Search Results (13,904)

Effective and sustainable control strategies for pine wilt disease, caused by the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), are urgently needed, as reliance on conventional chemical nematicides faces increasing limitations. In this study, a new kind of integrated approach is proposed. It pairs microbial fermentation filtrates with the green chemicals arecoline and sodium silicate. The filtrates were obtained from bacterial and fungal strains that were had isolated from Pinus massoniana rhizosphere soil. The nematicidal efficacy of individual and combined treatments was evaluated in vitro, while their ability to induce systemic resistance in P. massoniana seedlings was assessed through defense enzyme assays, malondialdehyde (MDA) content measurement, and defense-related gene expression analysis. Results identified several highly effective combinations, particularly arecoline plus CSZ33 and sodium silicate plus CSUFT-F23, which achieved over 72% control efficacy. These formulations not only showed direct toxicity but also significantly enhanced the plant’s antioxidant capacity and upregulated key defense genes. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics linked these effects to specific bioactive metabolites in the fermentation filtrates, such as D-glutamic acid. This work demonstrates that hybrid bio-chemical formulations can successfully merge immediate pathogen suppression with long-term host resistance priming, offering a promising, sustainable strategy for the integrated management of pine wilt disease. Full article

This study assessed the impacts of dietary net energy (NE) levels on growth performance, meat quality and intestinal health in Tunchang Black pigs. Forty-eight pigs with an initial body weight of 11 kg were allocated into four groups and fed diets containing 10.65 (N1), 10.15 (N2, control), 9.65 (N3) and 9.15 (N4) MJ/kg NE respectively over a 42-day experimental period. The N4 group presented lower average daily gain and carcass weight relative to the N1 group, while no significant differences in growth performance were detected between N2 and N3. The N3 group displayed superior meat quality characteristics, manifested as decreased contents of saturated fatty acids (C10:0, C12:0), elevated selenium concentration, upregulated expression of slow-twitch myosin heavy chain (MyHC I) and downregulated expression of fast-twitch MyHC IIb, alongside increased ileal occludin expression. Moreover, the N3 treatment improved antioxidant capacity, as reflected by higher serum GSH and SOD levels and lower serum MDA content. In conclusion, decreasing dietary NE from 10.15 to 9.65 MJ/kg exerted no detrimental influence on growth performance yet effectively ameliorated meat quality, antioxidant status and intestinal barrier function in Tunchang Black pigs. Full article

Over the past decade, changes in consumer dietary habits have driven an increasing demand for protein-enriched confectionery products. Consequently, research has increasingly focused on the utilization of alternative protein origins, including Acheta domesticus. This research paper aims to characterize Acheta domesticus protein powder (CP) in terms of its functional properties and chemical composition. In addition, the amino acid profile was determined using HPLC, while antioxidant capacity was evaluated by spectrophotometric methods (including the ABTS assay). Edibility was further assessed in proteins, both in their native form and after incorporation into cocoa cream products, using an in vitro digestion model. The results indicated that methionine was the most abundant essential amino acid in CP (17.71 mg/100 g protein), while glycine was the predominant non-essential amino acid (42.38 mg/100 g protein). CP also demonstrated high solubility (80.00%) and notable water- and oil-binding capacities (90.26% and 94.87%, respectively). However, its emulsifying properties were limited, as emulsifying stability was maintained for only 26 min. In contrast, digestibility results indicated strong protein hydrolysis in both native and cocoa cream samples enriched with CP in different concentrations (10, 12.5 and 15%), hereafter designated as CPC10, CPC12.5, and CPC15. The degree of hydrolysis was higher after the digestion process, with 39.11% for the control and 47.14%, 48.62% and 50.05% for the fortified samples—CPC10, CPC12.5 and CPC15, respectively. The ABTS assay further confirmed the increase in antioxidant activity after digestion. The ABTS values of the digested fortified samples ranged from 20.91% for CPC10 to 40.45% for CPC15, suggesting the release of bioactive peptides during gastrointestinal digestion. Overall, the findings highlight CP as a promising protein source for the fortification of cocoa cream products, which are naturally low in protein content. Full article

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace mineral additive in weaned pig diets. Copper citrate (CuCit) and copper sulfate (CuSO₄) are common feed additives, yet their tissue-specific effects at different inclusion levels remain unclear. In this study, ninety pigs (six pens per treatment, three pigs per pen) with an initial body weight of 7.71 ± 0.15 kg were randomly assigned to five treatments for 28 d: a basal diet, and the basal diet supplemented with CuCit or CuSO₄ at 20 or 100 mg/kg. The results show that CuCit increased slow-twitch fiber proportion in longissimus dorsi muscle (p = 0.009), whereas CuSO₄ more markedly upregulated the expression of MyHC I (p = 0.005) and downregulated MyHC IIx (p = 0.006) and MyHC IIb (p = 0.033). Compared with the control group, CuCit and CuSO₄ supplementation increased villus height and decreased crypt depth in ileum (p < 0.05). CuCit at 20 mg/kg showed higher ZO-1 expression than CuSO₄ at 100 mg/kg (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CuCit showed greater T-SOD (p = 0.018) and CAT activities (p = 0.002) than CuSO₄ in muscle, as well as greater T-SOD activity (p = 0.011) and lower MDA content (p = 0.001) in ileal mucosa. These results suggest that CuCit and CuSO₄ exhibit different tissue-specific effects in weaned pigs, providing novel insights for precision Cu supplementation. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological value of several less known pear cultivars growing in the climatic conditions of Lower Silesia. The experiment was carried out at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences. In the spring of 2006, annual trees of 9 cultivars were planted. All the cultivars were grafted onto strongly growing Caucasian pear seedlings (Pyrus caucasica Fed.). The highest total yield in the years 2007–2016 was recorded for the ‘Fertilia Delbard’ and ‘Noiabrska’ (169.7 and 152.0 kg per tree, respectively). The ‘Blanka’ produced the largest fruit (467 g), while fruit of the ‘Isolda’ were the smallest (163 g). In terms of biological value, the fruit of the tested cultivars showed great diversity. Based on the averages from 2011–2012, the maximum vitamin C was found in the fruit of ‘Morava’ and ‘Wyżnica’ (12.08 and 11.13 mg 100 g⁻¹, respectively), and in ‘Uta’ dry matter and extract. The highest content of total polyphenols was recorded in the fruit of the ‘Isolda’ (54.23 mg 100 g⁻¹), and of carotenoids in the fruit of the ‘Noiabrska’, ‘Morava’ and ‘Fertilia Delbard’. The highest antioxidant activity, using the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods, was demonstrated by ‘Isolda’ and ‘Noiabrska’. Full article

The valorization of winery by-products is a sustainable strategy for receiving valuable bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to obtain Syrah grape seed extract and investigate the stability of extract phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. Separated grape seeds from grape pomace were dried under two different conditions: 23 °C for 10 days and 40 °C for 24 h. Polyphenols were extracted from the dried seeds using 70% aqueous ethanol under magnetic stirring at 600 rpm for 3 h. The yield, color, nutrition value, and mineral contents of the extract were determined. The obtained extracts from the seeds dried at different temperatures were concentrated using a vacuum evaporator. The concentrate was subsequently divided into three forms: liquid, lyophilized, and dried at 40 °C. The individual phenolic components of the lyophilized grape seed extract were determined by HPLC. All extracts were stored at 4 °C and 23 °C for 10 months. The effect of the grape seed drying conditions, extract forms, storage temperature, and time on the total phenolic content, total flavonoids, procyanidins, and antioxidant capacity of the extracts was investigated. Changes in these parameters were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, and 10 months of storage. Degradation kinetics on the basis of antioxidant activity during extracts storage were calculated. Additionally, the individual phenolic composition of liquid and lyophilized Syrah grape seed extracts stored for 10 months was determined by HPLC. The degradation degree of the individual compounds in the extracts was calculated. Full article

The objective of this paper was to examine the effects of differing levels of dietary Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed cake and meal (ZBS) on the productive performance, egg quality, gut microbiota and liver metabolomics of laying hens. In total, 1280 healthy Lohmann Pink laying hens (age, 36 weeks) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups: control (CON), 1% ZBS, 2% ZBS, or 3% ZBS. The trial lasted for eight weeks. The results indicated that compared to the CON group, the 3% ZBS group had a higher egg production during weeks 5–8 and 1–8 (p < 0.05). However, the feed-to-egg ratio and egg breakage rate during weeks 1–8 was lower in the 2% ZBS group and 3% ZBS group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Adding different levels of ZBS to the diet significantly increased egg production, reduced the feed-to-egg ratio, and reduced the feed intake of weeks 5–8 in laying hens (p < 0.05) with both effects exhibiting a linear relationship as the addition level increased (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, supplementing the diet with 2% or 3% ZBS significantly increased T-AOC levels in the liver and serum, as well as T-SOD enzyme activity, but it significantly decreased the MDA level in the serum (p < 0.05). The addition of ZBS has been demonstrated to induce alterations in the microbial composition of the cecum in laying hens. The key metabolic pathways and key metabolites are glycerophospholipid metabolism and magnoflorine, respectively. In conclusion, the supplementation of diets with ZBS has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the production performance and antioxidant capacity in laying hens. The optimal supplementation level was 3% ZBS. Full article

This study evaluates the influence of harvesting methods and seasonal variability on the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Tetragonisca fiebrigi honey produced in the tropical dry forest of Bolivia. Despite the growing interest in stingless bee honey, studies addressing the combined effects of seasonality and collection practices in this region remain scarce. Honey samples were collected during winter and spring using three approaches: conventional, optimized (based on good manufacturing practices), and direct racking from natural nests. Physicochemical parameters (pH 4.60–6.15; moisture 28-34%; water activity 0.69–0.75) and sugar composition (glucose 10.60–29.03 g/100 g; fructose 9.01–21.97 g/100 g; sucrose 0.70–3.23 g/100 g) showed variability primarily associated with season rather than harvesting method. Bioactive compounds exhibited a marked seasonal effect, with higher total phenolic content (up to 11.03 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (up to 23.08 mg QE/100 g), and antioxidant capacity (DPPH up to 1.33 mol TE/100 g; ORAC up to 25.93 mol TE/100 g) in spring samples. Multivariate analysis (PCA) revealed that honey variability is structured along bioactive and physicochemical axes, with samples obtained using the optimized method showing reduced dispersion and greater compositional consistency. These results indicate that while seasonality governs the compositional and functional properties of T. fiebrigi honey, improved harvesting practices contribute to reducing variability and enhancing product standardization. This study provides one of the first comprehensive datasets on Bolivian stingless bee honey and highlights its potential as a functional food, supporting the development of species-specific quality criteria and sustainable meliponiculture in tropical dry forest ecosystems. Full article

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of growing location and drying method on the physicochemical properties, bioactive compound composition, and antioxidant capacity of wild Rosa canina L. fruits collected from four Herzegovinian locations. Significant differences were observed among locations and drying methods for all analysed physico-chemical parameters. Fresh fruits exhibited high dry matter content (average 54.6%). The highest ascorbic acid content was recorded in fresh fruits from location L1 (112.20 mg/100 g fw), whereas drying reduced its concentration approximately 3.7-fold. Total phenolic content ranged from 1205.45 mg GAE/100 g fw in fresh fruits from location 1 to markedly lower values after drying (approximately 50% reduction). β-carotene content varied from 1.01 to 20.12 mg/100 g fw, with the highest level detected in fresh fruits from location 4, while lycopene ranged from 3.33 to 59.28 mg/100 g fw, with fresh fruits from location 1 showing exceptionally high values. Fresh fruits exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity (ABTS assay), while dried samples retained considerable activity, with significant location-dependent interactions between growing site and drying method. Results confirm that pedo-climatic conditions significantly shape the bioactive profile of rosehip fruits and highlight Herzegovinian rosehip as a valuable functional material for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

Consumers currently consider organic foods superior to conventional ones. They regard them as more environmentally friendly and healthier. The sensory and volatile properties, as well as the antioxidant content of the Italian organic almond of the “Tuono” cultivar, were evaluated in this study. The following methods were used: sensory analysis, determination of total antioxidant capacity and the HS-SPME sampling technique followed by GC/MS analysis for the analysis of volatile compounds. Our findings highlighted the enhanced sensory quality of the organic sample in comparison to the conventional one. The presence of almond aroma, marzipan/benzaldehyde, tobacco, floral notes, sweetness, and crunchiness was exhibited by the analysed organic samples. The floral attribute is especially prominent, with its concentration being roughly four times higher in organic almonds than in conventional ones (4.96 vs. 1.25). There was no statistically significant difference in total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity between organic and conventional almonds. Significant differences were found between the organic and conventional systems for the volatile profile. Organic almonds were characterised by a higher presence of butanol in comparison to conventional (5.2 vs. 1.3, respectively) and limonene (3 vs. 1.5, respectively), both of which are associated with fruity aromas. Higher levels (expressed as %) of 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, isobutyric acid, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, octanoic acid, and pinacol were also found in organic almonds. The possibility of producing almonds of superior sensory quality through organic systems could be considered a key factor in the potential contribution to maintaining the sustainability of agroecosystems. Full article

In this work, two-dimensional copper-based metal–organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) nanozymes, including cuprous oxide-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Cu₂O-TCPP) and copper-cuprous oxide-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Cu-Cu₂O-TCPP), were synthesized, which exhibit dual ascorbate oxidase (AO) and peroxidase (POD)-like activities. The reductants, such as ascorbic acid (AA), can be oxidized by the cascade AO and POD catalysis on Cu-MOFs to oxidize p-phthalic acid (PTA) and generate fluorescence. Consequently, a fluorescence sensing platform for AA and other reducing substances was established. This platform offers potential for efficient and selective monitoring of reductive species and related antioxidant levels in food systems. The results showed that the two Cu-MOFs displayed favorable linear relationships (R² ≥ 0.99) for the detection of AA, glutathione (GSH) and L-cysteine (L-Cys). Their limits of detection (LOD) were 5.3 μM for Cu₂O-TCPP and 92.5 μM for Cu-Cu₂O-TCPP. Finally, by detecting real samples of vitamin C tablets and fruits, the accuracy of the two Cu-MOFs nanos enzymes was validated, with Cu₂O-TCPP showing higher accuracy. Full article

Antioxidative substances constitute the important barrier maintaining the oxidative stability of edible oils against lipid degradation and the formation of harmful aldehydes and ketones. In this study, an oil-compatible non-aqueous electrochemical method was developed to characterize the oxidation behaviour of antioxidative substances in an oil-based solution, in which linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was employed to investigate the effects of oxidation potential and current on antioxidative capabilities of eleven antioxidative substances, including both natural and synthetic compounds, in a mixed anhydrous model oil system. Among them, eight antioxidative substances exhibited characteristic oxidation peaks in the mixed solution containing 0.1 mol/L Lithium perchlorate, 40% (v/v) C8 medium-chain triglyceride, 35% anhydrous ethanol and 25% 1,2-dichloroethane, with the first oxidation peak potentials (vs. Ag/AgCl) increasing in the order: TBHQ (100–800 mg/kg, (−247)–(−119) mV), PG (100–800 mg/kg, 74–248 mV), α-tocopherol (100–800 mg/kg, 95–142 mV), δ-tocopherol (100–850 mg/kg, 190–241 mV), BHT (100–800 mg/kg, 238–256 mV), β-carotene (100–870 mg/kg, 562–624 mV), lutein (100–850 mg/kg, 631–680 mV) and ergosterol (100–850 mg/kg, 1240–1300 mV), while their peak potentials were negatively correlated with the DPPH and Galvinoxyl radical-scavenging capacity, suggesting that, under the present oil-based conditions, lower oxidation peak potentials tended to be associated with stronger radical-scavenging capacity. The concentration–current relationships were compound-dependent and followed linear, cubic, or logarithmic patterns. And the oxidation of phenolic antioxidative substances shifted from a low-potential to a higher-potential process under acidic conditions. Overall, this study reveals the electrochemical oxidation properties of antioxidative substances in the oil-based solution, and provides the electrochemical characteristic method of the antioxidant capacities of antioxidative substances and application guidance for antioxidative substances screening in oil. Full article

Grapevine branch and leaf silage (GBLS), a polyphenol-rich unconventional forage, exhibits antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that can benefit animal health and productivity. A total of 60 healthy six-month-old Kazakh rams (43.29 ± 4.55 kg, p > 0.05 for initial body weight among groups) were randomly assigned to three dietary groups, each consisting of four replicates with five rams per replicate. The control group (CK) was fed a basal diet based on whole-plant corn silage, whereas the experimental groups received diets in which 50% (GBLS50%) or 100% (GBLS100%) of the corn silage was replaced with GBLS. A 10-day adaptation period preceded the 90-day formal feeding trial. Results showed a significant quadratic response for average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) across GBLS substitution rates (p < 0.05), with the 50% level yielding the highest values. Specifically, ADFI at the 50% replacement level was significantly higher than that of the control (p < 0.05), confirming an inverted U-shaped response with 50% as the optimal substitution rate. However, in-depth analysis of serum biochemical parameters revealed that GBLS supplementation significantly reduced serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea nitrogen, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and malondialdehyde (MDA), while significantly increasing levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.05). Rumen fermentation analysis showed that the GBLS50% group had significantly lower concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) (p < 0.05). In the rumen microbiota study, no significant differences were observed in alpha or beta diversity or at the phylum level between groups (p > 0.05); however, the abundance of Lactobacillus gasseri was significantly reduced in the GBLS50% group (p < 0.05). Metabolomic profiling identified 43 significantly altered metabolites—27 upregulated (e.g., PE (18:1(9Z)/0:0) and 12,14-pentacosadiynoic acid) and 16 downregulated (e.g., deoxyadenosine). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis highlighted purine metabolism as a significantly altered pathway (p < 0.05), providing insight into the potential metabolic mechanisms underlying the physiological effects of GBLS in rams. In conclusion, replacing 50% of whole-plant corn silage with grapevine branch and leaf silage improves growth performance trends and significantly enhances immunity and antioxidant capacity in Kazakh rams. Full article

Parkinson’s disease (PD) involves oxidative stress, proteotoxic aggregation, and neurotransmitter dysfunction, yet current therapies remain largely symptomatic. This study investigated whether Jujube polysaccharides (ZJP), a food-derived polysaccharide, confer neuroprotective and anti-aging benefits in Caenorhabditis elegans. ZJP was characterized for physicochemical features, antioxidant capacity, and in vivo safety. Effects were evaluated in wild-type N2 and PD models by measuring lifespan, locomotion, pharyngeal pumping, chemotaxis, α-syn::YFP fluorescence intensity, dopaminergic neuron integrity, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and lipofuscin. Stress resilience was assessed under heat (37 °C) and H₂O₂ exposure. RT-qPCR profiled genes related to stress responses and neurotransmission. ZJP showed no detectable toxicity at tested doses. ZJP extended mean lifespan in N2 (10.3–14.1%) and NL5901 (9.1%), improved locomotion, pharyngeal pumping, and chemotaxis, reduced lipofuscin (26.8–50.6%), and increased survival under heat (23.6%) and oxidative stress (38.1%). In PD models, ZJP reduced α-syn::YFP fluorescence by up to 54.9%, protected dopaminergic neurons, and increased ATP. It also lowered ROS and MDA levels while raising SOD and CAT activities. Gene expression changes were associated with enhanced oxidative stress resistance and with altered expression of genes involved in SKN-1/DAF-16-related stress-response signaling. These findings provide preliminary evidence that ZJP may promote longevity, stress resilience, and neuroprotection in C. elegans models of PD, supporting its potential as a candidate for further investigation in neuroprotection. Full article

In the modern day, despite advances in medicine and the prolongation of life expectancy, the age of menopause and male late-onset hypogonadism remains the same. This narrative review describes the physiology of the human reproductive system in females and males based on clinical and experimental studies. It explores the impact of gonadal aging and reproductive hormone withdrawal on the development of insulin resistance and diabetes and summarizes the use of antioxidants for the prevention of diabetes during menopausal transition and male late-onset hypogonadism. Maintaining high antioxidant capacity in these periods prevents the metabolic consequences of oxidative stress and improves health span trajectories. In clinical practice, we conclude that antioxidants should be used with caution to avoid the ‘antioxidant paradox’. Full article