Search Results (1,150)

The global push to eliminate antibiotic growth promoters in poultry has accelerated the demand for effective natural alternatives. β-Glucans—branched polysaccharides derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls—enhance immunity and gut health; however, their mechanistic effect on the somatotropic axis and meat quality in broilers remains unresolved. Herein, the hypothesis that dietary β-glucan modulates somatotropic signaling to improve growth performance and breast muscle quality was tested with 240 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks allocated to three groups—untreated control, 250 mg β-glucan/kg feed, and 1 g β-glucan/kg feed—and reared for 35 d. Growth performance, plasma growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL), somatotropic axis gene expression in liver and breast muscle, and postmortem meat quality were assessed. β-Glucan supplementation significantly elevated final body weight, breast muscle weight, and plasma GH and PRL, and upregulated hepatic IGF-1 and muscle GH receptor mRNA at 35 d, and hepatic GH receptor mRNA at 17 d. Muscle pH was higher and relative drip loss lower in supplemented birds 72 h postmortem. These results support the hypothesis and identify 1 g β-glucan/kg feed as an effective dose for improving growth and meat quality through somatotropic axis modulation—a novel mechanistic demonstration in broiler chickens. Full article

Oat milk (OM) has gained popularity as a plant-based dairy alternative; however, conventional filtration-based production removes oat pulp, leading to β-glucan loss and processing waste. This study investigated the effects of particle size reduction by different grinding techniques on the powder properties and in vitro digestion characteristics of oat powder (OP), and it evaluated the applicability of superfine OP to filtration-free OM production. OP was prepared at three particle sizes: coarse, fine, and superfine, using a blender, ultra-centrifugal mill, and ball mill, respectively. Decreasing particle size improved hydration properties, including water absorption capacity, swelling capacity, and water solubility. During in vitro digestion, OP-superfine showed higher dialyzable protein fraction, β-glucan extractability, and digestion extract viscosity than OP-coarse, indicating an enhanced release of proteins and viscosity-contributing soluble components. When applied to OM, OP-superfine increased viscosity, Brix, turbidity, and suspension stability, while particle size had only a minor influence on pH. Sensory evaluation showed that OM prepared with OP-superfine had reduced grittiness and throat-feel intensity while maintaining relatively high sweetness. These findings suggest that superfine grinding is a promising strategy for producing filtration-free OM with improved digestion-related properties, physical stability, and sensory quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mushroom-derived phenolic compounds are gaining attention as bioactive molecules with potential roles in gut microbiota modulation, intestinal health, and metabolic regulation. Although mushroom polysaccharides are well established as fermentable substrates, the contribution of fungal phenolics to microbiota–host interactions remains less defined. This review aimed to critically analyse the evidence supporting mushroom-derived phenolic compounds as emerging prebiotic-like modulators of gut microbiota, intestinal function, and host metabolism. Methods: A narrative critical review was conducted using scientific literature retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies addressing phenolic profiling in edible and medicinal mushrooms, gastrointestinal digestion, colonic fermentation, microbial biotransformation, gut microbiota modulation, intestinal barrier function, inflammation, and metabolic outcomes were considered. Particular attention was given to chromatographic and mass spectrometry-based studies, in vitro digestion/fermentation models, mechanistic studies, animal experiments, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Results: Current evidence shows that mushrooms contain diverse phenolic compounds, mainly phenolic acids such as gallic, protocatechuic, caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic, vanillic, syringic, and cinnamic acids. Due to limited small intestine absorption, a substantial fraction of these compounds may reach the colon, where they undergo microbial biotransformation into smaller phenolic metabolites. These metabolites may influence microbial ecology, support beneficial taxa, modulate short-chain fatty acid production indirectly, attenuate oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling, and contribute to intestinal barrier integrity. However, most evidence derives from in vitro and preclinical studies, while human data remain limited and are mainly based on whole-mushroom interventions. Conclusions: Mushroom-derived phenolic compounds are promising prebiotic-like modulators within the microbiota–metabolite–host axis. Nevertheless, their specific contribution cannot yet be quantitatively distinguished from that of other mushroom constituents, particularly β-glucans, chitin, and other fungal polysaccharides, because most available evidence derives from whole-mushroom matrices, crude extracts, or polysaccharide-rich preparations rather than isolated phenolic fractions. Future studies should compare whole mushroom preparations, polysaccharide-rich fractions, and standardized phenolic-rich extracts, integrating metabolomics, microbiome profiling, and well-designed clinical trials to clarify the relative mechanistic and therapeutic relevance of mushroom phenolics. Future studies should use standardized phenolic-rich extracts, metabolomics, microbiome analysis, and well-designed clinical trials to clarify their mechanistic relevance, clinical significance, and translational potential. Full article

The family GH126 represents a potential fourth, but still non-confirmed α-amylase family in CAZy with the founding, partially characterized member, the assumed amylolytic enzyme CPF_2247 from Clostridium perfringens. Proteins of this family adopt an (α/α)₆-barrel domain, structurally distinct from the rather more complex domain arrangement of families GH13, GH57, and GH119. Interestingly, GH126 exhibits structural similarity, including sharing potential functionally important residues with inverting β-glucanases from GH8 and GH48 (clan GH-M); this fact has prompted previous bioinformatics analyses. In the present study, two GH126 members with experimentally determined tertiary structure—the CPF_2247 and the exopolysaccharide-specific hydrolase PssZ from Listeria monocytogenes—were compared with seven GH8 and ten GH48 enzyme-substrate complexes. Family GH126 enzymes display a wide, open binding cleft, with a central tunnel-like cavity along the barrel axis, distinct from the narrow cleft in GH8 and the tunnel-shaped site in GH48. Conserved residues involved in substrate binding and catalysis of GH8 and GH48 were identified in GH126. Molecular docking with α-glucans using the CPF_2247 confirmed predicted binding at the potential active site and revealed also eventual additional binding sites. Targeted docking showed the strongest interactions for acarbose and maltoheptaose, particularly involving a GH126 unique α11-α12 loop in the assumed amylolytic enzyme CPF_2247. Full article

Termitomyces albuminosus is a wild edible mushroom with potential as a functional ingredient, yet its effect on tofu quality remains unclear. This study evaluated soy tofu fortified with Termitomyces albuminosus freeze-dried mushroom powder (TMP) at 1.5, 3, and 5% (w/w) using two strategies: direct addition and soybean replacement. The tofu treatments were assessed for yield, colour, texture, microstructure, molecular interactions, rheological behaviour, proximate composition, mineral profile, and antioxidant activity in fresh, cooked, and in vitro digested states. Increasing TMP progressively reduced yield, lightness, hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness, with greater deterioration under high percentage replacement, associated with dose-dependent protein network coarsening and protein–polysaccharide phase separation; nevertheless, all samples retained viscoelastic gel behaviour (G′ > G″). The 1.5% replacement treatment largely preserved gel structure and texture, suggesting a favourable balance between enrichment and structural quality. The 5% replacement (R5) provided the greatest nutritional gain, significantly increasing calcium (2177.80 vs. 1812.43 mg/kg) and iron (27.07 vs. 20.61 mg/kg) compared to control while maintaining crude protein above 47% (dry basis). Antioxidant activity increased with TMP level and was highest in R5, with bioaccessibility peaking in the intestinal phase. TMP fortification represents a promising strategy for developing nutritionally enhanced tofu with improved mineral composition and antioxidant bioaccessibility. Full article

Background: Cytarabine (Ara-C) remains the cornerstone of remission-induction and consolidation chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related hematological malignancies. Despite more than six decades of clinical use, its multi-organ toxicity continues to be managed almost exclusively through dose attenuation and supportive care, with no approved upstream pharmacological prevention strategy available. Objectives: This scoping review aimed to systematically map the breadth and nature of pharmacological agents tested in vivo for their capacity to mitigate cytarabine-induced multi-organ toxicity, to characterize their mechanisms of action and organ targets, and to identify evidence gaps and agents with translational potential. Methods: The review was designed and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A structured electronic search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Embase, and Web of Science from database inception to 15 July 2025. Eligible studies were restricted to full-text, peer-reviewed, English-language research involving in vivo mammalian models administered cytarabine as the principal toxin, with at least one pharmacological co-intervention and at least one quantitative or histopathological organ-injury outcome. Results: From 5701 retrieved records, 36 eligible in vivo mammalian studies (spanning 1964–2024) were identified. Included studies addressed neurotoxicity (n = 6), gastrointestinal mucositis (n = 9), ocular toxicity (n = 3), hepatotoxicity (n = 3), bone marrow suppression (n = 4), chemotherapy-induced alopecia (n = 5), and reproductive and developmental toxicity (n = 4). Five recurring mechanistic strategies were identified across the heterogeneous agents tested: redox buffering (N-acetylcysteine, α-lipoic acid, rutin, swertiamarin, α-tocopherol), mitochondrial preservation (betanin, thymoquinone, vitamin D, sodium zinc dihydrolipoylhistidinate [DHLHZn]), tissue-microenvironment reprogramming (apraglutide, BADGE, plerixafor, short-chain fatty acids, β-glucan), molecular antagonism (deoxycytidine, dCMP), and immunomodulation (lienal peptide, IL-1β, AHCC). Conclusions: This scoping review provides the first systematic cartography of pharmacological mitigation strategies for cytarabine-induced multi-organ toxicity. Five mechanistic pathways converge across eight organ systems, with apraglutide and N-acetylcysteine representing the most clinically translatable candidates. Plerixafor and PPARγ blockade by BADGE constitute high-priority candidates for bone marrow niche protection, while the deoxycytidine antagonism principle warrants formal pharmacokinetic evaluation. The complete absence of cardiotoxicity mitigation data defines the most critical gap for future research. Full article

Aronia melanocarpa is a rich source of anthocyanins with well-documented antioxidant and antidiabetic potential; however, their application is limited by low stability. In this study, extraction conditions were optimized using response surface methodology, with the highest total polyphenol content obtained at an ethanol concentration of 36.9% (v/v), an extraction temperature of 34.1 °C, and a solvent-to-solid ratio of 54.5 mL/g. The extract exhibited antioxidant activity and inhibited α-amylase in vitro, with an IC₅₀ value of 3.18 ± 0.27 mg/mL, compared with 6.76 ± 0.21 mg/mL for acarbose under the same assay conditions. Molecular modeling suggested that cyanidin derivatives may play a major role in the observed α-amylase inhibitory activity. The optimized extract was subsequently incorporated into yeast-derived β-glucan systems at different ratios to improve anthocyanin stability and formulation performance. Incorporation of β-glucan significantly modified dissolution behavior and reduced anthocyanin degradation in a ratio-dependent manner. The highest stabilization effect was observed for the aronia: β-glucan 1:2 system, in which the degradation rate decreased approximately 4.7-fold. Full article

Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) detects bacterial endotoxin through a serine-protease coagulation cascade in which Factor C responds to lipopolysaccharide and Factor G to (1,3)-β-D-glucan. Sustainable LAL production depends on collection buffers that prevent amebocyte degranulation while preserving these clotting factors. We previously showed that caffeine buffer inhibits degranulation, but caffeine-collected pellets aggregated upon resuspension in 5 mM CaCl₂, unlike phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). We therefore developed a PBS-caffeine collection solution and compared it with caffeine buffer. Over one bleeding season, 121 crabs were bled; blood was collected in caffeine, PBS-caffeine, or PBS-caffeine supplemented with EDTA, EGTA, or both, and LAL activity was measured by chromogenic and turbidimetric assays. Both buffers prevented degranulation and gave comparable LAL activity, but PBS-caffeine reduced aggregation and clotting. Treating PBS-caffeine LAL with 10% PEG-8000 selectively abolished endotoxin-sensitive Factor C activity while preserving (1,3)-β-D-glucan–sensitive Factor G activity, and the resulting Factor G lysate, formulated in 20 mM acetate (pH 5.6), remained stable for 27 months. These results define an improved collection buffer and identify conditions that selectively stabilize Factor G zymogen in liquid form. Full article

Fungal infections pose diagnostic challenges in both human and veterinary medicine, as traditional detection methods such as fungal culture are time-consuming, microscopy is operator-dependent, and molecular detection assays often require specialized instrumentation and trained personnel, which can limit their routine clinical application. This study developed a sandwich immunoassay to detect β-1,3- and β-1,6-glucans, two major components of the fungal cell wall, based on two catalytically inactive glucanase mutants, LamA_E175Q and Neg1_E321Q. The sandwich ELISA exhibited higher detection sensitivity than conventional ITS-based PCR for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans under the conditions of this study. Using pre-coated plates, the sample-processing and detection workflow can be completed in approximately 40 min. It effectively detected a wide range of fungal species, including yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans) and filamentous fungi such as dermatophytes and non-dermatophyte molds. In a preliminary clinical cohort, the assay identified β-glucan signals in all 21 samples confirmed positive for dermatophytes, while no signal was detected in 20 negative samples, suggesting potential clinical applicability. This dual-enzyme sandwich immunoassay provides a rapid and low-cost complementary tool for broad-spectrum fungal screening, which may help guide further confirmatory diagnostics and timely clinical decision-making. Full article

Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides (TFPS) exhibit anti-inflammatory and gut-microbiota-modulating activities, but conventional extraction methods often show limited efficiency and may affect polysaccharide structural integrity. This study optimized a deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based extraction method with potential environmental advantages for TFPS, characterized the major purified fraction, and evaluated its effects in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis model. Extraction parameters for the choline chloride–lactic acid DES system were refined through single-factor testing combined with response surface methodology. The purified fraction TFPS-1 was characterized by chromatographic, spectroscopic, methylation, and NMR analyses, and its biological effects were assessed in DSS-treated mice. Under the optimized conditions, the TFPS yield reached 33.09 ± 1.52%, representing a 77.6% increase compared with hot-water extraction. TFPS-1 was identified as a low-molecular-weight glucan mainly containing α-(1→4)- and β-(1→6)-linked glucose residues. In experimental colitis mice, TFPS-1 alleviated body weight loss, colon shortening, and histopathological injury; increased mucus secretion and barrier-related gene expression; reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines; increased IL-10; and partially adjusted gut microbiota composition. These results indicate that DES-based extraction is an efficient strategy for preparing TFPS and provide evidence that TFPS-1 may be further explored as a food-derived polysaccharide ingredient for intestinal protection in experimental colitis-related contexts. Full article

Brewing generates several by-products with high potential for conversion into food in-gredients, including brewer’s spent grain, brewer’s spent yeast, spent hops, and hot trub. These streams contain dietary fibre, proteins, β-glucans, phenolics, minerals, and others with nutritional and technological value. This review evaluates their suitability for food applications by linking composition, processing routes, techno-functional behaviour, safety, sensory quality, and industrial readiness. A structured literature search covering publications from 2015 to 2026 was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar to support a critical narrative synthesis of food-relevant applications of brewing by-products. The review shows that brewer’s spent grain is the most suitable by-product for wider food use, mainly in bakery, snacks, pasta, and cereal-based products, due to its high availability and fibre-rich composition. Brewer’s spent yeast is more appropriate for fraction-based applications involving proteins, peptides, β-glucans, and mannoproteins, especially in dairy products, savoury foods, beverages, and encapsula-tion systems. Spent hops and hot trub are less suitable for direct incorporation, but they may be used for selective recovery of phenolic-rich, antioxidant, flavour-active, or pro-tein-containing fractions. The conversion of these materials into food ingredients depends strongly on stabilization, drying, milling, extraction, fermentation, enzymatic treatment, debittering, and fractionation. Main limitations include high moisture content, short shelf-life, microbial spoilage, compositional variability, bitterness, dark colour, high nucleic acid content in yeast-derived fractions, regulatory uncertainty, and limited pilot-scale validation. Overall, brewing by-products can support the development of up-cycled ingredients when processing, safety, sensory quality, and product compatibility are controlled. Future progress requires standardized recovery protocols, stronger quality control, sensory validation, legal assessment, and scale-up studies to support their use in commercial food production. Full article

Background: Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom widely recognized for its high content of bioactive polysaccharides, particularly β-glucans with immunomodulatory properties. This study aimed to optimize polysaccharide extraction conditions to maximize yield and glucan content, and to evaluate the biological activity of the obtained fractions in an experimental model of intestinal mucositis. Methods: Polysaccharides were extracted using a combination of hot-water extraction and ethanol precipitation, optimized by response surface methodology. Optimal conditions (121 °C for 120 min followed by 90% ethanol precipitation) yielded a crude polysaccharide fraction (Poli-GL). A subsequent freeze–thaw process generated a soluble fraction (S-Poli-GL). Structural and compositional characterization was performed using enzymatic assays, monosaccharide profiling, and NMR spectroscopy. The biological effects of Poli-GL and S-Poli-GL were evaluated in a 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis model following oral administration at doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg. Results: The optimized extraction protocol enabled efficient recovery of polysaccharides enriched in glucans. S-Poli-GL exhibited a high total glucan content, including 43.3% β-glucans and 3.45% α-glucans, along with minor amounts of galactose and mannose. Structural analysis confirmed the predominance of branched β-(1→3),(1→6)-D-glucans. While Poli-GL did not prevent mucositis development, S-Poli-GL significantly reduced the disease activity index and attenuated intestinal inflammation, indicating enhanced biological activity associated with the soluble glucan-rich fraction. Conclusions: Optimization of extraction and fractionation improves the functional properties of G. lucidum polysaccharides. The soluble glucan-enriched fraction (S-Poli-GL) demonstrated significant protective effects in intestinal mucositis, supporting its potential as a therapeutic candidate and warranting further investigation for clinical application. Full article

The interaction between Pneumocystis jirovecii and systemic inflammation has emerged as a potential modulator of cardiovascular risk. This review describes the potential of β-glucans to contribute to atherogenic inflammation. A narrative review was developed on the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. The inflammatory pathways induced by β-glucans from P. jirovecii contrast with the immunometabolic effects of dietary β-glucans. The relevance of serum (1→3)-β-D-glucans as a marker of systemic exposure was also described, although it is not specific to P. jirovecii. P. jirovecii β-glucans activate Syk–CARD9–NFκB, MAPK and STAT3 signalling pathways. This signalling promotes proinflammatory monocyte/macrophage polarization and a systemic microenvironment of low-grade inflammation with proatherogenic potential. The serum persistence of (1→3)-β-D-glucan indicates prolonged exposure, even in the absence of overt clinical manifestations of colonization. Conversely, dietary β-glucans have been observed to elicit regulatory effects facilitated by microbiota and metabolism. In experimental setting, a causal link has been established between fungal β-glucans and atherosclerosis. P. jirovecii β-glucans act as immunological mediators capable of amplifying pulmonary and systemic inflammation, constituting a possible modulator of cardiovascular risk. Distinguishing between fungal and dietary β-glucans is imperative for comprehending emerging mechanisms of vascular inflammation. Full article

Sparassis crispa sensu lato (S. crispa) is a highly valued medicinal and culinary fungus rich in nutritional and bioactive compounds. Polysaccharides, particularly β-glucans, are its most extensively studied constituents, accounting for up to 43.6% of its dry weight—the highest concentration reported among edible fungi. Alongside proteins, terpenoids, phenolics, and ergosterol, these biomolecules confer diverse physiological benefits, including immunomodulatory, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects, as well as the capacity to modulate gut microbiota. Consequently, S. crispa exhibits substantial market potential and is increasingly incorporated into functional foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. This review systematically summarizes the primary bioactive components of S. crispa sensu lato and their associated health benefits, with emphasis on recent advances in immunomodulatory, antitumor, and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, it critically compares the retention of active ingredients, product quality, and bioavailability of key processing technologies. These technologies include various drying methods, grinding techniques, extraction methods, and formulation systems. Despite significant research progress, challenges persist regarding optimal cultivation conditions and standardized industrial processing. Future perspectives highlight the necessity for intelligent cultivation strategies, the adoption of advanced processing technologies, and robust policy support to drive the sustainable development and commercial exploitation of the S. crispa industry. Full article

This paper analyzes the role of cereal products in the diet of individuals with disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, with particular emphasis on their impact on postprandial glycemia and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Cereal products, as the main source of dietary carbohydrates, also provide dietary fiber, minerals, B vitamins, and key bioactive compounds such as β-glucans, arabinoxylans, resistant starch (RS), and polyphenols. These components may reduce the rate of starch digestion and glucose absorption in the small intestine by increasing the viscosity of intestinal contents or by directly inhibiting digestive enzymes such as α-glucosidase. It has been shown that fermentation of these compounds by the gut microbiota leads to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which improve insulin sensitivity and stimulate the secretion of incretin hormones such as GLP-1. A literature review confirms that regular consumption of whole-grain products is associated with a reduced risk of T2D, whereas refining processes and excessive grain fragmentation lead to an increased glycemic index of products. Based on clinical guidelines and a narrative synthesis of the available literature, minimally processed whole-grain products were identified as a fundamental component of dietary therapy for diabetes, which is illustrated by the cereal product pyramid presented in the paper. This review involved a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using relevant keywords. Peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and meta-analyses (mainly 2000–2025) were included based on their relevance. Full article