Search Results (43,781)

Apple maturation involves profound metabolic reconfiguration, yet systematic trade-offs among bioactive, primary, and volatile metabolites remain unclear, particularly under highland cultivation. We examined nine apple cultivars spanning early-, mid-, and late-maturing groups grown under identical high-altitude conditions (1950 m). Early-maturing cultivars exhibited superior antioxidant activity, with Huashuo (HS) achieving the highest ABTS•⁺ radical scavenging (1268.5 μg Trolox/g) and flavonoid (18.9 mg/g) levels. Conversely, late cultivars accumulated significantly more starch (31.5 mg/g in HFS) and total soluble sugars (121.5 mg/g in Ruixue), whereas sucrose peaked in the early Jinyu (94.4 mg/g). PCA and OPLS-DA models robustly separated maturity groups (predictive variance 65.4%). Late-maturing cultivars exhibited reduced volatile abundance, with 338 compounds downregulated versus only 32 upregulated (VIP > 1, p < 0.05). Compounds with high predicted aroma impact (rOAV ≥ 1), including 2,6-nonadienal (Log₂FC = −3.21) and isobutyl isovalerate (−3.55), were severely depleted, while butanoic acid propyl ester (5.01) increased. Flavor mapping suggested a marked loss of “green” and “fruity” notes in late cultivars. Overall, highland-grown apples exhibit a fundamental metabolic trade-off favoring starch accumulation, a trait commonly associated with storability in late-maturing cultivars. These findings suggest candidate volatile biomarkers for breeding programs that warrant further validation and highlight the potential need for postharvest metabolic interventions to preserve the natural aroma of late-maturing apples. Full article

This study analyzed the changes in physiological and biochemical indexes of seedlings from different Illicium verum Hook.f. (I. verum) cultivars under drought stress to comprehensively compare their drought resistance and lay a foundation for the screening and artificial cultivation of stress-resistant I. verum cultivars. The effects of drought stress on Relative Water Content (RWC), Malondialdehyde (MDA), osmotic adjustment substances, and antioxidant enzymes of seedlings of different I. verum cultivars were determined by indoor hydroponic method and PEG-6000 simulated drought stress experiment. RWC showed a downward trend, and the smallest change was Dongrong. The change trend of MDA content was increased and then decreased, and the greatest change was Heiye. Differences exist in the changes of osmotic adjustment substances in seedlings of different I. verum cultivars in response to drought stress. The contents of osmoregulatory substances all showed an upward trend. The Proline (Pro) content and soluble sugar (Ss) content in Luoma changed the most, and the soluble protein (Sp) content changed the most in Dongrong. Seedlings of different I. verum cultivars differ in antioxidant enzyme activities in response to drought stress. With the extension of drought stress time, the activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme, Peroxidase (POD) enzyme, and Catalase (CAT) enzyme increased first and then decreased. The activities of SOD enzyme, POD enzyme, and CAT enzyme changed the most in Luoma, Dongrong, and Chenping. The drought resistance of the five I. verum cultivars was Dongrong > Muwang > Luoma > Heiye > Chenping. Different drought-resistant cultivars should be selected according to local conditions in the cultivation process. Full article

Heightened consumer awareness of health benefits has propelled nutritionally enhanced cereal products to the forefront of food industry innovation. The present work focused on manufacturing polyphenol-enriched biscuits by incorporating grape seed extract (GSE). The study evaluated different formulations of wheat flour with GSE at addition ratios of 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, and 1% (w/w). Within the 0.2–0.6% GSE range, significant improvements were observed in dough properties and biscuit quality. Specifically, the dough development time and degree of softening decreased, while the dough stability time, peak viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus increased. The fortified biscuits had a darker color, lower baking loss rate, and increased spread factor, springiness, and cohesiveness. In addition, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the fortified biscuits increased significantly (p < 0.05), and the antioxidant activity of the biscuits was also enhanced. Sensory evaluation results indicated that biscuits with 0.6% GSE addition achieved the highest overall acceptability score (8.7 ± 0.4 on a 9-point hedonic scale), indicating good consumer acceptance. These findings identify 0.6% GSE as an appropriate fortification level for improving biscuit quality while enhancing polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, providing a practical basis for the development of polyphenol-enriched bakery products. Full article

Metformin is a widely used antidiabetic drug that may enter biological and environmental systems together with micro/nanoplastics; however, their combined effects on protein interactions and microbial responses remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated how polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics (PET MNPs) influence metformin interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the subsequent responses of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. BSA–metformin systems were conditioned with three PET MNP loads and increasing metformin concentrations. The resulting particle-depleted filtrates were evaluated using fluorescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, the Bradford assay, Rayleigh light scattering, turbidity, dithiothreitol-based oxidative potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements. Bacterial growth, superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione-related thiol antioxidant response, lipid peroxidation, ROS generation, and biofilm formation were also assessed. PET MNP conditioning altered the fluorescence responses of tryptophan and tyrosine, modified BSA-associated absorbance, and produced non-linear changes in protein accessibility, aggregation-related scattering, turbidity, and oxidative indicators. The bacterial responses were species-specific. Escherichia coli showed increased bacterial growth under several exposure conditions, whereas Staphylococcus aureus exhibited reduced growth following metformin addition, particularly at the highest PET MNP load. Staphylococcus aureus also showed consistently elevated biofilm formation and a pronounced transient ROS increase under the high-PET, low-metformin condition. These findings indicate that upstream PET MNP conditioning can modify the physicochemical and biological properties of the filter-passing BSA–metformin phase, leading to concentration-dependent and species-specific bacterial responses. Full article

Differences in the composition, microstructure, infrared spectral characteristics, and enzymatic hydrolysis properties of rice bran protein extracted by four methods were investigated, and the antioxidant and anti-photoaging activities of peptides derived from the resulting hydrolysates were further evaluated. Rice bran protein obtained via ultrasonic pretreatment combined with alkaline solublilization and acid precipitation (URP) exhibited relatively high purity (59.17%) and extraction yield (47.61%), together with increased surface porosity, enhanced hydration capacity, and improved enzymatic hydrolysis performance. The URP hydrolysate (URPP) showed a protein content of 81.00%, a degree of hydrolysis of 33.57%, and marked antioxidant activity (ABTS, 684.21; ORAC, 2016.15 μmol TE/g sample). The identified peptides were predominantly short and enriched in hydrophobic amino acids. Structural analysis suggested that the indole N-H group of tryptophan may play an important role in the antioxidant activity of these peptides. Moreover, these peptides alleviated UVB-induced photoaging in HaCaT cells by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses and downregulating the mRNA expressions of AP-1, MMP-1 and MMP-3. Overall, these findings reveal an association between the extraction method, structural characteristics, and enzymatic hydrolysis properties of rice bran protein and the biological activities of its derived peptides, providing a basis for the high-value utilization of rice bran protein and the development of antioxidant and anti-photoaging functional ingredients. Full article

Cistanche deserticola polysaccharide (CDP) exhibits pleiotropic bioactivities, yet its splenic-protective profile remains incompletely defined. Here, male ICR mice were challenged with cyclophosphamide (CTX) to establish an immunosuppressed model and concurrently treated with CDP. By integrating functional assays, splenic histopathology, and transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, we show that CDP dose-dependently restores splenic mass, rescues white-pulp atrophy, and suppresses megakaryocytic hyperplasia. Functionally, CDP rebalances pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines, scavenges splenic ROS/MDA, and potentiates GSH-Px/SOD antioxidant capacity versus CTX alone. Multi-omics convergence (3103 DEGs; 1387 DEPs) delineated a CDP-distinctive signature related to innate immune recognition, oxidative stress buffering, and protease/ion-transport modules. Notably, transcriptional enrichment of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-associated proxies—synergized with NOD-like receptor/IL-17 signaling—suggests a putative innate-priming mechanism warranting functional validation, rather than confirmed pathway activation. Collectively, CDP mitigates CTX-induced splenic injury primarily through coupled redox restoration and transcriptional-level immune modulation. Full article

This study aimed to illustrate the effects of plant-based yogurts made from bio-fermentative green rice milk yogurt (GRMY), enhanced with Wolffia globosa powder (WGP) and infused with Thai green tea. Different formulations (F1 to F4) were analyzed to assess the impact of varying weight ratios of WGP, ranging from 0% to 15%. The goal was to improve nutritional values and bioactive components. The F4 formulation of plant-based yogurt demonstrated enhanced nutritional values, including higher levels of dietary fiber, starch, protein, and fat contents, which were 42.45, 26.55, 22.48, and 2.29% DW, respectively. It was increased by bioactive compounds such as total phenolic content (52.99 mg GAE/g), total flavonoid content (60.45 mg QUE/g), and β-carotene (1.81 mg/g). Additionally, the F4 formulation exhibited the highest antioxidants in terms of DPPH activity (5.48 mg TROE/g), ABTS activity (424.15 mg TROE/g), and FRAP reducing capacity (106.35 mg TROE/g) and antidiabetic activity of α–glucosidase inhibition in IC₅₀ at 1.41 mg/mL. The yogurts were evaluated through metabolomic network analysis as a complex bioactive food system, wherein fermentation-derived metabolites synergistically interact with tea polyphenols, amino acids, phytosterols, and carotenoids. The prevailing metabolic profiles indicate an increase in antioxidant capacity, a reduction in inflammatory burden, enhanced glucose metabolism, alterations in gut microbiota, cardiovascular protection, and neuroprotective potential. These findings suggest that the product represents a promising plant-based functional food, offering numerous health benefits. This assertion is supported by a diverse metabolite network identified through UPLC–MS/MS metabolomic research. Full article

The valorization of agro-industrial by-products has gained increasing attention as a sustainable strategy to support circular economy principles and reduce environmental impacts. Spain, the world’s largest olive oil producer, generates substantial amounts of olive pomace (OP), which can represent up to 80% of the processed olive mass. Due to their hydrophilic nature, approximately 98% of olive phenolic compounds remain in OP after oil extraction, making this by-product a valuable source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cardioprotective properties. Numerous extraction strategies have been investigated to maximize phenolic recovery while reducing processing costs and environmental impacts. Conventional solvent-based techniques, such as solid–liquid extraction (SLE) and liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), remain widely used, while greener approaches, including microwave-, ultrasound-, supercritical fluid-, pressurized liquid-, and high-pressure-assisted extraction, among others, have gained increasing attention. In addition, deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been applied either alone or in combination with green extraction technologies to enhance extraction efficiency. This review provides a comprehensive overview of extraction techniques for OP valorization and the analytical methodologies used to characterize OP extracts, including spectrophotometric and chromatographic approaches. The biological activities of OP-derived phenolics and their food applications are also discussed, highlighting their valorization potential. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of reduced inclusion levels of coated inorganic compound trace elements as a reduced substitution for uncoated inorganic trace elements in layer breeder diets. A total of 360 Hy-Line Brown layer breeder hens were randomly assigned to three groups, with six replicate pens of 20 hens per group: control group A (inorganic trace elements), group B (500 mg/kg coated inorganic compound trace elements), and group C (1000 mg/kg coated inorganic compound trace elements). Compared with the control, the coated trace element groups significantly increased the laying rate, eggshell strength and yolk color, and decreased the cracked egg rate and feed-to-egg ratio (p < 0.05). Group B had a lower cracked egg rate and a higher egg shape index than group C. Regarding eggshell ultrastructure, group B had a greater effective layer thickness and proportion and a lower mammillary layer thickness and proportion (p < 0.05), while group C presented increased mammillary width. The coated trace elements increased the deposition of Mn, Zn, and Se in eggs and increased serum GSH-Px and Cu-Zn SOD activities and the T3 concentration. No significant differences in hatching performance were observed among the groups. For progeny, groups B and C had higher birth weight, pectoralis muscle weight, and liver weight, as well as improved serum antioxidant indices and intestinal morphology (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of intestinal tight junction genes was upregulated in group C (p < 0.05) and showed a modest increase in group B. In conclusion, the coated inorganic compound trace elements, when used at reduced inclusion rates, replaced the conventional uncoated inorganic premix without compromising production performance and improved several performance outcomes. The 500 mg/kg inclusion level provided the most balanced improvements in breeder performance and progeny quality while reducing feed costs. These findings suggest that coated mineral technology may sustain productivity at a substantially lower mineral input and may benefit progeny by increasing egg mineral deposition and supporting intestinal development, thereby providing a more sustainable mineral-feeding strategy for breeder hens. Full article

β-carotene has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its poor chemical stability and susceptibility to oxidative degradation strongly limit its practical application. Therefore, encapsulation technology serves as a crucial delivery method to achieve the bioavailability of β-carotene. The study aimed to explore effects of microencapsulated and nanoemulsified β-carotene on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory function in weaned piglets. A total of 147 healthy weaned piglets with similar initial body weight (7.75 ± 0.09 kg) were randomly divided into three groups: control group (CON), microencapsulated β-carotene treatment group (B1) and nanoemulsified β-carotene treatment group (B2). Results showed that the two β-carotene preparations remarkably improved growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immunity of weaned piglets compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). In tissues of liver, jejunum and colon, B1 and B2 groups increased antioxidase activity (CAT, SOD, T-AOC) and concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ), with reduced MDA and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α) contents. Both B1 and B2 treatments improved intestinal barrier function and optimized jejunal microbial composition compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). The B2 group exerted far superior antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects compared with the B1 group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the nanoemulsion delivery system can improve antioxidant and anti-inflammatory function of β-carotene in weaned piglets compared with the traditional microencapsulated form. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for the popularization and application of nanoemulsified β-carotene to improve the bioavailability of β-carotene. Full article

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a thiol-containing molecule with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cytoprotective properties that has increasingly been incorporated into hydrogel-based biomaterials. This systematic review evaluates the strategies used to integrate NAC into hydrogels and examines their effects on material properties, controlled release, biocompatibility, and therapeutic activity. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines using Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and SciFinder to identify English-language articles published between 2000 and 2025. Seventy-three studies met the eligibility criteria of this review. NAC has been employed as a physically loaded therapeutic agent, covalently conjugated polymer modifier, contributor to hydrogel crosslinking, metal-coordination ligand, and compound incorporated into nano- and microparticulate carriers dispersed in hydrogel. These approaches enable the modulation of gelation, swelling, adhesion, degradation, and drug-release kinetics. NAC-containing hydrogels have demonstrated robust antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and tissue-regenerative properties in various in vitro and in vivo models, underscoring their potential for advanced biomaterial applications. Release profiles varied from rapid stimulus-responsive delivery to sustained release over several days, depending on the network architecture and the NAC–matrix interactions. However, comparisons among studies were limited by the heterogeneous formulations, release conditions, biological models, and outcome measures. Standardized physicochemical characterization, NAC stability assessment, dose–response evaluation, and rigorous preclinical validation are required to support the translation of NAC-based hydrogels into biomedical applications. We hope that this review will help scientists and innovation centers understand the potential of the NAC-containing hydrogel biomaterials discussed in this study, as well as the opportunities and demands for additional research in this field. Full article

Interactions between antioxidants are believed to be fundamental for proper nutrition and health benefits. This review discusses various types of antioxidant interactions in vitro, their mechanisms, and their dependence on assay conditions and evaluates the validity of extrapolations of results obtained from cell-free assays and assays of cellular antioxidant activity to in vivo and food systems. In vitro studies revealed that the type of interaction (additive, antagonistic, or synergistic) depends not only on the identity of compounds but also on their absolute concentrations, concentration ratio, type of assay, reaction medium, and the method of analysis of results. Moreover, reactions of antioxidants in simple model systems, employing synthetic indicators, do not fully reflect their reactivity in food systems and organisms. Although in vitro studies may be a useful and necessary step for explaining the mechanisms of interactions between antioxidants, their importance for explaining the phenomena observed in vivo seems limited, as the organismal effects of compounds referred to as antioxidants depend rather on their actions on specific signaling pathways than on their direct antioxidant action. Nevertheless, they may provide useful information for food preservation, allowing for the reduction of the amounts of antioxidant additives. Full article

Flavones are natural substances widely distributed in fruits and vegetable. Their compounds are characterized by a broad spectrum of activities, including antioxidant activity. Their most interesting biological effect, however, is antihyperglycemic activity, mediated by the inhibition of α-glucosidase. A series of 7-hydroxyflavone derivatives was synthesized and comprehensively characterized using nuclear resonance magnetic spectroscopy. The biological potential of the synthesized derivatives was assessed through antioxidant (DPPH) and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties were analyzed using in silico methods. Finally, molecular docking studies were performed to elucidate the binding mode of compounds within the catalytic site of α-glucosidase. Full article

Long-term crop rotation can improve soil function and crop performance, but it remains unclear whether rotation history can simultaneously alleviate drought-induced oxidative injury in spring wheat leaves and roots. To address this gap, we used a long-term field rotation experiment established in 2016 in the western foothills of the Greater Khingan Mountains. Four cropping systems were selected: spring wheat–potato rotation (R1), spring wheat–potato–rape rotation (R2), spring wheat–rape rotation (R3), and continuous spring wheat cropping (C1). In 2022, wheat occurred naturally in all rotation sequences, and all plots were planted with the same spring wheat cultivar (‘Longmai 36’) to enable comparison among different rotation histories. Drought stress was imposed from late jointing, and at anthesis, ROS-related levels, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and proline (Pro), as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), were determined in the flag leaves and roots of spring wheat under normal-water (NC) and drought-stress (HC) conditions. Under drought stress, rotation significantly increased yield (R1 and R2 by 73.3% and 77.7% vs. C1, respectively, partly reflecting the low C1 baseline associated with continuous cropping) and reduced drought-induced accumulation of ROS-related levels and MDA, along with excessive antioxidant and osmotic responses. R1 better protected leaves, while R2 optimized root osmotic regulation. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant drought × rotation interactions for most leaf traits (p < 0.01) but not for root ROS-related levels, SOD, or POD, indicating organ-specific regulation. R1 and R2 show strong drought resilience potential, warranting multi-year, multi-site validation. Full article

Maintaining sustainable production of healthy and nutritious food represents a major global challenge. Cultivated meat could reduce the environmental impact of livestock production, but it remains costly, largely due to the expense of fetal bovine serum, a common cell culture media supplement. Algal and cyanobacterial proteins, particularly phycobiliproteins, represent promising sustainable sources of potentially bioactive peptides that may contribute to the development of serum-reduced or serum-free culture media. This study investigated the potential of hydrolysates prepared using the protein extracts of the red alga Porphyra haitanensis and the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis as functional supplements for cell cultivation in a low-serum environment. Twelve hydrolysates were generated by treating protein extracts from Arthrospira platensis and Porphyra haitanensis with six proteolytic enzymes: pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, thermolysin and proteinase K. The effects of these hydrolysates were studied in three cell models of mammalian (CHO-K1), avian (QM7), and fish (MACK1) origin. The effects of hydrolysates on cell viability, proliferation, and antioxidant activity were evaluated. A. platensis–chymotrypsin hydrolysate significantly improved QM7 cell viability compared to control in both 80% reduced-serum and tryptose phosphate broth conditions (p ≤ 0.0001). Additionally, peptide composition analysis and identification of amino acid sequences provided preliminary insights into potentially bioactive chromopeptides associated with the maintenance and promotion of cellular growth. Algae/cyanobacteria-derived hydrolysates positively regulated cell viability and proliferation in serum-reduced conditions, although effects were dependent on the algal species, enzymatic treatment, and cell type. These findings highlight their potential as sustainable supplements for alternative cell culture media. Full article