Food & Function最新文献

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent a primary global health challenge. Poor dietary choices and lifestyle factors significantly increase the risk of developing CVD. Legumes, recognized as functional foods, contain various bioactive components such as active peptides, protease inhibitors, saponins, isoflavones, lectins, phytates, and tannins. Studies have demonstrated that several of these compounds are associated with the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, notably active peptides, saponins, isoflavones, and tannins. This review aims to analyze and summarize the relationship between bioactive compounds in legumes and cardiovascular health. It elaborates on the mechanisms through which active ingredients in legumes interact with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. These mechanisms include, but are not limited to, lowering blood pressure, regulating lipid levels, promoting anticoagulation, enhancing endothelial function, and modulating TLR4 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Together, these mechanisms emphasize the potential of legumes in improving cardiovascular health. Additionally, the limitations of bioactive components in legumes and their practical applications, with the goal of fostering further advancements in this area were discussed.

Increasing evidence suggests that carotenoids play an important role in visual and cognitive development during early life. This study aimed to depict the carotenoid profile in maternal/cord plasma and breast milk in three northern cities of China while investigating the association between dietary carotenoid intake and breast milk carotenoid levels. We enrolled 990 lactating mothers from three urban northern Chinese cities to collect breast milk (including colostrum, transitional milk, early mature milk, middle mature milk, and late mature milk). Among them, 90 participants also provided maternal/cord blood. The dietary carotenoid intake was recorded in the corresponding stages according to the Food Frequency Questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall. The levels of carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene, and lycopene) in maternal/cord plasma and breast milk were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. We found a significant correlation between carotenoid concentrations in maternal and cord plasma. Moreover, carotenoid concentrations in maternal plasma were significantly higher than those in cord plasma. The total carotenoid levels in breast milk decreased from colostrum to late mature milk. β-Carotene predominated in colostrum, whereas lutein dominated in transitional and mature milk. We also found that breast milk carotenoid levels correlated with dietary carotenoid intake to a certain extent, particularly during the early stages of lactation. Therefore, we encourage women to appropriately increase their dietary intake of carotenoid-rich vegetables and fruits during pregnancy and lactation, particularly during work hours after lactation leave. Moreover, the variance of the carotenoid profile in maternal/cord plasma and breast milk across the three cities implied the necessity of further depicting the carotenoid status and influencing factors across different areas in China.

Low molecular weight galactomannan (LMGM), a soluble dietary fibre derived from guar gum, is recognized for its prebiotic functions, including promoting the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria and the production of short-chain fatty acids, but the mechanism of alleviating diarrhea is not fully understood. This study established an acute diarrhea mouse model using senna leaf decoction and evaluated the therapeutic effects of LMGM by monitoring diarrhea scores, loose stool prevalence, intestinal tissue pathology and gene expression, and gut microbiota composition and metabolisms. The results indicated that LMGM significantly reduced diarrhea scores and loose stool prevalence within two hours post-treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that LMGM improved intestinal epithelial structure and up-regulated the expression of zonula occludens 1, occludin, mucin 2, aquaporin 3, and aquaporin 4 in ileum, jejunum, and colon tissues. Moreover, LMGM increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillaceae and Lachnospiraceae, and decreased Prevotellaceae in the cecum. Furthermore, LMGM promoted short-chain fatty acid production and reduced ammonia nitrogen and skatole concentrations in the intestinal content. The study suggests that LMGM could serve as a functional prebiotic for diarrhea alleviation, potentially by enhancing the intestinal barrier, modulating water transportation, and regulating the microbiota composition.

In recent years, the interest of consumers in fruit juice extracts as nutraceuticals has increased. Fruits, especially red berries, contain valuable bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. Polyphenols are often associated with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, cardioprotective and gastroprotective properties. However, the relationship between the various effects of fruit juice extracts and their influence on the permeability of the intestinal barrier, as well as their influence on glucose transport across the intestinal membrane, is not known. Therefore, in the present study, anthocyanins and copigments were obtained from 11 fruit juice extracts by XAD7 column chromatography and characterized their health-promoting effects, as well as their influence on the intestinal membrane. Chokeberry, pomegranate and blueberry extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity, but showed incomplete regeneration of the intestinal membrane upon treatment-induced higher permeability. This may depended on the high anthocyanin level of these extracts. Treatments with gojiberry extract, elderberry extract and the copigment fraction of apple achieved the best suitable regeneration of the intestinal barrier. The transcription of epithelial glucose transporters GLUT1 und GLUT2 as well as for the oxidative stress genes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were most effectively reduced by chokeberry extract. To sum up, fruit juice extracts possess high antioxidant potentials and can reduce the expression of antioxidant enzymes and glucose transporters in colon cells. While the glucose uptake may be reduced, the intestinal permeability is increased, which varies due to the extract composition. Therefore, fruit juice extracts need to be fractionated and characterized in more detail to identify the health-beneficial compounds.

Over the last decade, research has emphasized the role of the microbiome in regulating cardiovascular physiology and disease progression. Understanding the interplay between wine polyphenols, the gut microbiota, and cardiovascular health could provide valuable insights for uncovering novel therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing and managing cardiovascular disease. In this study, two commercial red wines were subjected to in vitro dynamic gastrointestinal digestion (GIS) to monitor the flavanol-microbiota interaction by evaluating the resulting microbial metabolites. Furthermore, the cardiovascular protective activity of wine flavanol microbial metabolites was investigated, integrating their effects on antihypertensive activity, cholesterol metabolism and insulin resistance into human endothelial (EA.hy926) and hepatic (HepG2) cell lines. A significant production of microbial flavanol metabolites, with a prevalence of phenylpropionic and phenylacetic acids, valerolactones and short chain fatty acids such as butyric acid, was observed, particularly in the transverse and descending colon sections. Incubating HAECs and HepG2 cells with the colon improved cardioprotective parameters. Specifically, an increase in the vasodilator NO, an improvement in the LDL receptors and the HMGCoA enzyme, with positive effects on cholesterol metabolism, and the reduction of glycogen levels improving insulin resistance were observed.

Genistein (GEN), the predominant soy isoflavone in legumes, exhibits potential anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) effects. This study aims to explore the role of GEN in alleviating RA by regulating exosome secretion and the inflammatory microenvironment through the Rab27/nSMase2/Mfge8 pathway in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice and in vitro. In vivo studies revealed that GEN treatment significantly reduced paw swelling in CIA mice and protected the integrity of knee and ankle joints in CIA mice. GEN supplementation caused a significant decrease in the levels of MMP-9 and pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. GEN also significantly diminished the expressions of β-catenin and exosomal Dvl3 and miR-221-3p in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). Molecular docking results showed that GEN had strong binding energy with Rab27a, nSMase2 and Mfge8, the key regulators of exosome secretion, respectively, which was confirmed by CETSA and DARTS detection. In vitro mechanism analysis demonstrated that GEN treatment simultaneously downregulated the expression of Rab27a, nSMase2 and Mfge8, and phenotypic analysis verified that GEN prevented the secretion of Alix⁺Hsp70⁺CD63⁺ exosomes induced by type II collagen (CII) from FLS. Further analysis showed that GEN inhibited the expression of the Wnt signaling pathway protein β-catenin and exosomal Dvl3 in FLS. Additionally, GEN inhibited CII-induced secretion of MMP-9 and TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in FLS, and GEN also significantly inhibited CII-induced FLS migration. Notably, GEN inhibited the expression of miR-221-3p in FLS exosomes and enhanced osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in vitro. Collectively, this study clarified that GEN alleviates RA by inhibiting the secretion of FLS exosomes regulated by the Rab27/nSMase2/Mfge8 pathway and by inhibiting Dvl3/β-catenin and miR-221-3p.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a potential probiotic for use in food and feed production, can exert anti-aging effects in a strain-specific manner. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-aging effects remain poorly understood. This study explored the effects of B. amyloliquefaciens WF2020 (WF2020), isolated from Chinese fermented pickles, on longevity and health and investigated the underlying mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans. Interestingly, WF2020 was found to increase mean lifespan, worm length, body bends, and resistance to heat, oxidative stress, and Staphylococcus aureus infection. It also improved mitochondrial transmembrane potential and antioxidative status, reduced lipid accumulation and oxidative damage, and altered the expression of several genes involved in cell apoptosis, fat metabolism, host tolerance to heat and oxidative stress, and immune responses, compared to Escherichia coli OP50 (OP50), a standard food source for C. elegans. Moreover, WF2020-fed loss-of-function mutants for nsy-1, sek-1, pmk-1, jkk-1, jnk-1, daf-16, and hsf-1 did not exhibit lifespan extension. Additionally, WF2020-fed pmk-1 and jnk-1 mutants showed similar worm length, body bends, lipid accumulation, mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and antioxidative properties to the OP50 group. Correspondingly, WF2020 significantly upregulated the expression of nsy-1, sek-1, pmk-1, jkk-1, and jnk-1 and increased the proportion of DAF-16::GFP in the nucleus, along with the expression of HSP-16.2::GFP. In conclusion, WF2020 activated the p38 MAPK and JNK pathways to regulate the functions of HSF-1 and DAF-16, thereby promoting longevity and health in C. elegans. These findings suggest that WF2020 could be a potential probiotic or a starter for use in food and feed production to delay aging and promote health.

This study aimed to determine the phytochemical profile (flavonoids, phenolic acids, caffeine, vitamin C, and acetic acid), antioxidant potential (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP method), total polyphenol (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) content, as well as pH of eight commercial green tea-based kombuchas. The beverages were enriched with lemongrass; lavender; liquorice and mint; turmeric and lemon; mango; reishi and chaga; mint, rose, and pomegranate. The highest tested properties were found for kombucha with reishi and chaga (FRAP), with mint, rose, and pomegranate (ABTS), as well as with turmeric and lemon (DPPH, TPC, TFC). Among the identified phenolic acids, p-coumaric acid was found in the highest concentration (kombucha with reishi and chaga), while among the flavonoids - rutin (kombucha with liquorice and mint). Kombucha with reishi and chaga was the richest source of vitamin C, caffeine, and acetic acid. The addition of certain plant materials significantly affects the phytonutrient content of green tea-based kombucha.

Background: A plant-based dietary pattern has been recently suggested to have health benefits. However, its relationship with mortality is not completely consistent in prior studies. We aimed to investigate whether a plant-based diet was associated with a lower death risk in a Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening study. Methods: We included 91 414 participants from the PLCO study. Dietary data were collected using a diet history questionnaire (DHQ). We used three plant-based diet indices including an overall plant-based diet index (PDI), a healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and an unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: During a median of 17.1 years of follow-up, we documented 19 456 deaths, including 5489 deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 6172 deaths from cancer. Comparing the highest versus lowest quintiles of the PDI, the multivariable-adjusted HR of all-cause mortality was 0.83 (95% CI 0.80-0.87, P for trend < 0.001). Those in the highest quintile of the PDI also had lower risks of CVD mortality (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80-0.95, P for trend < 0.001) and cancer mortality (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.96, P for trend = 0.003) compared to those in the lowest quintile. Participants in the highest quintile of the hPDI had a decreased risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, whereas participants with the highest uPDI scores had an increased death risk. Conclusion: Greater adherence to a plant-based dietary pattern was significantly associated with lower all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), one of the most common infectious pathogens in the world, can cause gastritis, digestive ulcers, and even gastric cancer. H. pylori urease (HPU) is a distinctive virulence factor of H. pylori that allows it to be distinguished from other pathogens. Dried ginger is a famous edible and medicinal herb that is commonly used to prevent and treat gastrointestinal tract-related diseases. In this study, phytochemical analysis of the aqueous extract of dried ginger (DGE) and the inhibition of DGE on H. pylori was investigated. Subsequently, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of DGE against enzymes including HPU and jack bean urease (JBU) and determined its potential mechanism of action. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis indicated that a total of 63 compounds including seven glycosides, nine terpenoids, two esters, seven phenols, eight lignans, five phenylpropanoids, and four phenolic acids were identified in DGE. DGE was observed to inhibit the growth of four H. pylori strains (ATCC 43504, NCTC 26695, SS1, and ICDC 111001) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values spanning the range of 0.05 to 1.50 mg mL^-1. Moreover, DGE has higher enzyme inhibitory activity on HPU (IC₅₀ = 0.49 ± 0.01 mg mL^-1) than on JBU (IC₅₀ = 0.54 ± 0.01 mg mL^-1). Enzyme inhibitory kinetic analysis revealed that the inhibition type of DGE against HPU was slow-binding and anti-competitive, whereas it was slow-binding and mixed type on JBU. A further mechanism study indicated that the protective effect of sulfhydryl-containing compounds on enzyme activity was significantly better than that of inorganic compounds, indicating that the action site of DGE inhibition of enzyme was the sulfhydryl residue. The results of DTT reactivation experiments showed that the DGE-urease complex was reversible. Furthermore, molecular docking investigation showed that the main components of DGE interacted with sulfhydryl groups and Ni²⁺. In conclusion, DGE effectively inhibited the growth of H. pylori and the activity of its key virulence factor urease. And the in-depth study of the kinetic characteristics and the mechanism of action showed that the active site sulfhydryl group and Ni²⁺ might be the targets of urease inhibition by DGE. Our study may provide experimental evidence for the traditional application of dried ginger in the treatment of H. pylori-associated gastric diseases.