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The processing efficiency and application range of konjac glucomannan (KGM) are limited because of its high relative molecular mass and the high viscosity of its aqueous solution. In this study, konjac flour from Amorphophallus bulbifer was used as raw material to develop an efficient approach to reducing the viscosity of KGM and broadening its application market. Based on a single-factor test and an orthogonal experimental design for optimization, low-viscosity konjac flour was prepared by microwave-assisted hydrogen peroxide oxidation (a semidry process), and the changes in physicochemical, structural, and physiological characteristics of KGM were characterized before and after the treatment. The results showed that the viscosity of konjac flour decreased from 6341.67±52.04 to 53.33±5.77 mPa·s, and the weight-average molecular weight of KGM decreased from 347.31 to 158.26 kDa when the uniformly mixed reactants were heated and reacted within 3 min at a microwave power of 700 W. The concentration of the hydrogen peroxide was 3%, and the liquid-material ratio was 0.75:1 mL/g. Compared to the untreated raw material, it decreased by 99.16% and 54.43%, respectively. Based on X-ray diffractometry, ultraviolet-visible spectrometry, infrared spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy analyses of the KGM structure before and after oxidation, the oxidation of the KGM degraded the KGM molecular chain, decreased the crystallinity, and damaged the microscopic lamellar structure while retaining the characteristic groups. Moreover, the effect of the microwave-assisted hydrogen peroxide in decreasing the viscosity of the KGM was superior to that of the KGM treatment with the microwave or hydrogen peroxide only. The degradation products exhibited better fat-binding capacity and bile-acid-binding capacity. Therefore, KGM can be produced in a highly efficient, green, and ecofriendly manner, providing a rationale for the development and utilization of low-viscosity KGM.

Abstract Investigating the anti‐inflammatory effects of bioactive components present in cold‐pressed rapeseed oil through the use of network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. The components of cold‐pressed rapeseed oil were identified by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. We then conducted Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis using bioinformatics databases on overlapping targets affected by active components and inflammation. Finally, molecular docking was used to predict the interactions between core components and key targets. Analysis identified 13 phenols, four steroids, and one retinoid in cold‐pressed rapeseed oil, with 143 overlapping targets related to inflammation. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 25‐Hydroxycholesterol, Rosmarinic acid, 9‐cis‐Retinoic acid, Soyasapogenol B and α‐Tocopherol in cold‐pressed rapeseed oil could play a positive role in treating inflammation. They achieved this by regulating key targets (MMP9, EGFR, AKT1, ESR1, and PTGS2) involved in the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor signaling pathway and other related pathways. The molecular docking binding energy of the core components and the key targets were less than −5.0 kcal/mol, indicating that the components and the targets can be stably bound. This result indicated that the active components found in cold‐pressed rapeseed oil may exert an anti‐inflammatory effect through a synergistic mechanism involving multicomponent, multitarget and multipathway interactions.

Ensuring sufficient protein intake, efficient digestion, and optimal absorption are crucial for the elderly. This study aims to investigate the potential of a compound dietary fiber, consisting of mulberry leaf and konjac flour (CMK), to enhance the digestion and absorption of a high-fish-protein diet in elderly mice. Results showed that CMK effectively reduced the number of unique peptide segments, generated short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in feces, improved the content of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), amino acid, and urea nitrogen in serum, activated the contents of pepsin, trypsin, and erepsin, and enhanced the expression of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), peptide transporter 1 (PepT1), and aminopeptidase N (APN). Furthermore, CMK demonstrated its ability to decrease the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), while increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Blautia. In conclusion, CMK proved effective in enhancing the digestion and metabolism of protein in elderly mice through the regulation of gut microbiota structure and intestinal tissue repair.

Green energy storage devices play vital roles in reducing fossil fuel emissions and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Growing markets for portable electronics and electric vehicles create tremendous demand for advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high power and energy density, and novel electrode material with high capacity and energy density is one of the keys to next-generation LIBs. Silicon-based materials, with high specific capacity, abundant natural resources, high-level safety and environmental friendliness, are quite promising alternative anode materials. However, significant volume expansion and redundant side reactions with electrolytes lead to active lithium loss and decreased coulombic efficiency (CE) of silicon-based material, which hinders the commercial application of silicon-based anode. Prelithiation, pre-embedding extra lithium ions in the electrodes, is a promising approach to replenish the lithium loss during cycling. Recent progress on prelithiation strategies for silicon-based anode, including electrochemical method, chemical method, direct contact method, and active material method, and their practical potentials are reviewed and prospected here. The development of advanced Si-based material and prelithiation technologies is expected to provide promising approaches for the large-scale application of silicon-based materials.

According to the proportion of 1:1, konjac flour and mulberry leaf powder are compounded into a kind of dietary fiber source (KMCP). It is found to be good for anti-inflammation. However, its precise anti-allergic rhinitis effect and mechanism remain unknown. In our work, the effect of KMCP on allergic rhinitis (AR) induced by ovalbumin (OVA) was investigated. We found that the number of nasal rubbing and sneezing, the eosinophil (EOS) count in the nasal mucosa, and the serum levels of histamine (HIS), OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (OVA-sIgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were decreased, and the histopathological changes of nasal mucosa were inhibited. Additionally, the experiments further proved that the KMCP treatment could exert substantial effects on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) metabolism in the cecum as well. Overall findings suggest that KMCP could suppress the inflammatory response in AR mice, and serve as a novel curative therapeutic for AR without side effects.

Obesity has become one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, which affects people's health and daily lives. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of perilla seed oil (PSO), sunflower oil (SFO), and tea seed oil (TSO) and their potential mechanisms in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Mice were divided into five groups: ND, mice fed a normal diet; HFD, mice fed a high-fat diet; PSO, SFO, and TSO, mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with PSO, SFO, and TSO at 2 g/kg body weight per day, respectively. Our findings showed that oral supplementation with all three oils for 8 weeks significantly reduced body weight, tissue weight, insulin resistance index, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and free fatty acids (FFA), and markedly alleviated hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic steatosis in obese mice. It also decreased leptin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and (IL)-1beta (IL-1β), and increased anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin at both secretion and mRNA expression levels in the epididymal adipose tissue (EAT). Moreover, PSO, SFO, and TSO administration increased the expression levels of fatty acid β-oxidation-related genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) and CPT1b, and thermogenesis-related genes such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and decreased the expression levels of lipid synthesis-related genes, including fatty acid synthase (FAS) and PPAR-γ in EAT. In conclusion, PSO, SFO, and TSO supplementation could have potential anti-obesity effects in HFD-fed mice by reducing inflammation and improving lipid metabolism.

The effects of electrolyzing water-cooled green tea with negative redox potential on the quality of tea soup was studied by comparing the bottled natural water-cooled green tea and conventional hot bubble green tea, in order to provide a new choice for the processing water of cold bubble green tea with high content of active ingredient and strong antioxidant activity. Electrolyzing drinking water by adjusting the electrolysis time to generate electrolytic water samples 1 and 2 with different negative redox potentials. The basic physicochemical indexes, main active ingredient, antioxidant activity, sensory quality and aroma components of electrolyzed water with negative redox potential, bottled natural water-cooled green tea and conventional hot bubble green tea were determined and compared by UV spectrophotometry, high performance liquid chromatography, headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the pH of electrolytic water-cooled green tea soup was weak alkaline, the redox potential was negative, the content of soluble solids and the extraction rate of tea soup were significantly higher than those of bottled natural water-cooled green tea (P

In order to provide a reference for improving the physicochemical properties of starch, the study of starch polyphenol complex interaction has aroused considerable interest. As a common method of starch modification, ultrasound can make starch granules have voids and cracks, and make starch and polyphenols combine more closely. In this research, canistel seed starch was modified by ultrasonic treatment alone or combined with quercetin. The molecular structure, particle characteristics and properties of starch were evaluated. With the increase of ultrasonic temperature, the particle size of the dextrinized starch granules increased, but the addition of quercetin could protect the destruction of starch granule size by ultrasonic; X-ray diffraction and infrared spectra indicated that quercetin was bound to the surface of canistel seed starch through hydrogen bonding, and the complex and the original starch had the same crystal structure and increased crystallinity; by molecular simulation, quercetin bound inside the starch molecular helix preserved the crystalline helical configuration of starch to some extent and inhibited the complete unhelicalization of starch molecules. Meanwhile, hydrogen bonding was the main driving force for the binding of starch molecules to quercetin, and van der Waals interactions also promoted the binding of both. In the physicochemical properties, as the temperature increased after the combination of ultrasonic modified starch combined with quercetin, the solubility, swelling force and apparent viscosity of the compound increased significantly, and it has higher stability and shear resistance.

Summary: Ethylene carbonate (EC) in the electrolyte is not stable in cells operated at high voltage (≥4.4V) or with Li metal anode, which greatly reduce the energy density and lifetime of the rechargeable lithium battery. Herein, an EC-free linear alkyl carbonate-based electrolyte is developed, which enables the high-voltage (≥4.4V) and low-temperature (−30°C) application of Ni-rich cathode (LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2, NCM811). The EC-free system, consisting of LiPF6 and LiNO3 in ternary linear alkyl carbonates, possesses low viscosity, weakly solvated structure, and high interfacial stability with both the Ni-rich cathode and the Li metal anode to avoid continuous electrode/electrolyte side reactions and metal dissolution from the cathode. As a result, the Li||NCM811 cell delivers remarkable capacity retention of 93 ± 0.5% at the voltage of 4.4V and 88 ± 0.6% at 4.5V over 100 cycles. This study provides very encouraging perspective to develop EC-free carbonate-based electrolyte for high-voltage and low-temperature application in high-energy-density rechargeable lithium batteries.

Chongqing hotpot is popular in China for its unique flavor of hot spicy, spicy, tasty, fragrant with mellow, savory, and increasingly attracts diners all over the world. The safety of the hotpot caused by ingredients in hotpot seasoning base (CHS), and its long heating process at high temperature is always an issue. One hundred groups of Chongqing CHS were collected and the hazard factors were determined. Possible changes of hazard factors during cooking processing with different dishes were also analyzed. In 100 groups of CHS, the acid value of 18 groups, malondialdehyde (MDA) value of 1 group, polar components content of 1 group and benzo (α) pyrene content of 1 group exceed the standard limits on fats and oils domestic and international, respectively. Other indicators including nitrite, nitrate, trans-fatty acid were lower than the limits prescribed by corresponding organizations or standards. The prolongation of cooking times (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 h) significantly increased (P .05). The increase of cooking periods (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 period; 1 period = 5 h) resulted in a significant increase in polar components (P

To develop a more effective and safer treatment for Hyperuricemia (HUA), this research investigated the anti-hyperuricemic mechanism of KGM from the perspectives of uric acid (UA) production and excretion in rat model. After four-week experiment, KGM at 168 mg/kg did best in reducing serum UA level. The mechanism of KGM improving HUA was related to its inhibitory capacity to the activities and mRNA expression of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in liver. Meanwhile, KGM could also down-regulate the protein expression of uric acid transporters1 (URAT1) and up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of urate transporter (UAT), organic anion transporter1 (OAT1) and organic anion transporter3 (OAT3) in kidney. Moreover, KGM could also alleviate the renal dysfunction caused by HUA by mitigating urate deposition, and reducing serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. KGM might complement existing therapies to improve HUA.

Background At present, the concentration of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection in the treatment of hemifacial spasm (HFS) is different in various reports, and the efficacy and adverse drug reactions incidence are varied. Few randomized controlled trials are related to this subject. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two concentrations of BTX-A in the treatment for HFS. Methods Eighty patients with HFS from 4 research centers were included in this multicenter randomized double-blind self-crossover controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to high-density group (given injection of 50 U/ml BTX-A) and low-density group (given injection of 25 U/ml BTX-A). They were subjected to a cross-over repetitive injection of BTX-A of different concentrations after recurrence. Therapeutic efficacy and adverse effect were compared between two groups. Results Both high-density and low-density BTX-A were effective. Cohen spasms strength grade scores before and after the treatment in high-density group were 2.89 ± 0.53 vs 0.24 ± 0.46, while in low-density group was 2.89 ± 0.55 vs 0.24 ± 0.46 (P = 0.000, for all). The therapeutic efficacy was not different between the two groups in different concentration order (P > 0.05). But the lasting time of therapeutic efficacy was much longer in high-density group than that of low-density group (4.18 ± 0.49 months vs 3.26 ± 0.44 months, P = 0.000). Within three months, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the decrease of Cohen spasms strength grade scores (2.65 ± 0.62 vs 2.66 ± 0.66, P = 0.863). Four months after treatment, it was different between the two groups in the decrease of Cohen spasms strength grade scores (2.60 ± 0.65 vs 1.70 ± 0.72, P = 0.000). Five months after treatment, it was also different between the two groups in the decrease of Cohen spasms strength grade scores (1.56 ± 0.94 vs 0.25 ± 0.49, P = 0.000). After six months of treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the decrease of Cohen spasms strength grade scores (0.08 ± 0.27 vs 0.05 ± 0.22, P = 0.515). There were no allergic reactions and systemic adverse effects. The adverse effect of the high-density group was more than that of the low-density group (26.56% vs 7.81%, P = 0.000). All of the adverse effects were mild and temporary, and no special intervention was involved. The duration of adverse effect was longer in high-density group [(5.71 ± 1.61) weeks vs (3.16 ± 0.62) weeks, P = 0.000]. Conclusion This study showed that injection of BTX⁃A with different concentrations in HFS patients was safe and effective. With high-density, the repeated injection interval time was longer; the pain of patients was reduced; the cost of treatment was low; but adverse drug reactions were relatively evident and lasted for a longer period of time.

Obesity has become one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, which affects people's health and daily lives. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effects of perilla seed oil (PSO), sunflower oil (SFO), and tea seed oil (TSO) and their potential mechanisms in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Mice were divided into five groups: ND, mice fed a normal diet; HFD, mice fed a high-fat diet; PSO, SFO, and TSO, mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with PSO, SFO, and TSO at 2 g/kg body weight per day, respectively. Our findings showed that oral supplementation with all three oils for 8 weeks significantly reduced body weight, tissue weight, insulin resistance index, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and free fatty acids (FFA), and markedly alleviated hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic steatosis in obese mice. It also decreased leptin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and (IL)-1beta (IL-1β), and increased anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin at both secretion and mRNA expression levels in the epididymal adipose tissue (EAT). Moreover, PSO, SFO, and TSO administration increased the expression levels of fatty acid β-oxidation-related genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) and CPT1b, and thermogenesis-related genes such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), and decreased the expression levels of lipid synthesis-related genes, including fatty acid synthase (FAS) and PPAR-γ in EAT. In conclusion, PSO, SFO, and TSO supplementation could have potential anti-obesity effects in HFD-fed mice by reducing inflammation and improving lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]