Search Results (424)

The cosmetics industry has been seeking to develop products with renewable natural ingredients to reduce the use of or even replace synthetic substances. Biosurfactants can help meet this demand. These natural compounds are renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic or have low toxicity, offering minimal risk to humans and the environment, which has attracted the interest of an emerging consumer market and, consequently, the cosmetics industry. The aim of the present study was to produce a biosurfactant from the yeast Starmerella bombicola ATCC 22214 cultivated in a mineral medium containing 10% soybean oil and 5% glucose. The biosurfactant reduced the surface tension of water from 72.0 ± 0.1 mN/m to 33.0 ± 0.3 mN/m after eight days of fermentation. The yield was 53.35 ± 0.39 g/L and the critical micelle concentration was 1000 mg/L. The biosurfactant proved to be a good emulsifier of oils used in cosmetic formulations, with emulsification indices ranging from 45.90 ± 1.69% to 68.50 ± 1.10%. The hydrophilic–lipophilic balance index demonstrated the wetting capacity of the biosurfactant and its tendency to form oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, with 50.0 ± 0.20% foaming capacity. The biosurfactant did not exhibit cytotoxicity in the MTT assay or irritant potential. Additionally, an antioxidant activity of 58.25 ± 0.32% was observed at a concentration of 40 mg/mL. The compound also exhibited antimicrobial activity against various pathogenic microorganisms. The characterisation of the biosurfactant using magnetic nuclear resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the biomolecule is a glycolipid with an anionic nature. The results demonstrate that biosurfactant produced in this work has potential as an active biotechnological ingredient for innovative, eco-friendly cosmetic formulations. Full article

Maize–soybean intercropping is widely practised to improve land use efficiency, but shading from maize often limits soybean growth and productivity. Melatonin, a plant signaling molecule with antioxidant and growth-regulating properties, has shown potential in mitigating various abiotic stresses, including low light. This study investigated the efficacy of applying foliar melatonin (MT) to enhance shade tolerance and yield performance of soybean under intercropping. Four melatonin concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 150 µM) were applied to soybean grown under mono- and intercropping systems. The results showed that intercropping significantly reduced growth, photosynthetic activity, and yield-related traits. However, the MT application, particularly at 100 µM (MT₁₀₀), effectively mitigated these declines. MT₁₀₀ improved plant height (by up to 32%), leaf area (8%), internode length (up to 41%), grain yield (32%), and biomass dry matter (30%) compared to untreated intercropped plants. It also enhanced SPAD chlorophyll values, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as Photosystem II efficiency (ɸPSII), maximum PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching (qp), electron transport rate (ETR), Rubisco activity, and soluble protein content. These findings suggest that foliar application of melatonin, especially at 100 µM, can improve shade resilience in soybean by enhancing physiological and biochemical performance, offering a practical strategy for optimizing productivity in intercropping systems. Full article

In this study, the design and synthesis of a novel series of cinnamic acid and 1,2,4-triazole hybrids were reported, aiming to enhance antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitory activities through pharmacophore combination. Cinnamic acid derivatives and 1,2,4-triazoles exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities; therefore, by synthesizing hybrid molecules, we would like to exploit the beneficial characteristics of each scaffold. The general synthetic procedure comprises three synthetic steps, starting from the reaction of appropriate substituted cinnamic acid with hydrazine monohydrate in acetonitrile with cyclohexane and resulting in the formation of hydrazides. Consequently, the hydrazides reacted with phenylisothiocyanate under microwave irradiation conditions. Then, cyclization proceeded to the 1,2,4-triazole after the addition of NaOH solution and microwave irradiation. All the synthesized derivatives have been studied for their ability (a) to interact with the free radical DPPH, (b) inhibit lipid peroxidation induced by AAPH, and (c) inhibit soybean lipoxygenase. The synthesized derivatives have shown significant antioxidant activity and have been proved to be very good lipoxygenase inhibitors. Compounds 4b and 4g (IC₅₀ = 4.5 μM) are the most potent within the series followed by compound 6a (IC₅₀ = 5.0 μM). All the synthesized derivatives have been subjected to docking studies related to soybean lipoxygenase. Compound 4g exhibited a docking score of −9.2 kcal/mol and formed hydrophobic interactions with Val126, Tyr525, Lys526, Arg533, and Trp772, as well as a π−cation interaction with Lys526. Full article

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of tartary buckwheat flavonoids (TBF) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25-OHD) on fatty liver syndrome (FLS) in laying hens. A total of 450 35-wk-old Lohmann laying hens were selected and randomly divided into five groups, with six replicates per treatment and 15 laying hens in each replicate. The control group was fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet. The FLS group was fed a high- energy–low-protein (HELP) diet, and the other three experimental groups were fed HELP diets supplemented with 60 mg/kg TBF, 69 μg/kg 25-OHD, and 60 mg/kg TBF plus 69 μg/kg 25-OHD, respectively. The experiment lasted 8 weeks. The results demonstrated that feeding laying hens with a HELP diet led to a significant accumulation of fat in their livers, liver enlargement and yellowing, as well as a decline in liver antioxidant capacity and an aggravation of inflammation. TBF alone, 25-OHD alone, and their combination had no effect on the laying performance of laying hens fed with a HELP diet. However, 25-OHD significantly enhanced the albumin content, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness of eggs (p < 0.05). Compared with the HELP group, TBF, 25-OHD, or their combination reduced serum LDL-C and TG (p < 0.05). The combined treatment further lowered serum NEFA and MDA, enhanced liver SOD activity (p < 0.05), and unlike TBF alone (which reduced hepatic TG) or 25-OHD alone (which decreased liver index), reduced both liver index and hepatic TG (p < 0.05). Liver gene expression analysis showed that combined TBF and 25-OHD significantly inhibited the expression of fat synthesis-related genes (ACC, FAS, GPAT1, ChREBP1, LXRα, SREBP-1C, SREBP-2, FABP) as well as inflammation-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB, TLR4) (p < 0.05). At the phylum level of the cecal microbiota, TBF increased the abundance of Bacteroidota (p < 0.05), and combined TBF and 25-OHD tended to increase the abundance of Firmicutes_D. At the genus level, TBF increased the abundance of Phocaeicola_A (p < 0.05). Furthermore, TBF, 25-OHD, or their combination reduced the abundance of Faecalibacterium (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that combined TBF and 25-OHD mitigates FLS in laying hens potentially through remodeling gut microbiota and maintaining lipid metabolic homeostasis. Full article

This study explores the valorization of agro-industrial by-products—riceberry broken rice (RBR) and soybean meal (SBM)—as cost-effective substrates for enhancing exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by Bacillus tequilensis PS21. Eight Bacillus strains were screened, and B. tequilensis PS21 demonstrated the highest EPS yield (2.54 g/100 mL DW). The EPS displayed a strong antioxidant capacity with 65.5% DPPH and 80.5% hydroxyl radical scavenging, and a FRAP value of 6.51 mg Fe²⁺/g DW. Antimicrobial testing showed inhibition zones up to 10.07 mm against Streptococcus agalactiae and 7.83 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. Optimization using central composite design (CCD) and the response surface methodology (RSM) revealed the best production at 5% (w/v) RBR, 3% (w/v) SBM, pH 6.66, and 39.51 °C, yielding 39.82 g/L EPS. This EPS is a moderate-molecular-weight (11,282 Da) homopolysaccharide with glucose monomers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed an amorphous pattern, favorable for solubility in biological applications. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated thermal stability up to ~250 °C, supporting its suitability for high-temperature processing. EPS also exhibited anticancer activity with IC₅₀ values of 226.60 µg/mL (MCF-7) and 224.30 µg/mL (HeLa) at 72 h, reduced colony formation, inhibited cell migration, and demonstrated anti-tyrosinase, anti-collagenase, and anti-elastase effects. This study demonstrates the successful valorization of agro-industrial by-products—RBR and SBM—for the high-yield production of multifunctional EPS with potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. The findings highlight the sustainable potential of these low-cost substrates in supporting the development of green and value-added bioproducts, with promising utilizations across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. Full article

Thai fermented soybeans (TFSs) contain phytochemicals with anti-diabetic benefits. In this study, an initial non-optimized TFS extract (TFSE) was prepared using a conventional triplicate 80% ethanol extraction method and evaluated for its biological activity. TFSE effectively reversed TNF-α-induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by enhancing insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, indicating anti-diabetic potential. TFSE also upregulated the phosphorylation of AKT (a key insulin signaling mediator) and the expression of adipogenic proteins (PPARγ, CEBPα) in TNF-α-exposed 3T3-L1, suggesting the mitigation of adipocyte dysfunction; however, the results did not reach statistical significance. The conventional extraction process was labor-intensive and time-consuming, and to enhance extraction efficiency and bioactivity, the process was subsequently optimized using environmentally friendly microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) in combination with the Box–Behnken design (BBD) and response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized extract (O-TFSE) was obtained over a significantly shorter extraction time and exhibited higher levels of total flavonoids and antioxidant activity in comparison to TFSE, while showing reduced levels of isoflavones (daidzein, genistein, and glycitein) in relation to TFSE. Interestingly, O-TFSE retained similar efficacy in reversing TNF-α-induced insulin resistance and demonstrated significantly stronger α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities, indicating its enhanced potential for diabetes management. These results support the use of MAE as an efficient method for extracting functional compounds from TFS for functional foods targeting insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Full article

This study investigates how root color in soybeans affects isoflavone composition, rhizosphere bacterial diversity, total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity under a hydroponic cultivation system. Notably, soybean-brown roots (SBRs) accumulated significantly higher contents of isoflavones, exhibiting approximately a 14.9-fold increase in total glycosides (141.75 to 2121.59 µg/g), 7.3-fold increase in total malonyl-β-glycosides (127.52 to 930.45 µg/g), 2.8-fold increase in total aglycones (1825.90 to 5145.21 µg/g), and 3.9-fold increase in total isoflavones (2095.16 to 8197.26 µg/g) than soybean-white roots (SWRs). Isolated rhizosphere bacteria profiling revealed γ-Proteobacteria as the predominant class in both root types, constituting 77.6% and 73.9% of the bacterial community in SWRs and SBRs, respectively. However, SBRs supported a more diverse bacterial ecosystem, harboring thirteen genera compared to only eight genera in SWRs. Enhanced total phenolics, total flavonoids, and radical scavenging activity were also associated with the SBRs. These findings shed light on the dynamic interplay between root traits, bacterial interactions, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis in hydroponically grown soybeans. This work not only advances our understanding of plant root–microbiome–metabolite relationships but also offers a novel approach to exploring the potential of enhancing secondary metabolites in soybean plants through precision cultivation. Full article

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a debilitating condition characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function. It is commonly associated with aging, chronic diseases, disuse, and prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. Oxidative stress and catabolic signaling pathways play significant roles in the progression of muscle degradation. Despite its clinical relevance, few effective therapeutic options are currently available. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of an ethanolic extract of Glycine Semen Preparata (GSP), i.e., fermented black soybeans, using in vitro and in vivo models of dexamethasone (Dexa)-induced muscle atrophy. In C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes, GSP significantly attenuated both oxidative stress-induced and Dexa-induced damages by reducing reactive oxygen species levels and by suppressing the expression of the muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and Atrogin-1. Moreover, GSP upregulated key genes involved in muscle regeneration (Myod1 and Myog) and mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC1α), indicating its dual role in muscle protection and regeneration. Oral administration of GSP to mice with Dexa-induced muscle atrophy resulted in improved muscle fiber integrity, increased proportion of large cross-sectional area fibers, and partial recovery of motor function. Isoflavone aglycones, such as daidzein and genistein, were identified as active compounds that contribute to the beneficial effects of GSP through antioxidant activity and gene promoter enhancement. Thus, GSP is a promising nutraceutical that prevents or mitigates muscle atrophy by targeting oxidative stress and promoting myogenesis and mitochondrial function. Further studies are warranted to standardize the bioactive components and explore their clinical applications. Full article

Natural polymer-based nanoparticles have emerged as promising stabilizers for Pickering emulsions, offering biocompatibility, environmental sustainability, and improved protection of active compounds. This study developed chitosan/gum arabic (CH/GA) nanoparticles as solid stabilizers for quercetin-loaded Pickering emulsions to enhance the stability and antioxidant bioactivity of quercetin (QE), a plant-derived flavonoid known for its potent radical-scavenging activity but limited by oxidative degradation. A systematic formulation strategy was employed to evaluate the effects of CH/GA concentration (0.5–2.0% w/v), oil type (olive, soybean, sunflower, and coconut), and oil volume fraction (ϕ = 0.5–0.7) on emulsion stability. The formulation containing 1.5% CH/GA and olive oil at ϕ = 0.6 exhibited optimal physical and interfacial stability. Quercetin (0.1% w/w) was incorporated into the optimized emulsions and characterized for long-term stability, particle size, droplet morphology, rheology, antioxidant activity (DPPH), cytocompatibility, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) protection using HaCaT keratinocytes. The olive oil-based formulation (D1-QE) exhibited greater viscosity retention and antioxidant stability than its soybean-based counterpart (E2-QE) under both room temperature (RT) and accelerated heating–cooling (H/C) storage conditions. Confocal microscopy confirmed the accumulation of CH/GA nanoparticles at the oil–water interface, forming a dense interfacial barrier and enhancing emulsion stability. HPLC analysis showed that D1-QE retained 92.8 ± 0.5% of QE at RT and 82.8 ± 1.5% under H/C conditions after 30 days. Antioxidant activity was largely preserved, with only 4.7 ± 1.7% and 14.9 ± 4.8% loss of DPPH radical scavenging activity at RT and H/C, respectively. Cytotoxicity testing in HaCaT keratinocytes confirmed that the emulsions were non-toxic at 1 mg/mL QE and effectively reduced H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, decreasing intracellular ROS levels by 75.16%. These results highlight the potential of CH/GA-stabilized Pickering emulsions as a polymer-based delivery system for maintaining the stability and functional antioxidant activity of QE in bioactive formulations. Full article

Black soybean is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent several degenerative diseases, but in the Western diet, it is poorly used, despite the interest in foods rich in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to formulate a black soybean yogurt (BSY) fermented by a probiotic culture of L. acidophilus and evaluate the nutritional and bioactive profiles, the total antioxidant capacity, and complementary parameters during fermentation and storage for one month. We also evaluated the potential for acceptance by Rio de Janeiro consumers (n = 103). The final BSY water content was 92.8%. The dry matter contained 50.2% protein, 20.1% lipid, 5.9% ashes, 23.8% carbohydrates, and other constituents, including 1% sucrose, 5.9% α-galactosides, 26.9 mg/100 g anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin-3-glucoside), 140.5mg/100 g isoflavones (mainly genistin and daidzin). Titratable acidity was 0.44% and pH 4.5. In the sensory test, 12% sucrose and fruit extracts (strawberry, prune, and grape) were added individually to the product to evaluate the acceptability. The sweetened strawberry extract offered the highest acceptability, with a 7.6 score in a nine-point hedonic scale, against a 5.6 of the sweetened control with no fruit extract. Furthermore, all products scored well in the clusters with assessors who consumed soy products often and daily (total n = 26), with the strawberry-flavored one scoring, on average, 8 or 9. One month storage at 8 ± 2 °C caused a 22% decrease in the anthocyanins content and no significant change in isoflavones, titratable acidity, and pH. Fermentation and the addition of a sweetened fruit extract proved to be promising tools to increase the consumption of black soy milk in the West. Full article

The interactive effects between nano-silicon dioxide (n-SiO₂) and elevated CO₂ (eCO₂; 645 ppm) on soybean physiology, nitrogen fixation, and nutrient dynamics under climate stress remain underexplored. This study elucidates their combined effects under ambient (aCO₂; 410 ppm) and eCO₂ conditions. eCO₂ + n-SiO₂ synergistically enhanced shoot length (30%), total chlorophyll (112.15%), and photosynthetic rate (103.23%), alongside improved stomatal conductance and intercellular CO₂ (17.19%), optimizing carbon assimilation. Nodulation efficiency increased, with nodule number and biomass rising by 48.3% and 53.6%, respectively, under eCO₂ + n-SiO₂ versus aCO₂. N-assimilation enzymes (nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase) surged by 38.5–52.1%, enhancing nitrogen metabolism. Concurrently, phytohormones (16–21%) and antioxidant activities (15–22%) increased, reducing oxidative markers (18–22%), and bolstering stress resilience. Nutrient homeostasis improved, with P, K, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn elevating in roots (13–41%) and shoots (13–17%), except shoot Fe and Zn. These findings demonstrate that n-SiO₂ potentiates eCO₂-driven benefits, amplifying photosynthetic efficiency, nitrogen fixation, and stress adaptation through enhanced biochemical and nutrient regulation. This synergy underscores n-SiO₂ role in optimizing crop performance under future CO₂-rich climates, advocating nano-fertilizers as sustainable tools for climate-resilient agriculture. Full article

Green soybeans, or edamame (Glycine max L. Merril), serve as a superior source of phytochemicals and other nutritive substances and are commonly used as ingredients and additives in food products due to their polyphenols’ functional properties and antioxidant activity. Hence, it is very important to use a process to extract compounds with functional roles from plants as efficiently as possible. In this study, we sought to identify the optimal conditions for extracting genistein, belonging to the aglycone subgroup of isoflavones, from edamame using the cold plasma (CP) and enzyme method. Additionally, the impact of various drying techniques (spray-drying and freeze-drying) and storage conditions on the crude genistein extract powder was evaluated. The findings showed that the maximum values for the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and genistein (22.5 ± 0.23 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g; 15.3 ± 0.13 mg of catechin equivalents (CAE)/100 g; and 12.6 ± 0.10 mg/100 g, respectively) were achieved under optimal pretreatment conditions using a CP gas flow rate of 5 L/min for 30 min, followed by enzymatic treatment at a specific enzyme concentration of 2.0% (v/v) for 240 min of incubation. Moreover, a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that the CP and enzyme treatment induced significant structural changes, as evidenced by the presence of deeper pores on the surface of the powder granules. Spray-drying demonstrated a superior efficacy compared to freeze-drying for encapsulating the crude isoflavone extract. This study’s results also demonstrated that storage at 4 °C significantly stabilized the TPC, TFC, and genistein content and the antioxidant activity while preserving the physical properties (solubility and color) of the crude extract powder for up to 45 days. In summary, cold plasma pretreatment and enzymatic treatments offer practical solutions by enhancing the efficiency of non-thermal extraction processes, thereby increasing the yield of bioactive compounds, maintaining quality, and diminishing reliance on traditional, harsh methods. The elevated genistein content in the crude extract powder indicates its prospective application as a functional ingredient in various food and nutraceutical contexts. Full article

Aglycone-type soy isoflavones, recognized for their bioactive phytoestrogen properties, face industrial limitations due to their low natural abundance and inefficient conversion. This study optimized a multi-enzyme synergistic catalysis system using soybean sprout powder, achieving high conversion rates and purity through response surface methodology. The optimal enzyme system comprised β-glucosidase (25 U/mL), cellulase (200 U/mL), hemicellulase (400 U/mL), and β-galactosidase (900 U/mL) at pH 5.0, 50 °C, and 3.2 h. This system yielded an aglycone conversion rate of 92% and glycoside hydrolysis rate of 97%, outperforming single-enzyme approaches. Upon post-purification with AB-8 macroporous resin, the product reached a purity of 58.1 ± 0.54% and exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates of 81.01 ± 0.78% and 71.37 ± 1.01%, respectively. In a zebrafish central nervous system injury model induced by mycophenolate mofetil, the 500 μg/mL sample group significantly reduced neural apoptosis fluorescence intensity compared to controls (p < 0.05), achieving a neuroprotective rate of 76.58%, which was similar to the effect of L-reducing glutathione. This study offers an efficient, cost-effective enzymatic strategy for producing aglycone soy isoflavones, highlighting their potential in functional foods and neuroprotective applications. Full article

Soy protein isolate (SPI) is a high-purity protein from defatted soybeans, providing emulsifying and gelling functions for plant-based foods and supplements. Hydrolysis can facilitate the production of bioactive small-molecule proteins or peptides with potential functional applications. In this study, 20% hydrolyzed soy protein (20% HSP) was prepared from SPI, and the effects of 20% HSP and SPI on alleviating oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and regulating immune–gut microbiota in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunocompromised BALB/c mice were investigated. In C. elegans, both SPI and 20% HSP (300 μg/mL) enhanced locomotive activities, including body bending and head thrashing, and improved oxidative stress resistance under high glucose conditions. This improvement was mediated by increased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px), while malondialdehyde (MDA) content was reduced by 60.15% and 82.28%, respectively. Both of them can also significantly extend the lifespan of normal C. elegans and paraquat-induced oxidative stress models by inhibiting lipofuscin accumulation. This effect was mediated through upregulation of daf-16 and suppression of daf-2 and akt-1 expression. In immunocompromised mice, 20% HSP alleviated CTX-induced immune dysfunction by increasing peripheral white blood cells and lymphocytes, attenuating thymic atrophy, and reducing hepatic oxidative stress via MDA inhibition. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that 20% HSP restored microbial balance by suppressing Escherichia-Shigella and enriching beneficial genera, like Psychrobacter. These findings highlight 20% HSP and SPI’s conserved anti-aging mechanisms via daf-16 activation in C. elegans and immune–gut modulation in mice, positioning them as plant-derived nutraceuticals targeting oxidative stress and immune dysregulation. Full article

This research investigates the metabolite composition and biofunctional activiteies of 41 Korean soybeans, categorized by application: bean sprout, bean paste, vegetable, and cooked-with-rice. Isoflavones were identified via UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and quantified using HPLC, revealing malonylgenistin as the predominant composition (average 743.4 μg/g, 42.3% of total isoflavones). Bean sprout showed the highest average isoflavone (2780.6 μg/g), followed by bean paste (1837.8 μg/g), cooked-with-rice (1448.2 μg/g), and vegetable (883.2 μg/g), with significant differences in individual cultivars. Protein ranged from 36.8 to 46.6% and oil from 17.0 to 22.3%, with vegetable soybeans exhibiting the highest average protein (44.9%) and lowest average oil (18.6%). Moreover, PLS-DA and hierarchical clustering revealed distinct metabolic patterns in usage groups. Antioxidant activities (radical scavenging; DNA protection) and enzyme inhibition (tyrosinase; α-glucosidase) also varied significantly, correlating with isoflavone distributions. Particularly, Sorog exhibited the highest isoflavone (3722.7 μg/g) and strong antioxidant activity (DPPH: 72.2%; ABTS: 93.8%, 500 μg/mL), DNA protection (92.8%, 200 μg/mL), and inhibition of tyrosinase and α-glucosidase by 78.4% and 84.2% (500 μg/mL). These findings suggest that isoflavone-rich bean sprout soybeans, especially Sorog, are promising candidates for health-promoting foods and functional cultivar development. This is the first systematic study comparing the metabolites and health-related properties of soybeans based on Korean usage categories. Full article