Search Results (2,863)

Roselle beverage residue (RBR), a by-product of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. processing, retains bioactive compounds, including soluble and insoluble dietary fiber and polyphenols. Its antihyperglycemic effect in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been previously demonstrated; however, its role in lipid metabolism remains unknown. This study assessed the preventive and therapeutic potential of RBR on dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in a rodent model of late-stage T2DM characterized by hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. Male Wistar rats with T2DM induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet combined with streptozotocin received 6% RBR supplementation as either a preventive intervention (starting at week 1 in healthy rats or week 9 in insulin-resistant rats) or a therapeutic intervention (starting at week 14 in diabetic rats). After 17 weeks, RBR supplementation significantly reduced serum triglycerides and total cholesterol, attenuating hepatic lipid accumulation regardless of the timing of intervention. Hepatic Acadm expression, involved in fatty acid β-oxidation, was significantly upregulated in rats treated with RBR from week 1 and 9, whereas no significant modulation was observed for genes related to fatty acid synthesis or uptake. These findings suggest that RBR supplementation may contribute to improving lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis in a rat model of late-stage T2DM. Full article

Perennial deciduous trees such as Prunus avium undergo seasonal transitions, culminating in bud dormancy establishment that involves coordinated physiological and metabolic adjustments. Dormancy monitoring in orchard systems still relies primarily on temperature-based models and forcing assays, which rarely incorporate physiological or biochemical indicators. Here, we tested whether seasonal metabolic dynamics associated with dormancy progression differ between sweet cherry genotypes and whether these physiological differences are reflected in canopy-scale vegetation indices derived from satellite observations. Field measurements were conducted in two genotypes with contrasting chilling behavior (‘Regina’ and ‘210’) during the transition from vegetative growth to dormancy. Leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were monitored across the season, polar metabolites in floral buds were profiled by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and satellite-derived vegetation indices were used to characterize canopy dynamics. Dormancy progression was associated with declines in CO₂ assimilation, transpiration, PSII photochemical efficiency, and electron transport rate, accompanied by increases in intercellular CO₂ concentration and non-regulated energy dissipation. Metabolomic analysis revealed that genotype explained a larger proportion of metabolite variation than dormancy stage (PERMANOVA R² = 0.483, p = 0.001), while principal component analysis accounted for 79.7% of total variance. Fructose showed the strongest genotype difference during paradormancy I, corresponding to an approximately 9.5-fold increase in ‘Regina’. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted starch and sucrose metabolism and pyruvate metabolism as the most represented pathways during dormancy progression. Satellite-derived vegetation indices captured seasonal canopy decline and were significantly associated with several physiological variables. These results provide an integrated description of physiological and metabolic adjustments during dormancy establishment in sweet cherry and highlight the potential of combining metabolomics, plant physiology, and open-access satellite observations to monitor phenological transitions in orchard systems at scalable spatial and temporal resolutions. Full article

Moringa oleifera leaves are recognized as a nutrient-dense plant material of compositional and nutritional interest. This study aimed to characterize the nutritional and physicochemical properties of M. oleifera dried leaves through nutritional assessment and spectroscopic fingerprinting. Amino acid profiling, antioxidant activity assessment using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, chromatographic analysis of organic acids and sugars, color measurement, techno-functional characterization, and vibrational spectroscopy including Fourier Transform infrared with attenuated total reflectance (FT-IR/ATR) and Raman were employed. The crude protein content was 16.13 ± 0.43%. Moringa leaves contained all essential amino acids, with notably high tryptophan content (amino acid score, AAS = 200.00%). The amino acids limiting the nutritional value of the protein were primarily sulfur-containing amino acids (AAS = 49.57%) and lysine (AAS = 49.79%). Histidine, leucine, and valine also showed levels below the reference protein. Antioxidant activity exhibited solvent-dependent patterns: the 80% ethanolic extract demonstrated significantly higher FRAP activity (27.05 ± 1.05 mg Trolox Equivalent (TxE)/g dry matter (DM)) and ORAC values (107.24 ± 6.80 mg TxE/g DM), while no statistically significant differences between extracts were observed for DPPH, ABTS, or total phenolic content. Chromatographic profiling identified fructose and glucose as the predominant sugars, alongside citric, succinic, lactic, and acetic acids. The leaves exhibited favorable techno-functional properties, including high water holding capacity and water solubility index. Spectroscopic analysis revealed bands consistent with proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and glycoside-related structures, while the preserved green-yellow coloration (hue angle 101.68°) indicated retention of pigment-related features during processing. These findings provide compositional and physicochemical characteristics of Moringa leaves relevant to their evaluation as a plant-derived food material. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is an environmentally friendly crop known for its nutritional and bioactive properties. This study investigated the effects of sorghum on the antioxidant properties and consumer acceptance of nurungji, a traditional Korean snack. To understand the antioxidant contribution of ferulic acid in sorghum during non-enzymatic browning, the antioxidant activity of ferulic acid was evaluated using a sugar (glucose or fructose)–lysine Maillard reaction model system. Nurungji samples were prepared with varying sorghum blending ratios (SN0, SN25, SN50, SN75, and SN100) and heating durations (0, 1, 3, and 5 min). The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents of nurungji increased significantly in a sorghum concentration- and heating duration-dependent manner. Antioxidant activities, including DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and reducing power, exhibited trends similar to those of the antioxidant components. In the isolated model system, the addition of ferulic acid significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs), with the fructose–lysine–ferulic acid solution exhibiting the highest activity. These results support the proposed mechanism that during the thermal processing of nurungji, complex polymeric phenolic compounds within the sorghum are degraded, releasing free ferulic acid that actively boosts the overall antioxidant properties of the resulting MRPs. Although the antioxidant properties of nurungji increased with higher sorghum concentration, the consumer acceptance evaluations indicated that SN0 and SN25 received significantly higher scores for overall acceptance, taste acceptance, and purchase intention (p < 0.05). Full article

Fresh figs are characterised by high perishability, leading to a limited postharvest shelf life. Consequently, preharvest elicitor application strategies have been explored to enhance their quality and storability. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, figs (cv. Calabacita) grown under high-density conditions were treated with oxalic acid (OA; 1 and 2 mM), melatonin (MEL; 0.1 and 0.5 mM), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA; 10 and 50 mM) through foliar sprays applied two or three times. Fruits were harvested at commercial maturity and analysed immediately after harvest. Physicochemical and bioactive parameters were determined. Analysis of variance was used to assess treatment effects, and t-tests were used to evaluate differences in the number of applications and between seasons. Significant seasonal effects were observed, whereas no cumulative effect from repeated applications was detected. OA at 2 mM increased fruit weight (37.9 g) and size (42.5 mm) and delayed ripening. MEL treatments enhanced sugar accumulation (100.1 g kg⁻¹ and 96 g kg⁻¹ of glucose and fructose, respectively), while GABA treatments were associated with a more advanced maturity stage. Notably, OA (2 mM), MEL (0.5 mM), and GABA (50 mM) significantly increased enzymatic antioxidant activity by an average of 24% and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity by around 17% in general terms. These results indicate that preharvest elicitor application is a promising and eco-friendly approach to improve the nutritional value and overall quality of fresh figs. Full article

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) have emerged as promising green alternatives to conventional solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials. In this study, eight natural deep eutectic solvents were synthesized and evaluated for their efficiency in extracting betulin from birch bark. Extraction yield was assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Among the tested systems, N3 (choline chloride and urea in a 1:1 molar) and N4 (choline chloride and fructose in a 1:1 molar) were the most effective, yielding 101.26 ± 0.03 and 243.32 ± 0.26 mg betulin per gram of dry extract, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the structural similarity of the N4 extract to pure betulin. In addition to increased extraction performance, the N4 extract demonstrated the greatest antioxidant activity (DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl): 63% and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)): 97% inhibition) and total phenolic content (12.12 mg GAE/g extract), and betulin yield was strongly correlated with total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power), DPPH, and ABTS), indicating the preservation of bioactivity. These findings underscore the potential of NADESs as sustainable solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds from birch bark, supporting greener extraction technologies for biomass valorization and natural product processing. Full article

It is widely recognized that microbial inoculants (MI) and bio-organic fertilizers (BOFs) containing beneficial microorganisms can play an important role in improving orchard soil properties and enhancing fruit quality. However, insufficient data regarding the relevant fruit quality effects hindered the supplementary MI and BOFs in kiwifruit cultivation. Using conventional fertilization management as the control, this study investigated the impacts of supplementary applications of MI and BOFs at two gradient dosages on the harvest-time quality and cold storage characteristics of ‘Puyu’ yellow-fleshed kiwifruit. Regarding leaf physiological indices and soil pH, MI-3.0 and BOF-20 treatments significantly elevated total chlorophyll content at 60 days after flowering (DAF) (the fruit expansion stage). Leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents declined gradually during fruit development, while MI-2.0 and BOF-10 treatments markedly promoted leaf P accumulation at 20–100 DAF. Additionally, the MI-2.0 treatment significantly reduced 20–40 cm subsoil pH, which is favorable for kiwifruit plants that prefer acidic and slightly acidic conditions. On the other hand, appropriate doses of MI and BOF treatments exerted a significant effect on improving the quality of kiwifruit at the ripening stage. These effects were mainly manifested in the increased single fruit weight, firmness, dry matter content and total soluble solids (TSSs) of kiwifruit following MI-3.0 and BOF-20 treatments. Furthermore, MI-3.0 and BOF-10 notably elevated the fructose and glucose contents in both flesh and core, as well as sucrose and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents in the flesh; MI-2.0 and BOF treatments significantly increased citric and malic acids in the core and quinic acid in the flesh. During cold storage, the BOF-20 treatment not only delayed the occurrence of the ethylene peak by 20 d and significantly reduced its peak value, but also alleviated the decline in total acid content at the middle storage stage (20–40 d). Additionally, MI-2.0 and BOF-20 treatments effectively delayed kiwifruit softening at the early storage stage (0–10 d), and MI treatments maintained a high AsA content in the core during 10–20 d of cold storage. MI and BOF fertilization treatments had little effect on the dynamic change trends of sucrose synthase (SuS), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and acid invertase (AI) in kiwifruit during cold storage, only exerting significant effects at specific time points. In conclusion, supplementary applications of MI and BOFs could improve kiwifruit quality at the harvest stage by positively regulating the accumulation of dry matter, soluble sugars and organic acid contents, and also have the potential to enhance the storage performance of kiwifruit. These findings provide a scientific basis for establishing an effective fertilization regime for kiwifruit. Full article

Background: Mechanistic evidence increasingly implicates fructose exposures as contributors to the development and exacerbation of asthma and other atopic diseases. Proposed mechanisms include gut dysbiosis, impaired epithelial barrier integrity in the gut and airways, metabolic endotoxemia, and amplification of type 2 immune responses. However, epidemiologic findings linking fructose intake with asthma and atopic disorders remain heterogeneous. Objective: To conduct a review of epidemiologic studies evaluating associations between dietary fructose-containing exposures and atopic outcomes in pediatric populations. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Embase identified cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and randomized feeding studies assessing fructose exposure in relation to asthma and atopic outcomes in pediatric populations. Eligibility screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment were conducted by one reviewer and confirmed by the other. Results: Seventeen epidemiologic studies met criteria. Multiple cohorts (e.g., BRISA, PIAMA) reported modest to moderate associations between higher sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and pediatric asthma or “asthma traits.” Cross-sectional analyses from NHANES and the National Children’s Study showed stronger associations, with greater fructose exposures linked to two- to five-fold higher odds of asthma. High fructose beverage consumption demonstrated the most consistent positive associations. Large ISAAC-based studies reported largely null findings, reflecting broad dietary exposure categories and limited specificity for fructose-rich beverages. Evidence for rhinitis, eczema, and sensitization was directionally consistent. Conclusions: Despite heterogeneity, the convergence of mechanistic plausibility with epidemiologic signals supports a potential contributory role of high fructose exposure in pediatric atopic disease. More rigorous longitudinal studies with biomarker-based exposure assessment are needed to refine causal inference. Full article

Severe browning often occurs in Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution during storage, which directly leads to the decline of product quality. To clarify the main mechanism of browning in this preparation, the contents of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and carbohydrates, as well as the relevant characteristic parameters such as color and fluorescence, were determined at different storage times in this study. Subsequently, four reaction models, namely sucrose-lysine, sucrose-citric acid, sucrose-niacin, and sucrose-folic acid, were constructed according to the formulation of the preparation to systematically investigate the effects of each system on browning. The results showed that the sucrose-lysine model was the main color-forming reaction system of the preparation. Citric acid could significantly promote the hydrolysis of sucrose to produce two reducing sugars, glucose and fructose, which not only provided sufficient substrates for the Maillard reaction (MR), but also led to the massive accumulation of 5-HMF. Further analysis revealed that heating temperature and heating time were significantly positively correlated with the contents of 5-HMF, browning index (BI), color density (CD), and reducing sugars in the solution, while significantly negatively correlated with sucrose content (p < 0.05). Two fractions, P1 and P2, were isolated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Among them, P1 with a molecular weight of 61,660 Da was identified as the key fluorescent color-forming component, whose ultraviolet and fluorescence characteristics were basically consistent with those of Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) analysis confirmed that P1 contained characteristic fragments of conjugated unsaturated structure, which was the key chromophore responsible for its fluorescence properties. In summary, this study explored the main browning mechanism of Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution. It was found that after citric acid catalyzed the hydrolysis of sucrose, the generated reducing sugars underwent Maillard reaction with lysine to produce fluorescent color-forming substances, and heat treatment significantly aggravated the browning process. The results of this study not only provide a solid theoretical basis for optimizing the preparation process and improving the storage stability of Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution, but also offer an important reference for the research on the browning mechanism and stability of other sugar-containing liquid preparations. Full article

Drought is a major limiting factor for apple growth and development. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key hormone in plant abiotic stress responses, playing a vital role in mediating adaptation to drought. Malus sieversii, the wild ancestor of cultivated apple, exhibits superior drought tolerance. However, the specific ABA-dependent regulatory module underlying its exceptional drought tolerance remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of ABA in the drought response of M. sieversii seedlings using a combination of exogenous ABA and the ABA biosynthesis inhibitor fluridone. Plants were subjected to four treatments: CK, PEG (20% PEG-6000), PEG+ABA (100 μM ABA) and PEG+FLU (100 μM fluridone). The results showed that ABA application significantly reduced the wilting rate by 45.53% and electrolyte leakage by 20.50% compared to the PEG treatment. Furthermore, it alleviated the decline in fresh weight and relative water content while reducing the accumulation of starch, sucrose, glucose, and fructose after seven days of stress. Conversely, FLU application intensified the adverse effects of drought. RNA-Seq analysis of the PEG+ABA vs. PEG comparison identified 5642 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with significant enrichment in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, photosynthesis, carbon fixation, and MAPK signaling pathways. Exogenous ABA up-regulated BGLU23 while down-regulating BAM1. In contrast, no significant changes in their expression were observed under FLU treatment, suggesting their likely regulation in an ABA-dependent manner. In summary, ABA enhances osmotic-stress tolerance in M. sieversii through multiple pathways, among which starch and sucrose metabolism may represent a core and highly responsive regulatory pathway. Functional validation of key candidate genes BAM1 and BGLU23 remains an important direction for future investigation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for breeding drought-resistant apple rootstocks and for understanding ABA-mediated osmotic-stress tolerance mechanisms. Full article

The soybean pod borer, Leguminivora glycinivorella, is a monophagous pest that threatens soybean production. Its larvae feed concealed within pods, which limits the efficacy of conventional insecticides. Elucidating its chemosensory system is therefore essential for developing green, behavior-based management strategies. Reference-based transcriptomics across multiple tissues of L. glycinivorella identified a comprehensive repertoire of chemosensory genes, including 76 odorant receptors (ORs), 15 gustatory receptors (GRs), 18 ionotropic receptors (IRs), 52 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 18 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), and 4 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses characterized these candidates within the context of known insect chemosensory families. Notably, canonical bitter GRs and specific IR lineages (e.g., IR100/IR85a) were not detected in our dataset, potentially reflecting adaptation to the specialized soybean-feeding habit of this pest. Expression profiling further revealed pronounced sexual and tissue dimorphism: male antennae showed significant enrichment of putative pheromone receptors (PRs) and LglySNMP1, whereas several OBPs and ORs exhibited female-biased expression, suggesting roles in host location and oviposition. Additionally, the high expression of GR43a homologs points to fructose sensing, while the lack of detectable CO₂ receptor components (except LglyGR2) suggests atypical carbon dioxide perception mechanisms. Collectively, this study provides a valuable expression atlas of chemosensory genes in L. glycinivorella and identifies sex-specific candidate genes for future functional validation and behavior-based pest management. Full article

The roles of light and carbohydrates in adventitious root formation of Hydrangea macrophylla cuttings of the cultivars ‘Caipirinha’ and ‘Clarissa’ were investigated. Cuttings were planted immediately or dark-stored for seven days prior to cultivation under light. The leaf and rooting phenotype, relative chlorophyll content, carbohydrate levels in different cutting sections and rooting response to hexose were analyzed. Surprisingly, pronounced leaf yellowing and reddening and a strong hexose accumulation in the cutting leaves indicated that the hydrangea cuttings experienced light stress under a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 100 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Reduction in PPFD to 50 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ decreased these symptoms and increased chlorophyll content, but impaired rooting. The effects of dark storage depended on cultivar, PPFD, and hydration of cuttings. ‘Clarissa’ exhibited lower rooting success, particularly after dark storage and low light, and showed lower hexose-to-sucrose ratios and hexose concentrations in the stem base than ‘Caipirinha’. Rooting of ‘Clarissa’ could not be rescued by sugar supplementation, whereas application of 27 mM glucose plus 30 mM fructose for 24 h before planting enhanced rooting of ‘Caipirinha’. The lower hexose level in the stem base of ‘Clarissa’ does not appear to be the critical factor underlying its low rooting capacity. Full article

D-allulose is a rare low-calorie sugar with considerable health benefits and industrial potential. Compared with chemical synthesis and free enzyme catalysis, microbial production using engineered cells offers a low-cost and highly stable solution. Therefore, we investigated the reaction pathway underlying the synthesis of D-allulose from D-glucose. Specifically, the enhancement of glucose isomerase-catalyzed reactions and their role in D-allulose synthesis were evaluated. First, a mutant strain with significantly increased glucose isomerase from Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis G10 (AGGI) expression was obtained through ultraviolet mutagenesis combined with high-throughput flow cytometry. A 4.55-fold increase in AGGI activity and a D-fructose conversion yield of 51.2% were obtained. A dual-enzyme pathway was subsequently constructed by co-expressing AGGI and D-allulose 3-epimerase (DAEase) in the optimized host. After balancing the catalytic requirements of both enzymes through optimization of reaction conditions, CRISPR-associated transposase was employed to efficiently integrate the glucose transporter gene galP into the genome, further enhancing substrate supply. The final engineered Escherichia coli strain achieved a D-allulose conversion rate of 15% from 20 g/L D-glucose. This demonstrates the crucial role of glucose isomerase in microbial D-allulose production and advances the optimization and development of D-allulose synthesis strategies using D-glucose as a substrate. Full article

Sugar metabolism is an important factor in influencing fruit ripening, while the associated mechanism is not well understood. Cell wall invertase (CWIN) inhibitors play important roles in plant organ (such as fruit, seed, leave, tuber) development and stress resistance, as they are able to regulate CWIN activity through protein–protein interaction, affecting sugar levels in plants. Here, we report a novel role of one tomato CWIN inhibitor in regulating fruit ripening. Specifically, knockout of SlINVINH1 gene via CRISPR/Cas9 technique accelerated the onset of fruit ripening process, along with the increase in CWIN activity and contents of sucrose, glucose, fructose and carotenoid and decrease in chlorophyll content in ripening fruits of the CR-slinvinh1 mutants. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in fruits of CR-slinvinh1 were enriched in several biological pathways related to fruit ripening and/or sugar metabolism. The expression levels of invertase genes and inhibitor genes in CR-slinvinh1 were consistent with the alterations of invertase activity and sugar levels. Moreover, the transcript levels of a set of pivotal ripening-related marker genes including the global ripening regulator gene SlRIN were increased in ripening fruits of CR-slinvinh1. This study provides novel insights into the regulatory network underlying tomato fruit ripening, as well as a new genetic strategy using CWIN inhibitor genes to simultaneously accelerate fruit ripening and increase fruit sweetness. Full article

The high market demand for Sidr honey, known for its nutritional and therapeutic properties, makes it susceptible to adulteration with sugar syrups, compromising authenticity and consumer safety. This study employed physicochemical tests and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) sugar profiling to analyze the impact of adulteration with corn, date, and agave syrups (5–35% w/w) on Kuwaiti Ziziphus spina-christi (Sidr) honey samples. Authentic Sidr honey exhibited pH values within 3.4–6.1, free acidity (FA) of <50 mEq kg⁻¹, high electrical conductivity (mean EC: 1066.21 ± 353 µS cm⁻¹), and moisture content <20%. Adulteration did not significantly affect pH or moisture (p > 0.05). FA significantly changed only in corn syrup-adulterated samples (p < 0.05). Electrical conductivity varied significantly with syrup type (p < 0.05). LC–MS was used to quantify the fructose (F) and glucose (G) contents, their ratio (F/G), and the total sugar content (F + G). For the authentic samples, F/G = 1.10–1.35, consistent with reported ranges. Corn syrup reduced F + G and F/G, date syrup raised both sugar contents, modestly changing F/G, while agave syrup, markedly increased both F/G and F + G. This integrated approach of physicochemical characterization and targeted sugar profiling effectively detects syrup adulteration, enhancing honey authentication, consumer protection, and market transparency. Full article