內(nèi)容: Ferritin has good thermal stability, resistance to certain acids and bases, and targeting, and has broad application prospects in the synthesis of gold nanostars (AuNS). In this study, we screened monodisperse AuNS with uniform particle size and morphology through a one-step synthesis method and coupled the synthesized AuNS with oyster ferritin (GF1). The results showed that the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks of the coupled GF1@AuNS changed significantly, and the changes in infrared spectra and potential confirmed the success of the synthesis, while the microscopic morphology showed an increase in particle size and surface peak coverage. Furthermore, GF1@AuNS does not induce cell death in the 100 μmol/L range, is highly stable in physiological environments, and exhibits good X-ray attenuation in micro-computed tomography. Due to the unique functional activity of ferritin and AuNS, GF1@AuNS has potential applications in food detection and drug development in the future.

內(nèi)容: It has been widely accepted that resistant starch (RS) provides numerous health benefits for human. In this research, we aimed at evaluating the performance of novel starch-lipid complexes, RS5, in comparison with RS2 on physical features, glucolipids metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota profiles of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. The T2DM model was established by streptozotocin injection to the high-fat-sugar fed rats. According to a serial of biochemical analyses, we found that RS5 diets were strongly correlated with enhanced homeostatic model assessment for insulin secretion (HOMA-IS), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), adiponectin (ADP), insulin action index (IAI), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in T2DM rats whilst negatively associated with the low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and inflammatory cytokines, showing the capabilities to ameliorate T2DM symptoms by regulation of glucolipid metabolism, gut metabolites, and inflammation. On the other hand, RS2-enriched supplementations were influential in the mediation of insulin secretion to improve glucose metabolism. The increasing evidence collected herein suggested that intestinal microbiota could mediate glucolipids metabolism and alleviate inflammation after certain microflora nourished by RS. In addition, RS intake made an impact on phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway that might contribute to the improvement of glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammatory responses.

內(nèi)容: Flaxseed lignan macromolecules (FLM) are a class of important secondary metabolites in flaxseed, which have been widely concerned due to their biological and pharmacological properties, especially for their antioxidative activity. For the composition and structure of FLM, our results confirmed that ferulic acid glycoside (FerAG) was directly ester-linked with herbacetin diglucoside (HDG) or pinoresinol diglucoside (PDG), which might determine the beginning of FLM biosynthesis. Additionally, p-coumaric acid glycoside (CouAG) might determine the end of chain extension during FLM synthesis in flaxseed. FLM exhibited higher antioxidative activity in polar systems, as shown by its superior 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacity compared to the 2,2’-azinobis(3-ehtylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfnic acid) (ABTS) cation free radical scavenging capacity in non-polar systems. Moreover, the antioxidative activity of FLM was found to be highly dependent on its composition and structure. In particular, it was positively correlated with the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups (longer FLM chains) and inversely related to the steric hindrance at the ends (lower levels of FerAG and CouAG). These findings verified the potential application of FLM in non-polar systems, particularly in functional food emulsions.

內(nèi)容: Ethoxyquin (EQ) is a widely used feed additives for aquaculture, but the potential hazard to fish and consumers are not fully understood. In this work, EQ was applied to tilapia fed with either high-fat or low-fat feed, and the changes in growth performance and intestinal barrier integrality of genetically improved farmed tilapia was observed. Additionally, the microbiota in the intestinal content and flesh was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and the flesh metabolites was measured by LC-MS/MS untargeted metabolomics. In the low-fat group, EQ increased weight gain and feed conversion rate, but reduced survival rate. In the high-fat group, only weight gain decreased, and there was no significant effect on feed conversion rate and survival rate. Additionally, the intestinal villi and microbiota diversity was impaired in both feeding conditions. Microbiota analysis revealed that EQ resulted in different composition and lower diversity of the flesh microbiota and upregulated the proportion of potential pathogens. EQ also changed the flesh metabolome, decreasing beneficial metabolites and increasing potential harmful components. This work elucidated the effect of EQ on growth performance of tilapia and implied that it has adverse effects on tilapia and may be passed on to consumers.

內(nèi)容: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought the new challenges to scientific research. Isodon suzhouensis has good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant stress effects, which is considered as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The possibility for the treatment of COVID-19 with I. suzhouensis and its potential mechanism of action were explored by employing molecular docking and network pharmacology. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to screen drug targets, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW264.7 and NR8383 cells inflammation model was used for experimental verification. Collectively a total of 209 possible linkages against 18 chemical components from I. suzhouensis and 1 194 COVID-19 related targets were selected. Among these, 164 common targets were obtained from the intersection of I. suzhouensis and COVID-19. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enriched 582 function targets and 87 target proteins pathways, respectively. The results from molecular docking studies revealed that rutin, vitexin, isoquercitrin and quercetin had significant binding ability with 3 chymotrypsin like protease (3CLpro) and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In vitro studies showed that I. suzhouensis extract (ISE) may inhibit the activation of PI3K/Akt pathway and the expression level of downstream pro-inflammatory factors by inhibiting the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS. In addition, ISE was able to inhibit the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in NR8383 cells exposed to LPS. Overall, the network pharmacology and in vitro studies conclude that active components from I. suzhouensis have strong therapeutic potential against COVID-19 through multi-target, multi-pathway dimensions and can be a promising candidate against COVID-19.

內(nèi)容: In the present study we investigated the impact of the combination of astragalin and rutin (CAR) on restoring gut-microbial dysbiosis and obesity and obesity related disorders. Randomized male C57BL/6J mice were experimentally divided into 5 groups and fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. Compared to vehicle treated group (HFD group), CAR could substantially improve selected gut microbiota abundance (Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, Roseburia, Prevotella), reversed the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes proportions, and inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Klebsiella in obese mice. In addition, CAR-treated mice showed significantly increased total short-chain fatty acid production, reduced body weight gain, organs’ weights, serum lipid profile (except HDL) and insulin resistance. The mRNA expressions of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were downregulated (P < 0.05) and the protein expression of PPAR-γ was downregulated while adenosine 5’ monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was phosphorylated in CAR-treated HFD-fed mice compared to the HFD control group. Interestingly, CAR-treated HFD-fed mice showed significantly improved tissue architecture in the liver and fatty tissues. In conclusion, the findings suggest that CAR/Moringa oleifera may be beneficial in the treatment of insulin resistance and obesity disorders.

內(nèi)容: With increasing life expectancy, neurodegenerative diseases have become one of the leading causes of ill-health in the elderly. Preventive strategies include following healthy diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, which is particularly rich in polyphenols, bioactive compounds with neuroprotective properties. The aim of this study was to assess the association of microbial phenolic metabolites (MPM) with cognition. This cross-sectional analysis was performed with 200 participants of the PREDIMED trial (Barcelona-Clinic recruitment center). A novel method based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was used to identify urinary MPM (protocatechuic acid, enterodiol glucuronide, enterolactone glucuronide, urolithin B glucuronide, and vanillic acid glucuronide), and cognitive function was evaluated with neuropsychological tests. Multivariable-adjusted ordinary least squares regression was used to assess the associations between cognitive function and MPM, and a score was calculated as the weighted sum of MPM. A higher MPM score was associated with better frontal lobe function. Among individual metabolites, vanillic acid glucuronide was correlated with frontal cognitive performance. Participants with higher concentrations of vanillic acid glucuronide and urolithin B glucuronide obtained better scores in the Color Trail Test part 2. A higher score for urinary multi-MPM was associated with better frontal cognitive performance in an older Mediterranean population.

內(nèi)容: The effects of the co-inoculation of Debaryomyces hansenii separately with 3 lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus curvatus, on the taste and odour profiles of dry sausages were investigated. The co-inoculated sausages showed higher free amino acid and organic acid contents than the non-inoculated control and sausages inoculated with D. hansenii alone. Meanwhile, the sausages inoculated with D. hansenii + L. plantarum, D. hansenii + L. sakei and D. hansenii + L. curvatus had the highest contents of aldehydes, esters and alcohols, respectively. The results of electronic tongue, electronic nose and sensory evaluation demonstrated that compared with the sausage inoculated with D. hansenii, the sour taste and floral odour increased and the fatty odour decreased in the sausage inoculated with D. hansenii + L. sakei; this was more favourable for the development of a desirable flavour in sausages. Moreover, the partial least squares regression analysis indicated that 10 taste and 33 odour compounds were mainly responsible for the differences in the flavour profiles among the sausages. Overall, these findings contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the formation of sensory characteristics in dry sausages co-inoculated with yeast and LAB.

內(nèi)容: Soy polysaccharide (SP) has been reported to possess the properties of modulating gut microbiome diversity. Here, we aimed to explore the protective effects of SP against dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Pre-treatment with SP at a dosage of 400 mg/kg·day alleviated colitis symptoms, preventing the weight loss and colon shorten. SP suppressed DSS-induced inflammatory response and enhanced M1 to M2 macrophage polarization. Further investigation showed that SP significantly promoted the regeneration of crypt and the expansion of goblet cell production. In addition, bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that SP modulated the composition of fecal microbiota, including selectively increasing Lactobacillus relative abundance. Notably, SP treatment enriched the production of Lactobacillus-derived lactic acid, which was sensed by its specific G-protein-coupled receptor 81 (Gpr81)/Wnt3/β-catenin signaling, and promoted the regeneration of intestinal stem cells. Fecal microbiome transplantation demonstrated that intestinal flora partially contributed to the beneficial effects of SP on preventing against colitis. In conclusion, SP exhibited the protective effects against colitis, which could be partly associated with modulating the composition of gut microbiota and enrichment of lactic acid. This study suggests that SP has potential to be developed as nutritional intervention to prevent colitis.

內(nèi)容: The decline in ovarian estrogen production is known to have detrimental health consequences and negatively affect the quality of life in menopausal women. Increasing estradiol levels is key to preventing disease in menopausal women. In this study, Lactobacillus gasseri CCFM1255 isolated from healthy infants was found to have a positive effect on estradiol production in ovariectomized rats. CYP19, the key enzyme catalysing the conversion of androgens into estrogens, was upregulated in adipose tissue upon CCFM1255 treatment. Untargeted metabolome analysis and targeted metabolite detection were used to identify the key metabolites altered by CCFM1255 treatment. CCFM1255 treatment significantly improved the serum concentration of glutamine (Gln). A significantly positive correlation was observed between serum Gln and estradiol concentrations. CCFM1255 treatment reshaped the structure of the gut microbiome, which was correlated with certain changes in serum metabolite concentrations. These results indicate that the provision of CCFM1255 as a dietary supplement may be an effective strategy to alleviate menopausal symptoms by increasing circulating estradiol.