. Moreover, C3G modulated gut microbiota abundance and diversity, increasing the abundance of Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, Ruminococcus, and Butyricicoccus. In conclusion, our findings suggest that C3G inhibits cholesterol absorption by reshaping intestinal flora composition and regulating the FXR-BAs axis. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the use of C3G as a raw material for inhibiting cholesterol absorption.

In the realm of plant genomics, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology emerges as a potent tool, employing a reverse genetic strategy to elucidate plant gene functions. Recognized for its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and broad applicability, VIGS facilitates the exploration of novel genes in vegetable crops and unveils mechanisms underlying disease resistance and stress response. Moreover, it offers vital support for crop enhancement and molecular breeding. In the context of tomato biology, VIGS holds promise for transformative advancements, spanning from genomics and variety improvement to molecular breeding. This review comprehensively analyzes the pivotal breakthroughs achieved in tomato physiology through global applications of VIGS and explores its strengths and limitations. Future prospects suggest VIGS's pivotal role in reshaping tomato biology, modulating secondary metabolism, and bolstering stress resilience. By delineating diverse applications of VIGS technology, this review fosters innovation in tomato research, opening new vistas for its utilization in plant gene functional analysis.

Hyperglycemia and diabetes are common metabolic disorders. It is considered a safe and effective strategy to screen active ingredients from food and herbs for controlling blood sugar levels. Quinic acid (QA) is a natural polyphenolic acid with various health-promoting properties. In this study, QA was found to exhibit a potent inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 5.46 mM. This inhibitory property surpassed that of three common organic acids including gallic acid, malic acid, and citric acid. A combination of 25% acarbose (0.5 mM) and 75% QA (5 mM) (v/v) exhibited synergistic inhibition of α-glucosidase activity. Enzyme kinetics, fluorescence spectra, and molecular docking analyses indicated that QA acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor of α-glucosidase, with hydrogen bonds playing a key role in the intermolecular interactions. Moreover, QA was found to effectively inhibit three major nonenzymatic glycation products including advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), fructosamine, and α-dicarbonyl in a dose-dependent manner, outperforming the positive control aminoguanidine (AG) within the tested concentration range. Utilizing a Caco-2 cell model, QA demonstrated the ability to inhibit the transmembrane absorption of glucose. This study highlighted QA as a promising food functional factor that had been overlooked in the past, offering potential benefits in improving hyperglycemia, diabetes, and associated complications through the inhibition of α-glucosidase, nonenzymatic glycosylation, and glucose uptake.

This study investigated the effect of dietary interventions targeting gut microbiota on exercise performance in mice. Analysis of the gut microbiota of individuals with varying levels of physical activity revealed enrichment of Eubacterium rectale and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the active population. Through in vitro fecal fermentation experiments, dietary factor combinations that promote the abundance of these bacteria were identified. Dietary interventions, including E. rectale supplementation, FAG combination (gavage of Fructus Arctii extract, Agaricus blazei Murrill polysaccharides, and galactooligosaccharides mixture), and CFG combination (gavage of curcumin, Fructus Arctii extract, and galactooligosaccharides mixture), significantly improved mouse exercise performance, increased glycogen accumulation, regulated serum biochemical parameters, and increased short-chain fatty acid and fatty acid amide levels in feces. Metagenomic sequencing revealed alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota. Fecal metabolome analysis highlighted changes in metabolites related to lipids, organic acids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. These findings suggest that E. rectale and dietary interventions positively affect exercise performance by modulating the gut microbiota and associated metabolites.

This study investigates the impact of environmental factors on the quality changes of mackerel (Scomber japonicus), a globally significant fish species valued for its high nutritional content, especially its unsaturated fatty acids and proteins. In South Korea, marine products like mackerel undergo auction, sorting, packaging, and transportation. Assessing the fish freshness and quality during these processes, before it reaches consumers, is crucial. This research aimed to track the changes in mackerel quality indicators after the auction and correlate them with the environmental factors affecting transportation. Using a transportation model established for both summer and winter, mackerel samples were categorized by their weight (200 and 300 g). Results show poorer quality indicators in summer compared to winter, particularly in the 200 g group. Microbiological indicators such as the total viable count (0.923) and total coliforms (0.958) were most strongly correlated with the season, whereas the lipid oxidation indicators acid value (0.627) and peroxide value (0.536) were moderately correlated with the season. Interestingly, the wider standard deviation distribution observed in summer suggests that individual mackerel characteristics may influence the degree of quality changes. These findings offer insights into mackerel quality fluctuations during auction and transportation, aiding in future efforts to maintain seafood quality amidst climate change.