Search Results (168)

Myeloid malignancies exhibit profound metabolic dependence on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for survival and proliferation. Antileukemic therapies such as Venetoclax combined with Azacitidine or cytarabine induce rapid mitochondrial collapse, disrupting electron transport, NADH oxidation, and ATP synthesis, followed by a selective rebound of fatty-acid oxidation (FAO) and redox-buffering programs that sustain minimal residual disease. This review integrates current mechanistic and clinical insights into therapy-induced mitochondrial suppression, delineates the regulatory circuitry that enables metabolic recovery, and frames these events as a reversible model of clinical energy deficiency. By linking mitochondrial stress signaling, lipid oxidation, and adaptive redox metabolism, we outline how bioenergetic reprogramming drives therapeutic resistance and propose interventions that target this adaptive axis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and related myeloid neoplasms. Full article

Rice bran oil (RBO) is increasingly valued for its bioactive constituents and associated health benefits. This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of RBOs derived from purple (PRBO), red (RRBO), and white (WRBO) rice bran, focusing on their physicochemical properties, fatty-acid profiles, bioactive components, antioxidant activity, oxidative stability, and lipidomics. Our results demonstrate that PRBO consistently exhibited a more favorable fatty-acid composition, characterized by a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and significantly greater concentrations of bioactive compounds (including tocopherols/tocotrienols, γ-oryzanol, phytosterols, and squalene). Accordingly, PRBO showed the highest radical-scavenging activity and storage oxidative stability, followed by RRBO and WRBO. Additionally, untargeted lipidomics using UPLC–MS–MS identified 2908 lipid species spanning 57 subclasses and revealed distinct variety-specific lipid signatures. PRBO was uniquely enriched in lipid species such as ceramide phosphate (CerP) and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG). RRBO was characterized by a distinct abundance of sitosteryl esters (SiE), phosphatidic acid (PA), and cardiolipin (CL), while WRBO was distinguished by phosphatidylethanol (PEt), lysodimethylphosphatidylethanolamine (LdMePE), and sphingomyelin (SM). Overall, PRBO possessed not only a broader repertoire of lipid species but also higher relative abundances of nutritionally significant lipids. These results enable quality evaluation and varietal authentication of colored RBOs and guide their targeted use in health-oriented foods and nutritional interventions. Full article

The oleic-to-linoleic acid ratio (O/L) is a key determinant of oil quality, yet its molecular basis in Cornus wilsoniana remains unclear. Here, we combined fatty-acid profiling with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and catalytic tunnel analysis to compare four annotated FAD2 homologs. Sequence alignment revealed a major variable segment at residues 160–185, including a small deletion in CW09G04700 and an extensive deletion in CW04G07690. Docking against oleic acid supported excluding CW04G07690 due to weak binding. Eighty-nanosecond MD simulations showed that CW02G01750 and CW09G27260 rapidly converged to stable conformational ensembles with lower core flexibility, whereas CW09G04700 exhibited higher internal mobility around residues 180–220. CAVER analysis further indicated increasingly accessible catalytic tunnels for CW02G01750 and CW09G27260 during simulation, while CW09G04700 displayed transient tunnel narrowing accompanied by ligand conformational readjustments. These results nominate CW02G01750 as a leading structural candidate among C. wilsoniana FAD2 homologs and highlight access-pathway dynamics as a mechanistic feature potentially contributing to O/L formation. Full article

Obesity is among the top contributing factors for non-communicable chronic disease development and has attained menacing global proportions, affecting approximately one of eight adults. Phytochemicals that support energy metabolism and prevent obesity development have been the subject of intense research endeavors over the past several decades. Cycloastragenol is a natural triterpenoid compound and aglycon of astragaloside IV, known for activating telomerase and mitigating cellular aging. Here, we aim to characterize the effect of cycloastragenol on lipid metabolism in a glucose-induced obesity model in Caenorhabditis elegans. We assessed the changes in the body length, width, and area in C. elegans maintained under elevated glucose through automated WormLab system. Lipid accumulation in the presence of either cycloastragenol (100 μM) or orlistat (12 μM), used as a positive anti-obesity control drug, was quantified through Nile Red fluorescent staining. Furthermore, we evaluated the changes in key energy metabolism molecular players in GFP-reporter transgenic strains. Our results revealed that cycloastragenol treatment decreased mean body area and reduced lipid accumulation in the C. elegans glucose-induced model. The mechanistic data indicated that cycloastragenol suppresses the nuclear hormone receptor family member NHR-49 and the delta(9)-fatty-acid desaturase 7 (FAT-7) enzyme, and activates the 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha-2 (AAK-2) and the protein skinhead 1 (SKN-1) signaling. Collectively, our findings highlight that cycloastragenol reprograms lipid metabolism by down-regulating the insulin-like receptor (daf-2)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (age-1)/NHR-49 signaling while simultaneously enhancing the activity of the AAK-2/NAD-dependent protein deacetylase (SIR-2.1) pathway. The anti-obesogenic potential of cycloastragenol rationalizes further validation in the context of metabolic diseases and obesity management. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignancy among men worldwide. After radical prostatectomy (RP) and radical radiotherapy (RT), patients may experience biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer, indicating disease progression. Therefore, it is meaningful to predict and accurately assess the risk of BCR, and a machine-learning-based-model for BCR prediction in PCa based on fatty-acid metabolism and cancer-cell stemness was developed. A stemness prediction model and ssGSEA (single-sample gene set enrichment analysis) empirical cumulative distribution function algorithm were used to score the stemness scoring (mRNAsi) and fatty-acid metabolism of prostate-cancer samples, respectively, and further analysis showed that the two scores of the samples were positively correlated. Based on WGCNA (weighted correlation network analysis), we discovered modules significantly associated with both stemness and fatty-acid metabolism and obtained the genes within them. Then, based on this gene set, 101 algorithm combinations of 10 machine-learning methods were used for training and prediction BCR of PCa, and the model with the best prediction effect was named fat_stemness_BCR. Compared with 23 published PCa BCR models, the fat_stemness_BCR model performs better in TCGA and CPGEA data. To facilitate the use of the model, the trained model was encapsulated into an R package and an online service tool (PCaMLmodel, Version 1.0) was built. The newly developed fat_stemness_SCR model enriches the prognostic research of biochemical recurrence in PCa and provides a new reference for the study of other diseases. Full article

Pulses are recognized as sustainable foods due to their high nutritional density, low environmental footprint, and versatility as plant-based ingredients. Fermentation has emerged as a powerful bioprocessing tool to further enhance nutritional, sensory, techno-functional, and health-promoting properties of pulses. This review summarizes recent advances in the fermentation of commonly consumed pulses using lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, molds, and co-fermentation microorganism consortia, focusing on the biochemical mechanisms underlying changes in their nutritional and bioactive potential. Microbial metabolism (i.e., α-galactosidase and phytase activity) reduces antinutritional factors, such as raffinose family oligosaccharides and phytic acid, while promoting the release of bound nutrients and bioactive compounds as phenolics, increasing their bioaccessibility and bioactivity. Microbial amylases change the carbohydrate profile by decreasing simple sugars, modifying starch digestibility, and favoring resistant starch production. Microbial lipases remodel lipids, improving the fatty-acid distribution and nutritional value. Protein hydrolysis by microbial proteases enhances digestibility and generates bioactive peptides with antioxidant and antihypertensive properties, among others. Co-fermentation systems offer additional opportunities to tailor metabolic outcomes, facilitating positive symbiotic interactions between microorganisms. Overall, fermentation represents a key technology to unlock the full potential of pulses as next-generation ingredients, supporting the development of nutritious, functional, and sustainable foods for future food systems. Full article

Pinus koraiensis leaves are known for various bioactivities, including anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemic effects. This study aimed to compare the essential oil from P. koraiensis leaves (EPO) and the supercritical-CO₂-extracted oil (SPO) for physicochemical traits, antibacterial and anticancer activities, and anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects, and profiled fatty acids by means of GC-MS. SPO showed stronger antimicrobial activity than EPO against Streptococcus mutans, whereas EPO was more active against Candida albicans. In HaCaT keratinocytes and THP-1 monocytic cell line, SPO more effectively suppressed LPS-induced ROS and attenuated TNF-α and IL-6 upregulation. Across a panel of human cancer cell lines, SPO exerted greater cytotoxicity, particularly in non–small cell lung, prostate, and colon cancers. GC–MS revealed greater compositional diversity in SPO (16 fatty acids, 10 unique), while linolelaidic acid was detected only in EPO; pentadecenoic acid was abundant in all oils. Collectively, SPO demonstrates broader bioactivity and richer fatty-acid diversity than EPO, supporting its potential as a functional food or medicinal ingredient. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been linked to dietary fat quality and polyunsaturated fatty-acid metabolism. We evaluated whether dietary n-6 fatty-acid intake, serum dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), and desaturase-based indices for Δ5-desaturase (D5D) and Δ6-desaturase (D6D) are associated with MASLD. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis within the HOZUGAWA health checkup cohort in Japan (n = 289; 100 MASLD, 189 non-MASLD). Participants underwent hepatic ultrasonography, dietary assessment using the Brief Self-Administered Diet History Questionnaire, and fasting serum metabolomics by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with solid-phase dehydration derivatization. Enzyme indices were defined as the D5D index = arachidonic acid/DGLA and the D6D proxy index = DGLA/linoleic acid (hereafter referred to as the D6D index) because γ-linolenic acid was not measured. Natural-log-transformed D5D index, D6D index, DGLA, and total dietary n-6 fatty-acid intake were entered into multivariable logistic regression models for MASLD adjusted for age, sex, BMI, alcohol intake, and total energy. Results: Compared with non-MASLD, MASLD showed higher serum DGLA, lower D5D index, and higher D6D index (all p ≤ 0.005), with no between-group differences in total energy intake, linoleic acid, total polyunsaturated fatty acids, or total dietary n-6 fatty-acid intake. Higher ln D5D was independently associated with lower odds of MASLD (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.42–0.86), whereas higher ln D6D index (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.04–1.95) and ln DGLA (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.13–2.43) were each positively associated. Total dietary n-6 fatty-acid intake was not independently associated with MASLD. Conclusions: In this Japanese health examination cohort, an imbalance in estimated desaturase activities—lower D5D index and higher D6D index—together with higher serum DGLA was independently associated with MASLD, whereas n-6 intake showed no group difference or independent association. These findings suggest that enzyme-linked endogenous n-6 metabolic status may be more closely related to the MASLD phenotype than intake quantity alone. Full article

Growing pressure to build sustainable food systems is steering interest toward edible insects as efficient, nutrient-rich alternatives. In this work, it was evaluated whether adding DHA extracted from microalgal biomass to the standard diet of Acheta domesticus can enrich the crickets’ lipid quality. Diets containing 0, 5, and 10% DHA were fed under controlled rearing. Subadult crickets were milled and analyzed. Compared with controls, supplemented groups showed higher total lipids and a healthier fatty-acid profile, with clear increases in omega-3 and the appearance of DHA. This minor dietary change is simple, scalable, and compatible with low-impact rearing, supporting the development of higher-value insect-based ingredients for human nutrition. Full article

This study investigated the potential of cricket powder (CP) as a sustainable ingredient to partially replace palm oil in salad dressing while enhancing its functional properties. Formulations containing 0%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% CP combined with carrageenan, guar gum, and xanthan gum were prepared. Increasing CP levels significantly decreased lightness but enhanced redness and yellowness (p < 0.05). Emulsion stability was significantly affected by hydrocolloid type (p < 0.05), with guar gum showing the highest stability, further improved at higher CP levels. Rheological analysis indicated a typical shear-thinning behavior, with xanthan gum formulations showing the highest viscosity and viscoelasticity. Moreover, CP incorporation significantly increased total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), enhancing antioxidant activity confirmed by DPPH and FRAP assays. E-nose and E-tongue analyses revealed that increasing CP enhanced umami intensity and altered aroma profiles. Overall, replacing part of the palm oil with 5–7.5% CP improved emulsion stability and increased bioactive content, suggesting its potential as a functional and more sustainable alternative to conventional oil-rich formulations. These benefits are primarily associated with reduced palm-oil usage and increased protein and antioxidant components, rather than a fully characterized improvement in fatty-acid composition. Full article

This study compares the chemical modification and polymerization behavior of canola, carinata, and crambe oils to evaluate their suitability as renewable building blocks for polymer synthesis. The vegetable oils were characterized in terms of fatty-acid composition and oxidative stability, and the data showed distinct profiles: canola with 0% erucic acid, carinata around 42.08%, and crambe reaching 56.25%, differences that end up influencing how each one responds during the modification steps. Epoxidation and acrylation were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and FTIR-ATR, mainly through the disappearance of the olefinic peaks and the appearance of oxirane- and acrylate-related signals (some of them quite clear, others less pronounced). After acrylation, the oils were subjected to solution polymerization, forming bulk crosslinked materials, whose properties reflected their original fatty-acid profiles: the canola-based polymer reached the highest glass transition temperature (T_g), 47.73 °C, followed by the carinata-based polymer (T_g = 41.86 °C), while the crambe-derived polymer, with lower functionality due to its high erucic acid content, showed a much lower T_g of 20.26 °C. Altogether, these differences highlight how variations in fatty-acid composition subtly shape the efficiency of functionalization and the architecture of the resulting networks. The polymers obtained here point to potential uses in renewable coatings, thermoset resins, and other applications that depend on bio-based crosslinked materials. Full article

Cold-pressed chia oil (Salvia hispanica L.) is highly susceptible to oxidative deterioration due to its exceptional α-linolenic acid content. This study evaluated the effect of increasing α-tocopherol concentrations (0–0.10% w/w) on its oxidative stability through accelerated oxidation testing (Oxitest) and long-term refrigerated storage. α-Tocopherol was selected because it is a widely accepted antioxidant in edible oils according to the Codex Alimentarius and FAO/WHO guidelines. A randomized block design (n = 3 independent extraction batches) was used to determine the induction period (IP) at 80 °C, followed by a 15-month evaluation at 15 °C of the control and the most promising treatment. α-Tocopherol increased oxidative resistance in a dose-dependent manner, but concentrations above 0.05% offered no additional benefits. The 0.05% treatment significantly prolonged the IP and effectively limited increases in peroxide and acidity values, keeping all parameters within Ecuadorian regulatory limits and consistent with international quality standards. Fatty-acid profiling confirmed that this antioxidant level slowed α-linolenic acid degradation, preserving the PUFA-rich profile of chia oil. These findings show that low-level α-tocopherol supplementation is a practical strategy to improve long-term stability of cold-pressed chia oil without altering its nutritional properties, providing valuable evidence for the formulation and commercialization of premium functional oils. Full article

Lipid metabolism and lipid-derived signaling together ensure cellular and systemic homeostasis. Their dysregulation causes obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, NAFLD/MASH, and neurodegeneration throughout life. This review integrates central pathways, such as ACC–FASN-mediated de novo lipogenesis, lipid-droplet lipolysis, and mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation, and their regulation by insulin–PI3K–Akt, glucagon–cAMP–PKA, SREBPs, PPARs, and AMPK. We emphasize the mechanisms by which bioactive lipids like diacylglycerols, ceramides, eicosanoids, and endocannabinoids serve as second messengers linking nutrient state to insulin signaling, inflammation, and stress response; pathologic accumulation of these species enhances insulin resistance and lipotoxicity. Aging disrupts these axes via diminished catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis, defective fatty-acid oxidation, mitochondrial failure, and adipose depot redistribution, facilitating ectopic fat and postprandial dyslipidemia. We suggest a pathway-to-phenotype paradigm that connects lipid species and tissue environment to clinical phenotypes, allowing for mechanism-to-intervention alignment. Therapeutic avenues range from lipid lowering for atherogenic risk to novel agents targeting ACLY, ACC, FASN, CPT1, and nuclear receptors, with precision lifestyle intervention in diet and exercise. Translation is still heterogeneous because of isoform-dependent effects, safety trade-offs, and inconsistent adherence. We prioritize harmonization of lipidomics with multi-omics for stratifying patients, enriching responders, and bridging gaps between mechanistic understanding and clinical outcome, with focus on age-sensitive prevention and treatment for lipid-mediated metabolic disease. Full article

Background/Objectives: Paediatric patients continue to lack access to age-appropriate oral medicines for their treatment and have to depend on the off-label use of medicines approved for adults, which compromises dosing accuracy and exposes children to unpleasant bitterness. Building on previous proof-of-concept work with flucloxacillin sodium, this study investigated the effects of fatty-acid chain length on the formation, stability, dissolution, and sensory acceptability of diclofenac sodium (DS)–Eudragit® EPO (EE)–fatty acid (FA) polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). Four saturated fatty acids, lauric (C12), myristic (C14), palmitic (C16), and stearic acid (C18), were evaluated at stoichiometric equimolar DS:EE:FA ratio (1:1:1). Methods: PEC microparticles were prepared by solvent evaporation. A stability-indicating RP-HPLC assay was developed and validated according to ICH guidelines to quantify DS content. Drug content and stability were monitored over 3 months at ambient storage. In vitro dissolution was performed in pH 5.5 medium at 37 °C. Taste acceptability and willingness to take again was assessed with 25 healthy adult volunteers using 11-point scale. Results: All PECs retained >90% of expected drug content after 3 months. Compared with neat DS, PECs markedly suppressed early drug release (32–39% vs. 94% at 2 min) but achieved >87% cumulative drug release in 60 min. Sensory evaluation showed significant differences across samples (p < 0.001): neat DS was least acceptable (20.8% willing to take again), while DS-EE-PA was most acceptable (92%), followed by DS-EE-SA and DS-EE-MA. DS-EE-LA was least favoured among PECs. Conclusions: Fatty-acid chain length influenced PEC formation and taste acceptability, but not the PEC stability and drug dissolution profile. Palmitic acid (DS-EE-PA) offered the best overall profile and represents a promising candidate for further development of paediatric-appropriate diclofenac formulations. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of enzymatically produced collagen hydrolysate and Salicornia perennans extract on the quality, oxidative stability, and nutritional composition of canned canine meat pâtés. Two formulations were prepared: a control 2% NaCl, no hydrolysate and an experimental sample containing 3% collagen hydrolysate sheep:camel:bovine = 1:1:1, 1% Salicornia perennans extract, and 1% NaCl. Physicochemical, textural, amino-acid, fatty-acid, and oxidative parameters were monitored over 10 days of storage. The treated pâtés showed similar proximate composition moisture 76.1%, protein 9.2%, metabolizable energy (ME) 102 kcal·100 g⁻¹; p > 0.05 but exhibited enhanced functional stability, with reduced water loss syneresis 1.8 vs. 3.1%; p < 0.05 and improved cohesiveness 0.46 vs. 0.41; p < 0.05. Amino-acid enrichment included higher aspartic acid +33%; p < 0.05, methionine +53%; p < 0.05, and tryptophan +39%; p < 0.05, while the lipid profile showed lower SFA 52.8 vs. 56.4%; p < 0.05, higher n-3 PUFA 1.5 vs. 0.8%; p < 0.05, and a reduced n-6:n-3 ratio 3.8 vs. 5.6; p < 0.05. During storage, oxidative markers decreased: TBARS −45%, carbonyls −14%, acid value −18%, and color stability improved by +2.0 pp. These findings confirm the synergistic antioxidant and structuring effects of collagen-derived peptides and Salicornia polyphenols, as evidenced by a 45% reduction in TBARS, 14% lower protein carbonyls, and 18% lower acid value relative to the control (p < 0.05). This synergy enabled a sodium-reduced, clean-label formulation with improved technological performance, oxidative resistance, and shelf-life stability for functional wet dog foods. In addition, it enhanced the color and visual appeal—key attributes that influence both animal palatability and the purchasing decisions of pet owners. Full article