Search Results (801)

Forest ginseng (FG) is a rare medicinal and culinary plant in China, and its drying quality is heavily dependent on the drying method. This study investigated the effects of traditional hot air drying (HAD) and the self-developed negative-pressure circulating airflow-assisted desiccator drying (PCAD) method on the quality of FG using metabolomics and enzyme activity. The results revealed that the enzyme activities of dried FG were reduced considerably. PCAD preserved higher enzyme activity than HAD. Metabolomics data demonstrate that HAD promotes the formation of primary metabolites (amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, etc.), whereas PCAD promotes the formation of secondary metabolites (terpenoids, phenolic acids, etc.). A change-transformation network was built by combining the metabolites listed above and their biosynthetic pathways, and it was discovered that these biosynthetic pathways were primarily associated with the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, lipid metabolism, phenylpropane biosynthesis, and nucleotide metabolism. It is also believed that these findings are related to the chemical stimulation induced by thermal degradation and the ongoing catalysis of enzyme responses to drought stress. The facts presented above will give a scientific basis for the selection of FG drying processes, as well as helpful references for increasing the nutritional quality of processed FG. Full article

Diabetes mellites (DM) is a chronic disease with increasing prevalence worldwide and multiple health implications. Among them, sarcopenia is a metabolic disorder characterized by loss of muscle mass and function. The two age-related diseases, DM and sarcopenia, share underlying pathophysiological pathways. This narrative literature review aims to provide an overview of the existing evidence on metabolomic studies evaluating DM associated with sarcopenia. Advancements in targeted and untargeted metabolomics techniques could provide better insight into the pathogenesis of sarcopenia in DM and describe their entangled and fluctuating interrelationship. Recent evidence showed that sarcopenia in DM induced significant changes in protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and in energy metabolisms in humans, animal models of DM, and cell cultures. Newer metabolites were reported, known metabolites were also found significantly modified, while few amino acids and lipids displayed a dual behavior. In addition, several therapeutic approaches proved to be promising interventions for slowing the progression of sarcopenia in DM, including physical activity, newer antihyperglycemic classes, D-pinitol, and genetic USP21 ablation, although none of them were yet validated for clinical use. Conversely, ceramides had a negative impact. Further research is needed to confirm the utility of these findings and to provide potential metabolomic biomarkers that might be relevant for the pathogenesis and treatment of sarcopenia in DM. Full article

Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) is a globally destructive plant-parasitic nematode that severely impedes the sustainable production of horticultural crops. Metabolic reprogramming in plant roots represents the host response to M. incognita infection that can also be exploited by the nematode to facilitate its parasitism. In this study, untargeted metabolomics was employed to analyze metabolic changes in cucumber roots following nematode inoculation, with the goal of identifying differentially accumulated metabolites that may influence M. incognita behavior. Metabolomic analysis revealed that M. incognita significantly altered the cucumber root metabolome, triggering an accumulation of lipids and organic acids and enriching biotic stress-related pathways such as alkaloid biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism. Among differentially accumulated metabolites, myristic acid and hexadecanal were selected for further study due to their potential roles in nematode inhibition. In vitro assays demonstrated that both metabolites suppressed egg hatching and reduced infectivity of M. incognita, while pot experiments indicated a correlation between their application and reduced root gall formation. Chemotaxis assays further revealed that both metabolites exerted repellent effects on the chemotactic migration of M. incognita J2 and suppressed the transcriptional expression of two motility-and feeding-related neuropeptides, Mi-flp-1 and Mi-flp-18. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the significant potential of differentially accumulated metabolites induced by M. incognita infection for nematode disease control, achieved by interfering with nematode chemotaxis and subsequent infection. This work also provides deeper insights into the metabolomic mechanisms underlying the cucumber-M. incognita interaction. Full article

Marek’s disease (MD), induced by the highly contagious Marek’s disease virus (MDV), remains a significant challenge to global poultry health despite extensive vaccination efforts. This study employed integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate liver responses in naturally MDV-infected Wenchang chickens during late infection stages. RNA sequencing identified 959 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the infected and uninfected groups. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that these DEGs were primarily associated with canonical pathways related to metabolism and cellular processes, including lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism, as well as the p53 signaling pathway, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) detected 561 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), showing near-significant enrichment (p = 0.069) in phenylalanine metabolism. Integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics data highlighted that critical gene–metabolite pairs such as SGPL1-palmitaldehyde–sphinganine-1-phosphate and ME1-NADP+–malic acid potentially mediate functional crosstalk between sphingolipid metabolism and cellular redox homeostasis during viral oncogenesis. This comprehensive mapping of regulatory networks provides insights into host–virus interactions during MDV pathogenesis, offering potential applications in immunomodulation approaches, targeted therapeutic strategies, and vaccine adjuvant development. Full article

Calendula officinalis L. is a widely used medicinal plant whose secondary metabolism and morphology are influenced by light. This study evaluated the effects of 2 and 4 h end-of-day (EOD) red/far-red (R:FR) and green (G) light on the growth, physiology, and phytochemical profile of hydroponically grown C. officinalis under a constant red/blue light background, compared with a red/blue control without EOD treatment. Morphological, physiological (gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence), biochemical (chlorophyll, anthocyanin), and chemical composition (attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)) were evaluated. EOD G 2 h enhanced photosynthetic pigments, anthocyanins, and biomass, while control plants showed higher phenolic content. EOD R:FR induced stem elongation but reduced pigment and metabolite accumulation. GC-MS revealed organ-specific metabolic specialization, with flowers displaying greater chemical diversity than leaves. EOD G favored sesquiterpene diversity in flowers, while EOD R:FR increased nitrogen-containing compounds and unsaturated fatty acids. Vibrational data supported these shifts, with spectral signatures of esters, phenolics, and lipid-related structures. Bioactive compounds, including α-cadinol and carboxylic acids, were identified across treatments. These findings demonstrate that EOD light modulates physiological and metabolic traits in C. officinalis, highlighting EOD G as an enhancer of biomass and phytochemical richness for pharmaceutical applications under controlled conditions. Full article

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a natural polysaccharide polymer. It is degraded by gut microbiota-derived β-mannanase into small-molecule nutrients, which exert diverse physiological regulatory effects. As a prebiotic, KGM modulates gut microbiota composition. It selectively fosters the proliferation of beneficial commensals and suppresses potential pathogens, thereby alleviating microbiota-related disorders. Moreover, microbiota fermentation of KGM produces metabolites. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are particularly notable among these metabolites. They exert multifaceted beneficial effects, including metabolic regulation, intestinal barrier strengthening, and neuroprotective functions. These effects are mediated through inhibition of inflammatory pathways (e.g., NF-κB, MAPK), modulation of lipid metabolism genes (e.g., CD36), and regulation of neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA, 5-HT). This highlights KGM’s therapeutic potential for metabolic, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. Current clinical use is limited by dose-dependent adverse effects and interindividual response variability, which stem from different microbial communities. This necessitates personalized dosage strategies. Despite these limitations, KGM as a prebiotic polysaccharide exhibits multifaceted bioactivity. Current evidence suggests its potential to synergistically modulate metabolic pathways, gut microbiota composition, immune cell signaling, and neuroendocrine interactions. This highlights its promise for developing novel therapeutic interventions. Full article

Background: Fructus Meliae Toosendan (FMT) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat ascariasis; however, its reported hepatotoxicity limits its application. Toosendanin (TSN), as a principal active component, is recognized as the primary toxic ingredient responsible for FMT-induced hepatotoxicity, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with TSN and analyzed using Western blotting and qPCR assays for related gene transcription and protein expression. Lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis markers were measured. Balb/c and C57BL/6 mice received various doses of TSN administration, and their liver function was assessed with serum biochemistry and histopathology. Network pharmacology and oxidative lipidomics were performed to identify key targets and metabolites. Results: TSN triggered ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by the elevated expression of 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) and its downstream metabolites. The ALOX5 level modulated hepatocyte sensitivity to TSN-induced ferroptotic damage. An ALOX5 knockdown alleviated TSN-induced liver injury and ferroptosis in vivo. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that TSN induces hepatotoxicity by facilitating ALOX5-mediated lipid peroxidation, thereby sensitizing cells to ferroptosis. Full article

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma, comprises embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS) subtypes with distinct histopathological features, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic responses. To better characterize their molecular distinctions, we performed untargeted plasma proteomics and metabolomics profiling in children with ERMS (n = 18), ARMS (n = 17), and matched healthy controls (n = 18). Differential expression, functional enrichment (GO, KEGG, RaMP-DB), co-expression network analysis (WGCNA/WMCNA), and multi-omics integration (DIABLO, MOFA) revealed distinct molecular signatures for each subtype. ARMS displayed elevated oncogenic and stemness-associated proteins (e.g., cyclin E1, FAP, myotrophin) and metabolites involved in lipid transport, fatty acid metabolism, and polyamine biosynthesis. In contrast, ERMS was enriched in immune-related and myogenic proteins (e.g., myosin-9, SAA2, S100A11) and metabolites linked to glutamate/glycine metabolism and redox homeostasis. Pathway analyses highlighted subtype-specific activation of PI3K-Akt and Hippo signaling in ARMS and immune and coagulation pathways in ERMS. Additionally, the proteomics and metabolomics datasets showed association with clinical parameters, including disease stage, lymph node involvement, and age, demonstrating clear molecular discrimination consistent with clinical observation. Co-expression networks and integrative analyses further reinforced these distinctions, uncovering coordinated protein–metabolite modules. Our findings reveal novel, subtype-specific molecular programs in RMS and propose candidate biomarkers and pathways that may guide precision diagnostics and therapeutic targeting in pediatric sarcomas. Full article

Copper pyrithione (CuPT), an emerging biocide used in ship antifouling coatings, may accumulate in marine sediments and pose risks to non-target organisms. However, current research on CuPT toxicity remains limited. Litopenaeus vannamei, one of the world’s most important aquaculture shrimp species, relies heavily on its hepatopancreas for energy metabolism, detoxification, and immune responses. Due to their benthic habitat, these shrimps are highly vulnerable to contamination in sediment environments. This study investigated the toxicological response in the hepatopancreas of L. vannamei exposed to CuPT (128 μg/L) for 3 and 48 h. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence staining revealed increased apoptosis, deformation of hepatic tubule lumens, and the loss of stellate structures in the hepatopancreas after CuPT 48 h exposure. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptomics analysis at 3 and 48 h, respectively. Most of these DEGs were related to detoxification, glucose transport, and immunity. Metabolomic analysis identified numerous significantly different metabolites (SDMs) at both 3 and 48 h post-exposure, with most SDMs associated with energy metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and related pathways. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of metabolomics and transcriptome revealed that both DEGs and SDMs were enriched in arachidonic acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways at 3 h, while at 48 h they were enriched in the starch and sucrose metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and galactose metabolism pathways. These results suggested that CuPT disrupts the energy and lipid homeostasis of L. vannamei. This disruption compelled L. vannamei to allocate additional energy toward sustaining basal physiological functions and consequently caused the accumulation of large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body, leading to apoptosis and subsequent tissue damage, and ultimately suppressed the immune system and impaired the health of L. vannamei. Our study elucidates the molecular mechanisms of CuPT-induced metabolic disruption and immunotoxicity in L. vannamei through integrated multi-omics analyses, providing new insights for ecological risk assessment of this emerging antifoulant. Full article

Lymphoma continues to pose a significant global health burden, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Recent advances in microbiome research have identified gut-microbiota-derived metabolites, or postbiotics, as promising candidates in cancer therapy. This study investigates the antiproliferative and mechanistic effects of two postbiotics, Nisin (N) and Urolithin B (UB), individually and in combination, against the human lymphoma cell line HKB-11. Moreover, this study evaluated cytotoxic efficacy and underlying molecular pathways using a comprehensive experimental approach, including the Alamar Blue assay, combination index (CI) analysis, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantification, and bottom-up proteomics. N and UB displayed notable antiproliferative effects, with IC₅₀ values of 1467 µM and 87.56 µM, respectively. Importantly, their combination at a 4:6 ratio demonstrated strong synergy (CI = 0.09 at IC₉₅), significantly enhancing apoptosis (p ≤ 0.0001) and modulating oxidative stress. Proteomic profiling revealed significant regulation of key proteins related to lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, cell cycle control, and apoptosis, including upregulation of COX6C (Log₂FC = 2.07) and downregulation of CDK4 (Log₂FC = −1.26). These findings provide mechanistic insights and underscore the translational potential of postbiotics in lymphoma treatment. Further preclinical and clinical investigations are warranted to explore their role in therapeutic regimens. Full article

Lipid metabolism is critical for the physiological activities of signal transduction, metabolic regulation, and energy provision, and Wuzhishan (WZS) pigs are a promising animal model for studying human diseases. However, lipid metabolites in the heart and liver of WZS pigs are indistinct. In this study, we detected gene expression, blood biochemical parameters, and metabolic profiles of hearts and livers of WZS and Large White (LW) pigs, and analyzed correlations between metabolites. The results showed that the fatty acid metabolic process was present in both the heart and liver, and was more dominant in the liver. Although the expression of lipid absorption-related genes of CYP7A1 increased in the liver, CEBPB levels increased in both the liver and heart; the fatty acid beta-oxidation genes RXRA and ACSS2 also showed increased expression. The quantity of metabolites related to lipid synthesis decreased in the liver, heart, and blood for WZS pigs compared to that of LW pigs, indicating a balance of lipid synthesis and breakdown for WZS pigs. Moreover, the lipid metabolites in the liver and heart exhibited strong correlations with each other and showed similar correlations to blood biochemical parameters, respectively. This study declared the balance of lipid metabolism in both the heart and liver, and identified their connections for WZS pigs. Full article

The progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is shaped by a multifaceted interplay among genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors, alongside gut dysbiosis. Cinnamon, being abundant in polyphenols and flavonoids, shows significant antioxidant effects. Studies have substantiated that cinnamon contributes to the management of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, the anti-diabetic efficacy of cinnamon is not completely understood. The objective of this research was to clarify the anti-diabetic mechanism associated with cinnamon extract through a combination of chemical profiling, network pharmacology, and in vivo investigations. The results indicated that 32 chemical ingredients, including quercetin, were identified through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Network pharmacology revealed that 471 targets related to 14 compounds were screened. The analysis of GO enrichment revealed that the primary pathways were notably enhanced in the metabolism of insulin and glucose. In vivo analyses showed that cinnamon could effectively alleviate hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and lipid metabolism abnormalities via increased relative abundance of Akkermansia and Ligilactobacillus at the genus level and a decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio at the phylum level. Moreover, cinnamon reduced the serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and significantly increased the colon Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin protein levels. It was also observed that cinnamon improved the fecal SCFA levels (acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric and caproic acid), while also modifying the bile acid (BA) profile and increasing the conjugated-to-unconjugated BA ratio. The Western blotting analysis further demonstrated that cinnamon activated intestinal FXR/FGF15 and hepatic PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In summary, the finding confirmed that cinnamon ameliorated glucose and lipid metabolism disorders by safeguarding the intestinal barrier and modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites, thereby activating intestinal FXR/FGF15 and hepatic PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Full article

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated E54^T, was isolated from a hyper-arid desert soil sample collected from the Kumtagh Desert in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain E54^T within the genus Lentzea, showing highest similarity to Lentzea waywayandensis DSM 44232^T (98.9%) and Lentzea flava NBRC 15743^T (98.5%). However, whole-genome comparisons revealed that the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between E54^T and these related strains were below the thresholds for species delineation. Strain E54^T exhibited typical morphological characteristics of the genus Lentzea, forming a branched substrate. It grew optimally at 28–30 °C, pH 7.0–9.0, and tolerated up to 10% NaCl. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, the predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H₄), and major fatty acids included iso-C_16:0. The polar lipid profile comprised diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl inositol, hydroxyphosphatidyl ethanolamine, and an unidentified lipid. The characteristic amino acid type of the cell wall was meso-DAP. Whole-cell hydrolysis experiments revealed the characteristic cell wall sugar fractions: ribose and galactose. The genome of strain E54^T is approximately 8.0 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 69.38 mol%. Genome mining revealed 39 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), including non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS), polyketide synthases (PKS), terpenes, and siderophores. Comparative antiSMASH-based genome analysis across 38 Lentzea strains further demonstrated the genus’ remarkable biosynthetic diversity. NRPS and type I PKS (T1PKS) were the most prevalent BGC types, indicating a capacity to synthesize structurally complex and pharmacologically relevant metabolites. Together, these findings underscore the untapped biosynthetic potential of the genus Lentzea and support the proposal of strain E54^T as a novel species. The strain E54^T (=JCM 34936^T = GDMCC 4.216^T) should represent a novel species, for which the name Lentzea xerophila sp. nov. is proposed. Full article

Background: Exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) represents a form of deleterious ocular aging of unclear etiology. We evaluated prediagnostic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolites in relation to XFG risk, expanding on our prior findings of XFG-related metabotypes using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Methods: We identified 217 XFG cases and 217 matched controls nested within three prospective health professional cohorts with plasma collected a mean 11.8 years before case identification. Plasma metabolites were analyzed using the targeted NMR Nightingale platform. Conditional logistic models and Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis were performed. Multiple comparison issues were addressed using the number of effective tests (NEF) and false discovery rate (FDR). Results: Among 235 profiled metabolites, higher glucose was significantly associated with a lower risk of XFG (odds ratio (95%CI) = 0.42 (0.26, 0.7); NEF = 0.03). Among metabolite classes, lipoprotein subclasses and branched-chain amino acids were inversely associated, while relative lipoprotein lipid concentrations were adversely associated (FDR < 0.05). Conclusion: NMR profiling revealed that glucose, branched-chain amino acids, lipoprotein subclasses, and relative lipoprotein lipid concentrations may play important roles in XFG etiology. Full article

The gut microbiota critically influences lipid metabolism and fat deposition in pigs, processes that underpin pork quality preferences and differentiate the meat traits of Chinese indigenous breeds (fat-type) from those of Western commercial breeds (lean-type). To explore the mechanisms underlying breed-specific fatty acid absorption, we compared the rectal and colonic microbiota and metabolite profiles of Huainan and Large White pigs using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. HN pigs exhibited enriched Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus amylovorus, along with a significantly higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Functional predictions further revealed elevated microbial pathways related to glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, and ABC transporters in HN pigs. Conversely, LW pigs showed increased abundance of potentially pro-inflammatory bacteria and enriched pathways for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. Metabolites such as 4-ethyl-2-heptylthiazole and picolinic acid were significantly upregulated in HN pigs and served as robust biomarkers (Area Under the Curve, AUC = 1.0),with perfect discrimination observed in both rectal and colonic samples. Integrative analysis identified 52 co-enriched microbial and metabolic pathways in HN pigs, including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, lipid biosynthesis and transport, amino acid metabolism, ABC transporter activity, and the PPAR signaling pathway, supporting a microbiota–metabolite axis that enhances fatty acid absorption and gut immune balance. These findings provide mechanistic insight into breed-specific fat deposition and offer candidate biomarkers for improving pork quality via precision nutrition and breeding. Full article