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The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of astaxanthin (AST) enable it to protect against oxidative stress-related and inflammatory diseases with a range of biological effects. These activities provide the potential to develop healthier food products. Therefore, it would be beneficial to design delivery systems for AST to overcome its low stability, control its release, and/or improve its bioavailability. This review discusses the basis for AST's various biological activities and the factors limiting these activities, including stability, solubility, and bioavailability. It also discusses the different systems available for the targeted delivery of AST and their applications in enhancing the biological activity of AST. These include systems that are candidates for preventive and therapeutic effects, which include nerves, liver, and skin, particularly for possible cancer reduction. Targeted delivery of AST to specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract, or more selectively to target tissues and cells, can be achieved using targeted delivery systems to increase the biological activities of AST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment took the broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) as the research object, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), mustard essential oil (MEO) and 1-MCP combined MEO (1-MCP+MEO) were used to treat fresh green broccoli. The effects of physiological and biochemical indexes such as sensory quality, relative conductivity, chlorophyll, vitamin C and malondialdehyde (MDA) content on the quality of broccoli were investigated during storage. The result showed that with the increase of storage time, all groups of preservative treatments could effectively maintain the quality of broccoli during storage, among which 1-MCP+MEO treatment had the best storage effect on broccoli, effectively maintained the appearance of broccoli, avoided yellows and mildew, and slowed down the chlorophyll content and vitamin C degradation rate and made the chlorophyll content of broccoli always higher than that of other treatment groups. 1-MCP+MEO inhibited the increase of relative conductivity and MDA content in broccoli. On the 28th day of storage, the relative conductivity and MDA of the combined treatment group were 14.94% and 9.1 µmol/g, respectively, which were 43.1% and 27.6% lower than that of the control group respectively, and there was a significant difference (P<0.05), so that the cell integrity of the broccoli was maintained and the senescence of the broccoli was inhibited. After 28 days of storage, 1-MCP+MEO treatment group could effectively reduce the decrease of total phenol and total flavonoid contents, and combined treatment was 51.9% higher than that of control group, and total flavonoid content was 38.4% higher than that of control group. In addition, the activity of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) related to enzymatic browning was significantly inhibited, and the activity of PPO and POD were 23.6% and 48.1% lower than that of control group, respectively. Significantly lowered than control group (P<0.05). This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for the development of broccoli preservation technology and a new idea for the research and development of preservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid, reddish-brown in color, which is mainly derived from marine organisms such as brown algae and diatoms, and has aroused extensive scientific interest due to its unique chemical structure and abundant biological activities. Studies have shown that fucoxanthin processes significant anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Its anti-inflammatory mechanisms primarily include inhibiting oxidative stress, regulating inflammatory factors, inducting cell autophagy, and resisting cell apoptosis, etc. The main mechanism of anti-cancer activity includes inducing cell autophagy and apoptosis mechanisms, regulating the cell cycle, inhibiting cell migration, and suppressing cell invasion, among other aspects. In this paper, the research progress of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities and related mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin is briefly summarized, which provides the theoretical basis and reference for further research and development of fucoxanthin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Water‐free transportation (WFT), as a novel strategy for express delivery of live shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), was developed recently. However, air exposure during this transportation arouses a series of abiotic stress to the shrimp. In the present study, the influences of WFT stress on glycolysis and lipolysis metabolism and meat quality (umami flavor and drip loss) were investigated in comparison with conventional water transportation (WT). RESULTS: The results showed that type II muscle fibers with the feature of anaerobic metabolism were dominated in shrimp flesh. In addition, the increments of intracellular Ca2+ was detected in WFT and WT, which then activated the AMP‐activated protein kinase pathway and promoted the consumption of glycogen, as well as the accumulation of lactate and lipolysis, under the enzymolysis of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and adipose triglyceride lipase. Glycogen glycolyzed to latate. Meanwhile, ATP degraded along with glycolysis resulting in the generation of ATP‐related adenosine phosphates such as inosine monophosphate with umami flavor and phosphoric acid. More remarkable (P < 0.05) physiological changes (except lactate dehydrogenase and lactate) were observed in WFT compared to WT. Additionally, the fatty acid profile also slightly changed. CONCLUSION: The transport stress induced significant energy metabolism changes of shrimp flesh and therefore effected the flesh quality. The intensifications of freshness (K‐value) of shrimp flesh were detected as a result of ATP degradation, which were more pronounced after WFT. However, the drip loss of shrimp flesh was more significantly increased (P < 0.05) after WFT compared to WT. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new fermentation method for kiwi wine was explored by developing the well-known medicinal and edible plant Cyclocarya paliurus (C. paliurus) to create more value with undersized kiwifruits. In this study, the changes in bioactive substances during the C. paliurus–kiwi winemaking process were analyzed on the basis of response surface optimization results, and the antioxidant capacity, aromatic compounds, and sensory quality of the C. paliurus–kiwi composite wine with kiwi wine and two commercial kiwi wines were compared. The results showed that DPPH radical, OH− radical, and ABTS+ scavenging rates remained at over 60.0%, 90.0%, and 70.0% in C. paliurus–kiwi wine, respectively. The total flavonoid content (TFC) and total polyphenol content (TPC) of C. paliurus–kiwi wine were significantly higher than those of the other three kiwi wines. C. paliurus–kiwi wine received the highest score and detected 43 volatile compounds. Ethyl hexanoate, which showed stronger fruity and sweet aromas, was one of the main aroma components of C. paliurus–kiwi wine and different from commercial wines. This wine has a good flavor with a natural and quality feeling of C. paliurus–kiwifruit extract, low-cost processing, and great market potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidation of lipid and protein is a major reason of flesh quality deterioration during storage. In this work, cold storage (CS) and flake ice (FI) storage, as traditional strategies for live shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) sedation and refrigerated storage, showed remarkable oxidation damage of lipid and protein in shrimp flesh during storage. In contrast, ice slurry (IS), with good heat exchange capacity and contactability, stunned shrimp in a sudden and thus relieved antemortem stress, which resulted in reducing the reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species accumulation, and the oxidation damage risk in flesh. Additionally, IS, as a storage medium acted an oxygen barrier, further inhibited the oxidation of lipid and myofibrillar protein (MP), as revealed by the lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level, carbonyl (CO) derives content, total disulfide bond (S–S) content, and the higher total sulfhydryl (SH) content in shrimp flesh during storage, compared with CS and FI. The sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis electrophoretogram pattern of MP also suggested better preservation of myosin heavy chain, myosin light chain, actin, and tropomyosin in IS, whereas these proteins degraded in CS and FI. Consequently, IS prevented the formation of cross‐linking caused by oxidation in MP, leading to improved shrimp flesh quality during refrigerated storage, as demonstrated by the better maintained hardness, springiness, and water‐holding capacity compared to CS and FI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ε-Polylysine/polyaspartic hydrogel loaded with different polyphenols was prepared by ion gelation method, and structure characterization and performance analysis of complex hydrogel was investigated. The embedding ratio of ε-polyly-sine/polyaspartic ammonia hydrogel for tannic acid, kaempferol, brown algae polyphenols and three mixed polyphenols were all above 80%. The hydrogel loaded with tannic acid has the largest particle size (2 160.33 nm), the thermal denat-uration temperature and enthalpy value of composite hydrogels without polyphenols was 137.16 °C and 63.67 J/g, respectively, the thermal denaturation temperature and enthalpy values of the composite hydrogels loaded with tannic acid increased to 138.45 °C and 86.53 J/g, respectively, while the thermal denaturing temperature of the hydrogels loaded with kaempferol and brown algae polyphenol decreased to 134.54 °C and 135.32 °C, respectively, and the enthalpy decreased to 53.75 J/g and 59.88 J/g, respectively. Indicating that the compound hydrogel was more suitable for embedding water-soluble tannic acid, and the embedding efficiency of the composite gel to kahanol and other hydrophobic polyphenols was enhanced by the addition of tannic acid. Therefore, polyphenols were coated in ε-polylysine/polyaspartic acid hydrogel with an amorphous structure, and the embedding effect of the these polyphenols was as follow: tannin > tannin / three mixed polyphenols of acid > brown algae polyphenols > kaempferol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The consumption of frozen foods inevitably involves a thawing process. Protein conformation changes during a short thawing process and the quantification of their effects remains challenging. Molecular dynamics simulations can be used to evaluate the conformational changes of protein occurring in food processing. RESULTS: In the present study, four different thawing methods were used [i.e. magnetic nanometer combined with microwave thawing (MT‐Mag), magnetic nanometer combined with radio frequency thawing (RT‐Mag), radio frequency thawing (RT) and microwave thawing (MT)] to change the conformation of myosin heavy chain (MHC). The results obtained showed that, compared with the fresh sample, the hydrogen bond number and radius of gyration of the RT‐Mag and RT groups were less decreased. Visual molecular dynamics STRIDE analysis showed that the content of the α helix was relatively high in the RT‐Mag and MT‐Mag groups. CONCLUSION: These simulation results indicate that RT‐Mag can be used as an effective method for promoting the thawing process of fish and better stabilizing the protein structure. These conclusions provide a theoretical realization for understanding the protein conformational transition during the thawing process and the realization of quantification and also provide guidance for choosing better thawing conditions without loss of nutritional properties. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder caused by abnormal uric acid (UA) metabolism, which is a complex physiological process involving multiple organs (liver, kidney, and intestine). Although UA metabolism in the liver and kidneys has been elucidated, only a few studies have focused on the process in the intestine. With our growing knowledge of the effects of gut microorganisms on health, the gut microbiota has been identified as a new target for HUA treatment. In this review, the relationship between HUA and the gut microbiota is elucidated, and anti-hyperuricemia mechanisms targeting the intestine are discussed, such as the promotion of purine and UA catabolism by the gut microbiota, increases in UA excretion by the gut microbiota and its metabolites, regulation of UA absorption or secretion in the intestinal tract by certain transporters, and the intestinal inflammatory response to the gut microbiota. Additionally, probiotics (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli) and prebiotics (polyphenols, peptides, and phytochemicals) with UA-lowering effects targeting the intestinal tract are summarized, providing reference and guidance for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The thawing process is an essential step for a frozen marine fish. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of graphene magnetic nanoparticles combined radio-frequency thawing methods on frozen hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) dorsal muscle. Seven thawing methods were used: air thawing, 4 °C cold storage thawing, water thawing, radio-frequency thawing (RT), radio frequency thawing combined with graphene nanoparticles (G-RT), radio frequency thawing combined with graphene oxide nanoparticles (GO-RT) and radio-frequency thawing combined with graphene magnetic nanoparticles (GM-RT). The thawing loss and centrifugal loss, electric conductivity, total volatile basic nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and color of thawed hairtail dorsal muscle were determined. The carbonyl content, total sulfhydryl groups, Ca 2+ -ATPase activity, raman spectroscopy measurements and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry measurements were determined using myofibrillar extracted from the dorsal muscle of hairtail. The water distribution was determined using low-field NMR techniques., Results: The results demonstrated that the RT, G-RT, GO-RT and GM-RT could significantly shorten the thawing time. Moreover, GO-RT and GM-RT efficiently preserved the color of fish dorsal muscle and reduced the impact of thawing on fish quality by reducing lipid and protein oxidation. Meanwhile, the myofibrillar protein structure thawed by GO-RT and GM-RT were more stable and had a more stable secondary structure, which maintained strong systemic stability at the same time as slowing down protein oxidation., Conclusion: The results showed that GO-RT and GM-RT can significantly improve the thawing efficiency at the same time as effectively maintaining and improving the color and texture of thawed fish, slowing down the oxidation of proteins and lipids, and maintaining a good quality of thawed fish meat. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

A new fermentation method for kiwi wine was explored by developing the well-known medicinal and edible plant Cyclocarya paliurus ( C. paliurus ) to create more value with undersized kiwifruits. In this study, the changes in bioactive substances during the C. paliurus -kiwi winemaking process were analyzed on the basis of response surface optimization results, and the antioxidant capacity, aromatic compounds, and sensory quality of the C. paliurus -kiwi composite wine with kiwi wine and two commercial kiwi wines were compared. The results showed that DPPH radical, OH - radical, and ABTS + scavenging rates remained at over 60.0%, 90.0%, and 70.0% in C. paliurus -kiwi wine, respectively. The total flavonoid content (TFC) and total polyphenol content (TPC) of C. paliurus -kiwi wine were significantly higher than those of the other three kiwi wines. C. paliurus-kiwi wine received the highest score and detected 43 volatile compounds. Ethyl hexanoate, which showed stronger fruity and sweet aromas, was one of the main aroma components of C. paliurus -kiwi wine and different from commercial wines. This wine has a good flavor with a natural and quality feeling of C. paliurus -kiwifruit extract, low-cost processing, and great market potential.