Search Results (5,172)

Withering is a critical but poorly understood step in yellow tea processing. This study integrated metabolomics (ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, UPLC-MS/MS), transcriptomics (RNA sequencing, RNA-seq), and sensory evaluation to investigate dynamic changes in key metabolites and gene expression during withering (0–10 h) of Niangniang tea (NNT). Transcriptomic analysis was performed on leaves sampled directly during withering, while metabolomic profiling and sensory evaluation were conducted on finished teas processed from the corresponding withered leaves. A total of 1064 metabolites were identified. Sensory evaluation showed that 8 h of withering yielded the highest sweet-mellow taste scores. Theanine, L-aspartic acid, and L-arginine peaked at 8 h, while galloylated catechins decreased. Key regulatory genes (CsTA, CsSCPL, CsPDX2.1) were identified, with expression patterns correlating with sweet-related amino acid accumulation and catechin conversion. Integrative analysis delineated a molecular roadmap in which downregulation of CsPDX2.1 after 6 h was associated with reduced theanine hydrolysis, and upregulation of CsTA correlated with galloylated catechin conversion, collectively contributing to sweet-mellow taste. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing withering duration in large-leaf yellow tea production. Full article

Postharvest lignification and microbial spoilage limit the shelf life of arrow bamboo shoots. This study evaluated the effects of electrolyzed functional water (EFW) combined with spontaneous modified-atmosphere (MA) packaging (EFW+MA) on postharvest quality and associated physiological, metabolic, and microbial changes. EFW+MA reduced weight loss, decay incidence, and browning while maintaining firmness and color. It also reduced lignin and cellulose accumulation, accompanied by lower activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Untargeted liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics showed that storage-associated metabolic changes were moderated by EFW+MA, including lower abundances of phenylalanine and tyrosine in the treated samples. In addition, EFW+MA enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and alleviated membrane lipid peroxidation. 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequencing showed that EFW+MA reduced operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and altered bacterial community composition, including lower relative abundances of Campylobacterota and Enterobacteriaceae and a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae. Overall, EFW+MA delayed postharvest quality deterioration of arrow bamboo shoots, accompanied by changes in lignification-related physiology, oxidative defense, metabolite profiles, and bacterial communities. Full article

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are recurring problems in New Jersey (NJ). Some HABs produce organic phycotoxins that are detrimental to both ecosystem organisms and human health. While most studies on HABs and phycotoxins focus on freshwater in NJ, comparative measurements of phycotoxins in marine coastal environments are understudied. In the summer of 2025, surface water from 11 freshwater, 3 brackish rivers, and 10 coastal sites in northern and central NJ was collected and analyzed for 12 dissolved phycotoxins using a combination of solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Phycotoxin concentrations and distribution varied spatially among sampling sites. Total okadaic acid (OA) and total dinophysistoxin-1(DTX-1) were present with the highest concentrations, followed by brevetoxin and microcystin. Cluster analysis revealed separation of phycotoxin patterns mostly between freshwater and brackish/marine sites. Correlation analysis revealed significantly positive correlations among total OA, total DTX-1, and pectenotoxin-2 concentrations, revealing their potential common source from the same HAB species. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH were mostly correlated with multiple phycotoxins, suggesting their important role in shaping HABs and phycotoxin production. This study detects phycotoxins at low levels, which can help to provide early warnings of HABs to establish water quality baselines and maintain environmental health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vonoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker with potential for the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Vonoprazan metabolic pathways in horses have not been characterized. This study aimed to identify vonoprazan metabolites following oral administration and to determine the metabolic enzymes responsible for their metabolism using in vitro models. Methods: Six healthy adult Thoroughbred horses received vonoprazan (0.5 and 1 mg/kg PO) in a randomized crossover design. Plasma concentrations of vonoprazan-N-oxide (M-I) and vonoprazan-nitrone (M-III) were quantified using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, and a non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed. In vitro metabolism was evaluated using equine liver microsomes (ELMs) and equine recombinant CYP450 (eq-rCYP) enzymes. Enzyme kinetics were characterized using nonlinear regression modeling. Results: Both metabolites were detected in plasma after oral administration. Systemic exposure to M-I was markedly greater than M-III at both doses. At 1 mg/kg, mean ± SD C_max values were 39.2 ± 28.3 ng/mL for M-I and 1.67 ± 1.66 ng/mL for M-III. AUC_0–∞ increased dose-proportionally for both metabolites. In ELMs, M-I formation followed substrate inhibition kinetics, whereas M-III formation followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics. Among recombinant enzymes, CYP2D50 and CYP3A94 were the primary contributors to metabolite formation, exhibiting metabolite-specific kinetic profiles. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that vonoprazan undergoes hepatic oxidative metabolism in horses, with M-I as the predominant circulating metabolite. Equine recombinants CYP2D50 and CYP3A94 appear to play central roles in equine vonoprazan metabolism, providing foundation for future evaluation of drug–drug interaction potential and clinical use in this species. Full article

Microbial extracellular pigments are renewable colorants for sustainable textile dyeing. A yellow-pigment-producing fungal strain, H-1, isolated from spalted wood, was identified as Chaetomium globosum and evaluated for pigment production, characterization, stability, bioactivity, and wool dyeing. Stepwise single-factor screening indicated suitable culture conditions of initial pH 7, 25 °C, 10 d, 25 g/L glucose, 7 g/L fish peptone, and 0.25 g/L K₂HPO₄. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed hydroxyl, aromatic, and C-O-C groups, and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) putatively annotated representative components including Chaetomugilin D and Armochaetoglobin G. The crude pigment produced preliminary inhibition zones of 14.30 ± 0.04 and 10.01 ± 0.17 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively, while crude fermentation filtrates showed measurable hydroxyl and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging capacities under fixed assay conditions. The pigment was more stable under neutral to alkaline pH and short-term heating at 40–100 °C. Wool showed higher dye affinity than cotton, linen, and silk. Response surface methodology (RSM) optimized wool dyeing at pH 2.35, 91 °C, 80 min, and 2.04 g/L potassium aluminum sulfate, yielding a color strength (K/S) value of 11.65. After three dye-bath reuse cycles, K/S decreased by 16.28%, and washing/rubbing fastness remained above grade 3 under GB/T tests. These results support further development of Chaetomium globosum H-1 extracellular pigments for natural wool coloration and dye-bath reuse. Full article

Selenium is an essential trace element in the body, and supplementing it in production can improve egg quality. Sixty healthy 48-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were randomly assigned to two groups. In this study, the effects of dietary selenomethionine (SeMet) supplementation on the multi-dimensional characteristics of eggshell, egg white, and egg yolk were investigated, including their mechanical properties, mineral distribution, amino acid composition, microstructure, secondary structure, fatty acid composition, and lipidomic profiles. The results showed that compared with the control group (C-group), the air chamber height and egg shape index of the SeMet group (Se-group) were decreased by 21.51% and 1.54%, respectively, after 42 days of feeding. The Haugh units, eggshell strength, and eggshell color of the Se-group were increased by 10.21%, 29.24%, and 31.26%, respectively. This work leverages advanced analytical techniques for systematic sample characterization, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM), and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry-based lipidomics. Adding SeMet can increase the essential amino acid content and the total content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk and egg white, thereby maintaining excellent protein patterns and reducing lipid hydrolysis in egg yolk. However, the addition of SeMet did not significantly affect the protein secondary structure or microstructure of egg yolk and egg white. Full article

Mango (Mangifera indica L.), particularly the ‘Nam Dok Mai’ cultivar, is an economically important fruit crop in Thailand and is widely produced in the Lower Northern Region for domestic consumption and export. However, pesticide residues in mango remain a major food safety concern because of their potential effects on consumer health and compliance with national and international maximum residue limits (MRLs). This study investigated pesticide residue contamination and assessed the dietary health risks associated with mango consumption among different age groups. A total of 255 composite mango samples were collected from production areas in Phichit, Phitsanulok, and Phetchabun provinces, Thailand. Pesticide residues were analyzed using a validated modified QuEChERS extraction method combined with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Multiple pesticide residues were frequently detected in the samples analyzed. Of the detected residues, 22 pesticides exceeded Thai MRL standards and 14 exceeded Codex Alimentarius MRLs. Dietary exposure was evaluated using acute and chronic hazard quotients (HQa and HQc) and cumulative hazard indices (HIa and HIc). The results showed that acute exposure to several insecticides, particularly carbofuran, lambda-cyhalothrin, and fenpropathrin, exceeded acceptable risk thresholds in all age groups. At the pesticide-class level, cumulative acute exposure to organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids showed HIa values greater than 1 in several age groups, suggesting potential short-term health concerns, especially among children. In contrast, chronic exposure to individual pesticides and cumulative pesticide groups remained below the level of concern for all age groups, with HQc and HIc values below 1. These findings indicate that although long-term dietary risk from mango consumption is within acceptable levels, acute exposure to certain pesticide residues may pose non-negligible health risks. Continuous residue monitoring, stricter enforcement of good agricultural practices, and evidence-based risk management are essential to ensure mango safety and protect consumers. Full article

To investigate the differences in pulp metabolites among four varieties of Pouteria caimito fruit (JZL1, JZL3, JZL5, and JZL6), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was employed for the separation and identification of metabolites. A total of 1285 metabolites were identified, including 648 in positive ion mode and 637 in negative ion mode. At the class level, carboxylic acids and derivatives (14.32%) and organooxygen compounds (11.83%) accounted for the highest proportions; at the subclass level, amino acids, peptides, and analogues (12.53%) as well as carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates (9.49%) were the main categories. PLS-DA analysis revealed significant differences in metabolite profiles among the four varieties, with numerous up-regulated and down-regulated metabolites in each comparison group, and some metabolites showed fold changes > 10 or <0.1. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis further indicated that differential metabolites were primarily enriched in pathways such as ABC transporters, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), starch and sucrose metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism. This study provides an important metabolomic basis for variety identification, nutritional quality evaluation, and functional component development of Pouteria caimito fruit. Full article

Honey is a natural food product highly valued for its nutritional and biological properties. Its quality and safety are increasingly affected by environmental contamination and apicultural practices. Among the most relevant contaminants, pesticide residues, veterinary antibiotics, and heavy metals represent major concerns due to their potential impact on human health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, sources, and distribution of these contaminants in honey, with particular emphasis on their relationship with agricultural activities, environmental pollution, and beekeeping treatments. Advanced analytical techniques, including liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), are highlighted for their ability to enable sensitive multi-residue and trace-level detection. The application of chemometric tools for data analysis and sample classification is also addressed, supporting the identification of contamination patterns and origin-related differences. In addition, recent developments in rapid screening methods and environmentally sustainable analytical approaches are discussed. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and the integration of advanced analytical strategies to ensure honey safety, support regulatory compliance, and protect consumers. Full article

As the prevalence of type 2 diabetes increases rapidly, the demand for natural origin dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors with fewer side effects is increasing. In this study, protein-rich Limnospira platensis was investigated as a source of bioactive peptides to enhance its value as a functional food ingredient. Hydrolysates were prepared using three food-processing proteases, individually and in two-step combinations, followed by in silico analysis and peptide identification via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Subsequently, the thermal stability, gastrointestinal resistance, and intestinal permeability (using Caco-2 cells) of the identified peptides were evaluated. It was revealed that the Orientase 22BF digest exhibited high DPP-IV inhibitory activity. From the digest, three novel peptides—SPSPN (IC₅₀ = 144.1 ± 2.2 μM), VPSV (IC₅₀ = 93.6 ± 5.8 μM), and IPIGG (IC₅₀ = 13.4 ± 2.3 μM)—were identified, exhibiting DPP-IV inhibitory potencies comparable to or higher than previously reported Limnospira-derived peptides. Although VPSV exhibited low epithelial permeability (P_app = 4.02 ± 0.69 × 10⁻⁸ cm/s), it remained stable under simulated gastrointestinal digestion conditions, suggesting potential local luminal inhibitory activity within the small intestine. Overall, these findings highlight Limnospira-derived VPSV as a promising functional ingredient candidate with high bioactivity and digestive stability. Full article

Laterite is an acidic tropical soil enriched in iron and manganese. It is common at tropical death scenes, yet its effect on necrophagous insect development is unstudied. We raised the forensically important blow fly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) on three Hainan laterites, a yellow earth control, and a no-soil substrate. We combined larval phenotyping, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) metabolomics of whole larvae sampled on Days 1–3 post-burrowing. Laterites were strongly acidic (pH 4.17–4.32 vs. 7.45) and Fe/Mn-enriched. Whole-larval Fe (~10.2-fold) and Mn (~4.1-fold; whole larvae including gut contents, as no gut evacuation was performed) were consistently elevated across the three laterites, without biomagnification (bioaccumulation factors < 1). Laterite-group larvae were significantly heavier from 106 h and shorter from 130 h of age. They entered the cryptocephalic stage at 130 vs. 154 h and pupariated 24 h earlier in shallower soil (3–5 vs. 8–10 cm). In the primary merged metabolome analysis (n = 5–6 per group; 2975 metabolites), no metabolite survived the Benjamini–Hochberg correction in any laterite comparison, whereas three did in the no-soil comparison. The level-1 candidate metabolites are therefore hypothesis-generating. Laterite thus alters larval development and whole-body metal content. This implies a potential ~1-day bias in postmortem interval estimation under controlled conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Interactions between botanical supplements and standard antidiabetic therapies remain poorly understood. This study investigated the efficacy and mechanistic properties of a bitter melon blood-sugar-modulating protein (BMP) in relation to concurrent metformin use for improving glucose and lipid metabolism. Methods: A translational approach combined mechanistic evaluation in db/db mice with an exploratory, real-world observational cohort study of 119 individuals with prediabetes or diabetes. BMP was characterized by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. In the retrospective self-controlled clinical arm, participants receiving daily BMP supplementation were stratified by metformin use and dosage to evaluate changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profiles over 3 months. Results: In db/db mice, BMP significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c, with greater glucose-lowering efficacy observed when combined with metformin compared to metformin alone (approximately 300 mg/dL vs. 200 mg/dL reduction; p < 0.05). Skeletal muscle transcriptomic analysis identified coordinated regulation of 27 shared pathways involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. In the clinical cohort, BMP supplementation was associated with reductions in HbA1c (−0.23%, p = 0.0028), total cholesterol (−7.5 mg/dL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−6.1 mg/dL) among metformin users, whereas no significant changes were observed in non-users. The greatest observed HbA1c reduction (−0.32%, p < 0.0001) occurred in participants receiving 1000 mg/day of metformin. Conclusions: Preclinical data demonstrate coordinated pathway remodeling in skeletal muscle and improved glycemic control when BMP is combined with metformin. In the clinical cohort, BMP supplementation was associated with modest reductions in HbA1c and lipid parameters, primarily among participants using concurrent metformin. Given the retrospective, self-controlled design and baseline clinical differences between treatment groups, these clinical findings reflect observational associations rather than causal effects. Overall, this study is the first to demonstrate that BMP, a major protein component of bitter melon, exhibits complementary metabolic effects when combined with first-line antidiabetic therapy in animal models. Furthermore, by revealing a corresponding observational association in human clinical settings, this work establishes an important foundation for nutritional protein research. Full article

Bamboo leaves contain structurally diverse flavonoid glycosides; whereas, compound-level information for Bambusa textilis remains limited. In this study, a flavonoid-enriched 40% ethanol fraction prepared from B. textilis leaves by petroleum-ether partitioning and AB-8 resin adsorption was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) in negative-ion mode. Retention times and MS/MS spectra were compared with seven in-house reference standards, while the remaining constituents were annotated from accurate-mass measurements, diagnostic product ions, fragmentation behavior, and data from the literature. According to Metabolomics Standards Initiative criteria, seven compounds were assigned at Level 1 and twenty-four were reported as Level 3 annotations because their exact positional structures were not confirmed by additional standards or NMR. Thirty-one flavonoid-related constituents were annotated in the analyzed fraction, encompassing six glycoside classes; most annotations, by count, were apigenin- or luteolin-derived. These annotations add compound-level information for the analyzed B. textilis fraction and allow qualitative comparison with other bamboo flavonoid profiles. Because the sample was selectively enriched, the results do not describe the complete leaf metabolome or compound concentrations. Additional standards or NMR analysis are needed to confirm the glycosylation positions of tentatively annotated compounds. Full article

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a heterogeneous cardiometabolic group of conditions in which early disturbances of glucose homeostasis are not always adequately captured by routine clinical tests. Methods: In this pilot study, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based blood serum peptidomics was applied to identify circulating peptide signatures associated with MetS and progressive glycemic impairment. Serum samples from healthy donors and patients with MetS, including subgroups with normoglycemia, prediabetes, and diabetes mellitus, were subjected to peptide enrichment by ultrafiltration and solid-phase extraction prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. Results: Overall, 6754 unique peptides derived from 1820 precursor proteins were identified, and 32 peptides were significantly overrepresented in patients with MetS relative to healthy donors. Eight precursor proteins and five identified peptides showed significant positive correlations with glycemic stage, likely indicating progressive remodeling of the circulating serum peptidome during disease progression. A separate analysis of patients with prediabetes revealed additional candidate markers associated with early metabolic alterations. Moreover, multivariate logistic regression identified a four-peptide panel with good discriminatory performance for differentiating healthy donors from patients with MetS, yielding a leave-one-out cross-validated area under the curve of 0.91. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings indicate that serum peptidome profiling can reveal biologically and clinically relevant possible candidate biomarkers associated with MetS and early dysglycemia. Full article

Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense is an important medicinal plant, but still little is known about how its bioactive flavonoids are made in different organs. Comprehensive metabolomic profiling was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), coupled with reference-based RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), to analyze root, stem, and leaf tissues from three independent biological replicates. Subsequently, we performed two-way orthogonal partial least squares (O2PLS) regression, canonical correlation analysis (CCA), and Pearson correlation analyses. A total of 2182 metabolites were detected. Among these, 1116, 896, and 1264 metabolites exhibited differential accumulation across the three pairwise comparisons. Concurrently, 9836, 5457, and 8007 genes were differentially expressed across the three pairwise comparisons, yielding a total of 13,019 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The bifunctional flavanone 3-hydroxylase/flavonol synthase (F3H/FLS) enzyme exhibited the highest expression level in roots, consistent with root-preferential biosynthesis of flavonoid skeletons and the subsequent accumulation of flavonol glycosides in this tissue. In contrast, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) exhibited predominant activity in roots, consistent with its role in farrerol biosynthesis. The multi-omics integration model demonstrated excellent goodness-of-fit to the experimental data. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) further revealed a robust positive association between dihydrokaempferol accumulation and kaempferol biosynthesis. These findings collectively support flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) as a candidate regulatory node governing organ-specific flavonoid partitioning. However, functional validation is required to substantiate this inference. Full article