Search Results (660)

Volatile fingerprints provide useful information for characterizing Astragali Radix (AR), a food–medicine homologous plant material, but differences among wild, wild-simulated, and cultivated samples remain unclear. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS) and headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC–IMS) were integrated with multivariate analysis and interpretable machine learning to characterize volatile profiles and identify candidate discriminatory compounds in 117 AR samples from different cultivation patterns. HS-SPME-GC–MS tentatively identified 29, 34, and 45 volatile compounds in wild, wild-simulated, and cultivated samples, respectively. Esters were the predominant class in all groups, although the relative abundance of esters and the overall chemical-class composition varied among cultivation patterns. HS-GC–IMS tentatively identified 57, 50, and 55 compounds, respectively, comprising mainly low-molecular-weight aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones and thereby providing complementary volatile fingerprint information. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that the volatile fingerprints captured cultivation-pattern-associated differences, with the HS-GC–IMS model showing clearer group separation. Random forest, support vector machine, and CatBoost models were further constructed using the HS-SPME-GC–MS profiling results. By integrating variable importance in projection (VIP) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values, γ-hexalactone, methyl eugenol, methyl (9Z,11E)-octadeca-9,11-dienoate, eugenol, and ethyl linoleate were selected as candidate discriminatory compounds. Based on the HS-GC–IMS results, 1-octen-3-one, pentyl acetate, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, 2-heptanone, and the monomeric signal of 2-ethyl-6-methylpyrazine were also identified as candidate discriminatory compounds. These compounds may be related to fatty acid-derived metabolism, aromatic secondary metabolism, and terpenoid-related processes. The integration of two complementary volatile-analysis platforms with VIP- and SHAP-based interpretation provided broader coverage of volatile features and improved the interpretability of candidate-compound screening. These findings provide an interpretable analytical workflow and candidate discriminatory compounds that may support future rapid screening, cultivation-pattern authentication, and volatile-profile-based differentiation of AR, pending independent external validation. Full article

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally prevalent zoonotic parasite with major public health and veterinary impacts. In Egypt, One Health data on its distribution among blood donors and livestock are limited. This multicentric cross-sectional study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among asymptomatic blood donors and livestock across six different Egyptian governorates and to identify the associated risk factors. Serum samples of 2000 asymptomatic blood donors and 500 animals (cattle and buffaloes) were tested for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA. Sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Overall IgG seroprevalence in blood donors was 41.8%, with IgM seropositivity at 2.1%. Significant regional variation was observed (p < 0.001), ranging from 66.5% in Alexandria to 16% in Cairo. The most significant risk factors were consumption of undercooked meat, contact with cats, and engagement in agricultural activities (p < 0.001). Among livestock, IgG and IgM seroprevalence were 7.2% and 5.2%, respectively, indicating active parasite circulation. The presence of seropositivity among apparently healthy donors raises concerns regarding transfusion safety. These findings highlight substantial and regionally heterogeneous Toxoplasma gondii exposure in Egypt. A One Health approach integrating public health education, food safety measures, and targeted screening of high-risk populations and animals is essential to reduce disease burden. Full article

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major food crop that is severely affected by salt stress, resulting in significant yield losses. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) catalyzes the irreversible conversion of glutamic acid to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and plays key roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, the GAD gene family in hexaploid wheat and its role in salt tolerance remain poorly understood. In this study, the wheat GAD gene family was systematically identified. Genome-wide analysis revealed seven TaGAD genes with 19 gene copies. A Ka/Ks ratio < 1 indicates strong evolutionary conservation of this family. All TaGAD proteins contain a conserved Glu-decarb-GAD domain with similar motif composition and structural organization. Promoter analysis showed enrichment of stress-responsive cis-elements. Expression profiling demonstrated tissue-specific patterns, with several TaGAD genes significantly induced under salt stress. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of TaGAD1 led to markedly reduced salt tolerance, accompanied by decreased GABA content and GAD activity, reduced activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT), and excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results demonstrate that TaGAD1 positively regulates salt tolerance in wheat through GABA-mediated ROS homeostasis. This study provides a systematic characterization of the wheat TaGAD gene family in the context of salt stress, laying a theoretical foundation for understanding GABA-mediated tolerance mechanisms and identifying TaGAD1 as a potential molecular breeding target for improving salt tolerance in wheat. Full article

Chromium (Cr) contamination poses a serious threat to agricultural productivity and food safety, yet effective strategies for mitigating Cr toxicity under practical cultivation conditions remain limited. In this study, green-synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), prepared from banana peel extract (average particle size: 112.9 nm), were evaluated against conventional sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) for alleviating Cr(VI) toxicity in Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. grown in a dynamic cyclic hydroponic system. Plants were exposed to 20 mg L⁻¹ Cr(VI) and treated with SeNPs or Na₂SeO₃ at 1 and 10 mg L⁻¹, respectively, for a duration of one week. Green-synthesized SeNPs exhibited excellent colloidal stability (zeta potential: −35.5 mV) and an amorphous spherical morphology. Relative to the Cr-only treatment, 10 mg L⁻¹ SeNPs almost completely restored plant biomass and root growth, decreased shoot Cr accumulation by 62.2%, and recovered total chlorophyll content to 94.8% of the control level. By comparison, 10 mg L⁻¹ Na₂SeO₃ restored total chlorophyll to 74.2% of the control and reduced shoot Cr accumulation by 50.6%. SeNPs also elicited a stronger antioxidant response, markedly increasing SOD, POD, and CAT activities while significantly lowering H₂O₂, MDA, and proline levels, demonstrating a greater capacity than selenite to alleviate Cr-induced oxidative damage. SeNPs also restored the uptake of essential mineral nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), improved soluble sugar and protein contents, and promoted selenium biofortification in edible shoots. Although both selenium forms alleviated Cr-induced growth inhibition and oxidative damage, SeNPs consistently outperformed Na₂SeO₃ owing to their higher bioavailability and sustained physiological activity. Overall, this study demonstrates that green-synthesized SeNPs provide an efficient and sustainable strategy for reducing Cr accumulation while simultaneously improving crop growth, antioxidant capacity, and nutritional quality under agriculturally relevant hydroponic conditions, highlighting their potential for safer food production and agricultural waste valorization. Full article

Accurate and efficient soybean yield prediction is essential for ensuring food security and optimizing agricultural management. Remote-sensing approaches based on a single phenological stage or sensor may not fully capture the physiological and structural dynamics associated with soybean yield formation, thereby constraining prediction accuracy under field-level spatial heterogeneity. This study therefore developed and evaluated an integrated multi-source and multi-temporal UAV-based framework for plot-scale soybean yield prediction under production-field conditions. A UAV platform equipped with multispectral, RGB, and LiDAR sensors was used to extract multidimensional remote-sensing features at four key growth stages: beginning pod, full seed, beginning maturity, and full maturity. By integrating spectral indices, texture metrics, and three-dimensional canopy structural parameters, seven machine-learning algorithms—Ridge, LASSO, Random Forest, MLP, LightGBM, XGBoost, and CatBoost—were evaluated under single-temporal and multi-temporal scenarios. Nonlinear tree-based ensemble models generally achieved higher predictive accuracy than the linear models. On the independent test set, CatBoost performed best under the full multi-temporal, three-sensor fusion scenario, with an R² of 0.816 and an RMSE of 245 kg ha⁻¹. Among individual growth stages, the full seed stage (R6) produced the highest single-stage prediction accuracy. Three-sensor fusion improved prediction relative to the single-source multispectral scheme, and integrating features across phenological stages further improved performance by representing cumulative crop-growth dynamics. The proposed framework provides methodological support for UAV-based precision management and data-driven decision-making in soybean production. Full article

Single studies are often cited to support claims of nutritional soundness or unsoundness regarding vegan or meat-based pet foods when compared to nutritional guidelines from authorities such as the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), and the National Research Council (NRC). However, there is little overarching evidence concerning the nutritional soundness of these different pet food types. Such overarching evidence is increasingly important as alternative vegan or meat-based pet food types become more available, such as insect-based, raw meat, and microbial protein-based pet foods. In this systematic review, 54 relevant studies examining the nutritional soundness of vegan, vegetarian, or meat-based dog or cat foods were descriptively analyzed. Only 10 (18.5%) studies found no nutritional deficiencies or excesses across their sampled pet foods relative to AAFCO, FEDIAF, or NRC guidelines. Numerous nutrient deficiencies and excesses were found across all pet food types. Most commonly, these included deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus, and zinc for both dog and cat food, as well as the amino acid taurine exclusively in cat food. The nutrients found to be most commonly in excess were also calcium and phosphorus, and copper—with the latter breaching not only FEDIAF requirements, but also EU legislative limits. Meat-based, insect-based, veterinary prescription, and vegan pet food types each had particularly at-risk nutrients that pet food companies should be aware of. For instance, vegan pet foods often performed well in terms of their fatty acid profile and selenium levels, but some had deficiencies in certain B vitamins. In contrast, some meat-based pet foods were prone to selenium deficiencies. Generally speaking, aside from such specific nutritional flaws, problems were observed across all pet food types. In fact, dog and cat foods (including wet and dry, growth and adult maintenance) of various types commonly failed to fulfil multiple nutritional requirements. To safeguard dog and cat health and welfare, urgent interventions are warranted to improve the nutritional soundness of many pet foods. Full article

Single-country livestock-mortality insurance programs in smallholder economies face a structural problem: under regime-switching mortality, the capital needed to stay solvent in a bad year can approach annual premium revenue, so public budgets become the insurer of last resort. This paper designs and prices a regional alternative for the smallholder cattle and buffalo systems of the ASEAN-5 (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar): a sovereign risk pool with a catastrophe (CAT) bond that transfers the extreme tail to capital markets. A 100,000-iteration Monte Carlo simulates correlated regime-switching mortality, with cross-country dependence structured by epidemiological proximity and calibrated to Food and Agriculture Organization, national-statistics, and World Organisation for Animal Health data. Pooling cuts the 99 percent Value-at-Risk capital requirement by 41 percent relative to the sum of country buffers, a saving of USD 464 million per year, and the saving stays between 25 and 47 percent across plausible correlations. A parametric CAT bond attaching at the 95 percent and detaching at the 99.5 percent pool VaR transfers USD 353 million at an expected loss of 2.2 percent and a spread of 3.6 to 4.1 percent. The Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility provides a ready operational vehicle. For ASEAN agriculture and finance ministries, the practical implication is to build the national mortality-data systems and pooled financing arrangements, through SEADRIF, that would move this cover from design to issuance. Full article

Background: Skin photoaging, primarily induced by chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, is characterized by dryness, wrinkle formation, pigmentation abnormalities, and reduced skin elasticity, resulting from oxidative stress, inflammation, and degradation of the extracellular matrix. Codonopsis pilosula, a traditional food–medicine homologous plant, is recognized for its anti-aging properties. However, its lipophilic components (designated as CP-L) remain insufficiently explored. Methods: Herein, we developed a thermosensitive nanogel encapsulating CP-L-loaded transferosomes (CP-L nanogel) to enhance topical delivery and evaluated its effects in both a UV-induced photoaging mouse model and UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes. Results: In UV-induced mice, topical application of the nanogel markedly reduced skin wrinkling and epidermal hyperplasia, with epidermal thickness decreased by 83.2% compared to the model group (p < 0.01), and restored skin elasticity and collagen deposition, as evidenced by a 35.5% increase in collagen area fraction (p < 0.01). Correspondingly, in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, it significantly increased cell viability from 53.0 ± 9.6% to 89.4 ± 1.0% (p < 0.01) and suppressed apoptosis from 30.1 ± 0.48% to 12.4 ± 0.66% (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the CP-L nanogel consistently attenuated oxidative stress, with SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities increased by 73.1%, 188.1%, and 18.2%, respectively (p < 0.01), and MDA levels reduced by 71.0% (p < 0.01), while inflammatory responses were suppressed, as TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels decreased by 28.3%, 22.6%, 12.8% and 31.9%, respectively (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, transcriptomic and molecular analyses revealed that the nanogel potently inhibited the UV-induced activation of the FGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K signaling cascade at both transcriptional and protein levels, with the phosphorylation levels of FGFR, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and p70S6K significantly reduced by 43.9%, 30.9%, 38.8%, 34.9%, and 57.3%, respectively (p < 0.01). Molecular docking and dynamics simulations identified isofuranodienone and aromadendrene oxide-(2) as key constituents with high-affinity, stable binding to FGFR1 and AKT1. The cytoprotective effect of the nanogel was completely abolished by co-treatment with the FGFR inhibitor PD173074, confirming functional reliance on this pathway. Enhanced cellular delivery of the formulation was directly demonstrated by flow cytometry, showing an approximately 1.8-fold increase in cellular uptake compared to the free drug (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Collectively, these results demonstrated that the CP-L nanogel alleviated skin photoaging through a multi-faceted mechanism involving enhanced cellular delivery, potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and specific inhibition of the FGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade, highlighting its potential as a multitargeted topical agent derived from an edible plant. Full article

Salinity stress affects not only the survival and productivity of halophytic plants, but also the composition, structure and processability of their biomass. In Salicornia spp., salt-induced regulation of ion transport, osmotic adjustment, reactive oxygen species signaling, antioxidant defense, and cell wall remodeling can directly influence residual salinity, water retention, texture, extractability, drying behavior, and oxidative stability of plant biomass. However, most existing transcriptomic studies of Salicornia and related halophytes have focused mainly on salt tolerance mechanisms, whereas the connection between stress-regulated molecular networks and processing-related biomass traits remains insufficiently systematized. This review addresses this gap by proposing a mechanistic framework that links salinity perception, ROS-mediated signaling, ABA and MAPK pathways, antioxidant gene families, transcription factor networks and processing-oriented quality traits. Special attention is given to enzymatic antioxidant systems, including SOD, CAT, APX, POD and components of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle, as well as to non-enzymatic defense mechanisms involving ascorbate, glutathione, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, proline and glycine betaine. The review also discusses the regulatory roles of WRKY, DREB/CBF, NAC, bZIP and MYB transcription factor families as molecular control points connecting salinity stress responses with downstream metabolic and structural traits. Network-based approaches, including WGCNA, pathway signatures and transcript panels, are considered more informative than single-gene markers for predicting complex quality traits in Salicornia biomass. In addition, recent genomic and computational strategies, including CRISPR/Cas-mediated functional validation, GWAS, genomic selection, multi-omics integration and AI-assisted modeling, are discussed as emerging tools for candidate-gene prioritization and predictive assessment of stress-dependent biomass quality. Overall, this review shifts the interpretation of Salicornia transcriptomics from a descriptive salt-tolerance model toward a mechanistic and application-oriented framework for improving halophytic raw materials for food, feed and bioprocessing applications. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the world’s major staple foods. However, its production is severely constrained by rice blast disease, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, which leads to substantial yield losses. Conventional management relies on fungicides and chemical treatments; however, these methods raise concerns regarding the development of pathogen resistance and potential environmental impacts. This study evaluated carrageenan from Hypnea musciformis, collected from the coast of Saint Martin (92°19′21.28″ E and 20°37′38.12″ N), located in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, as a natural plant growth promoter as well as a biocontrol agent. Carrageenan was characterized by high sulfate (19–35%) and galactose (12–18%) contents, with FT-IR confirming characteristic κ-carrageenan functional groups. Application of 15% carrageenan significantly increased the germination of seed (27%), seedling vigor (93%), shoot and root lengths (54% and 47%), and biomass compared with untreated controls. Carrageenan markedly suppressed M. oryzae, inhibiting mycelial growth (83%), reducing conidiogenesis and conidial germination, and decreasing lesion length in detached leaves and potted plants. Treated rice seedlings exhibited improved soluble sugars, photosynthetic pigments, proline, phenolic and flavonoid contents, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities such as CAT (catalase) and POD (peroxidase), while lowering oxidative stress markers such as H₂O₂ and MDA (malondialdehyde). These results demonstrate that carrageenan from H. musciformis enhances rice growth and elicits defense responses against rice blast, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical-based fungicides for integrated M. oryzae management. Full article

With the development of the pet industry, public attention to pet food safety and nutritional health has been continuously increasing. Postbiotics were initially defined as inactivated microorganisms or microbial cellular components that confer health benefits to the host. Compared with probiotics, postbiotics possess superior safety and stability. They can effectively eliminate the potential risk of horizontal transfer of drug-resistant genes carried by live bacteria, and also feature better manufacturability and storage performance. At present, most research on postbiotics has focused on humans and large domestic animals, with relatively few applications in dogs and cats. This indicates that further research on postbiotics in canines and felines is still needed to better promote their practical application in promoting pet food health. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current research status of postbiotics, focusing on their potential benefits and mechanisms for pet health. It proposes that future studies should concentrate on in vivo experimental validation to clarify the safety, optimal dosage, and specific functions of postbiotics in companion animals. Such research will offer a scientific basis for the application of postbiotics in pet food formulations, ultimately promoting the health and welfare of pets. Full article

Betalains are natural antioxidant pigments valued as food colorants (E162), yet their combined responses to light quality and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) during long-term growth remain poorly understood. In this study, the interactive effects of blue light and MeJA on growth, betacyanin, betaxanthin, antioxidant enzyme activities [peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)], malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline (PRO) were investigated at weeks 3, 10, and 13 of sugar beet seedling growth. Four treatments were established: white light (W, control), white light + MeJA (WM), white light + blue light (WB), and white light + blue light + MeJA (WBM). The results showed that WB rapidly induced betaxanthin accumulation and enhanced SOD and POD activities while reducing MDA at week 3. MeJA alone triggered an explosive increase in betacyanin (45.74 mg·g⁻¹ FW) at week 10, accompanied by elevated activities of POD, SOD, and CAT. The combined treatment (WBM) maintained the highest betacyanin (36.48 mg·g⁻¹ FW) and betaxanthin (8.97 mg·g⁻¹ FW) contents, the lowest MDA level (17.17 nmol·g⁻¹ FW), and a high proline level (528.39 μg·g⁻¹ FW) at week 13, providing sustained pigment maintenance at the late stage. The three antioxidant enzymes exhibited a temporal division of labor: high SOD activity at the early stage, while POD and CAT activities continuously increased during the middle and late stages. Notably, the correlation between proline and MDA shifted from positive at week 10 to negative at week 13, suggesting a temporal transition in the protective role of proline against membrane lipid peroxidation during late-stage development. In conclusion, blue light and MeJA enhance the antioxidant capacity of sugar beet seedlings through a temporally synergistic pattern of “priming by blue light, burst by MeJA, and maintenance by combined treatment,” offering a potential preharvest regulation strategy for the production of natural pigments and functional food ingredients. Full article

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, a widespread zoonotic disease leading to serious public health concerns and economic losses to animal husbandry. Currently, highly effective vaccines against toxoplasmosis remain unavailable. This study aimed to investigate the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of the gra47-deficient mutant strain PruΔgra47 as a live-attenuated vaccine candidate. We evaluated the virulence of PruΔgra47 in a mouse model, determined the optimal immunization dose, and measured serum antibody levels and cytokine profiles. Then, mice immunized with PruΔgra47 were challenged with different T. gondii strains to assess protection against acute and chronic infection. PruΔgra47 displayed significantly attenuated virulence and its ability to form cysts was weakened. Vaccination with 5 × 10⁶ tachyzoites elicited predominantly Th1-skewed immune responses. Immunization with PruΔgra47 provided complete protection against challenge infection with relatively low-virulent PYS strain and homologous Pru strain, prolonged survival against the highly virulent RH strain, and achieved a 90% survival rate with reduced brain cyst burden under chronic challenge. In conclusion, PruΔgra47 is relatively safe and immunogenic in the murine model, and is worth being evaluated in food-producing animals and cats. Full article

Inulin-type fructans are widely recognized as functional polysaccharides with prebiotic properties, while plant polyphenols represent one of the most important classes of natural antioxidants. Increasing evidence demonstrates that interactions between dietary fibers such as inulin and phenolic compounds significantly influence antioxidant capacity, bioavailability, and physiological activity. The present review integrates recent advances regarding the chemical structure of inulin, extraction sources, molecular interactions with polyphenols, and implications for antioxidant activity in functional foods and nutraceuticals. Experimental studies indicate correlations between inulin concentration and antioxidant parameters such as DPPH, FRAP, SOD and CAT activities. Furthermore, physicochemical interactions between cell wall polysaccharides and polyphenols influence the stability, release kinetics and bioefficacy of antioxidant compounds. These findings support the potential development of optimized functional formulations combining inulin-rich plant extracts with polyphenol sources for improved health benefits. The literature was identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases (2000–2026). Full article

Soybean is an important crop for food, oil and feed production in China, and improving its yield is a major national goal. Salt stress severely restricts soybean production. XTH genes participate in plant growth and stress adaptation, yet the functions of most soybean XTH members are unclear. In this study, we cloned the soybean GmXTH-like26 gene previously identified via transcriptome sequencing, and successfully constructed its overexpression vector and CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing vector. Subcellular localization analysis confirmed that GmXTH-like26 is localized to the cell wall. The gene was transformed into soybean via the Agrobacterium-mediated method. Under 100 mM NaCl stress, the GmXTH-like26-overexpressing lines exhibited markedly enhanced salt tolerance at both germination and seedling stages compared with the control group. Physiological and biochemical assays showed that the overexpression plants had higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content and higher chlorophyll content under salt stress, while the gene-edited lines displayed the opposite trends. These results indicate that GmXTH-like26 improves salt tolerance in soybean by reducing reactive oxygen species accumulation and effectively enhances the resistance of soybean to salt stress. Full article