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The soluble dietary fiber from Asparagus officinalis (ASDF) was successively prepared using enzymolysis combined with spray-drying technology. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that ASDF contained two polysaccharide fractions with the average molecular weight of 2.77 × 105 and 6.44 × 103 Da, and was composed of mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, and arabinose with a molecular ratio of 19.93:1.02:1.94:32.17:1.00:1.91, respectively. ASDF showed potential in vitro antioxidant activities. The oral administration of ASDF significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in HD-induced mice serum. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that ASDF significantly affected the composition of intestinal microbiota, especially reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidotetes ratio and the relative abundances of Desulfobacterota, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota and increasing that of Muribaculaceae, Bacteroides, and Alloprevotella. These results demonstrated that the intake of ASDF could regulate intestinal microbiota and serum lipid levels in hyperlipidemic conditions.

In this study, we obtained fucoidans SFP, SHP, STP, and FVP from Sargassum fusiforme, Sargassum horneri, Sargassumthunbergii, and Fucus vesiculosus, respectively. Chitosan/fucoidan nanoparticles (Cs/F NPs) were prepared using the fucoidans mentioned above. SFP NPs and SHP NPs showed strong binding abilities to P-selectin and epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). Given the yields from the alga, SFP was first selected to explore the structural characteristics of the P-selectin and EGFR dual-targeting fucoidan. SFP had an estimated molecular weight of 739 kDa and was mainly composed of galactose (26.57%, mol%) and fucose (66.81%), with minor amounts of mannose (2.54%), glucosamine (0.42%), and glucose (3.66%). Galactose and fucose accounted for thevast majority. Further investigation, including methylation analysis, one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectroscopy, was performed to reveal the fine structure of SFP. The results indicated that SFP mainly consisted of → 3)-α-l-Fucp-(1→, →4)-α-l-Fucp-(1→, →3,4)-α-l-Fucp-(1→, →3)-β-d-Galp-(1→, and minor → 6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, partially sulfated at the C-4 of → 3)-α-l-Fucp-(1→, C-3 of → 4)-α-l-Fucp-(1→, C-3 of → 6)-β-d-Galp-(1→, and C-6 of → 3)-β-d-Galp-(1 → . Sulfated fuco- and galactofuco-segments formed the branches.

The properties of microencapsulated fish oil, prepared with spray drying and freeze-drying processes using emulsions of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and soybean protein isolate (SPI) was investigated. Comparative analysis of microcapsules showed the encapsulation efficiency of spray drying and freeze-drying were 90.10% and 83.52% respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) results exhibited that microcapsules prepared with spray drying were spherical particles with a compact structure, while microcapsules prepared with freeze-drying were irregular particles with a pore-like structure. Release kinetics test further indicated retention rate of core materials for microcapsules prepared with spray drying were better than with freeze-drying. In addition, a human epithelial microfold cell (M-cell) transcytotic assay demonstrated that the M-cells had greater transport activity for the exogenous microcapsules.

Chito-oligosaccharides (COSs) were encapsulated by the film-ultrasonic method into three nano-liposomes, which were uncoated liposomes (COSs-Lip), chitosan-coated liposomes (CH-COSs-Lip), and sodium alginate (SA)/chitosan (CH)-coated liposomes (SA/CH-COSs-Lip). The physicochemical and structural properties, as well as the stability and digestive characteristics, of all three nano-liposomes were assessed in the current study. Thereafter, the characteristics of intestinal absorption and transport of nano-liposomes were investigated by the Caco-2 cell monolayer. All nano-liposomes showed a smaller-sized distribution with a higher encapsulation efficiency. The ζ-potential, Z-average diameter (Dz), and polydispersity index (PDI) demonstrated that the stability of the SA/CH-COSs-Lip had much better stability than COSs-Lip and CH-COSs-Lip. In addition, the transport of the nano-liposomes via the Caco-2 cell monolayer indicated a higher transmembrane transport capacity. In summary, the chitosan and sodium alginate could serve as potential delivery systems for COSs to fortify functional foods and medicines.

A fucoidan SFP, having novel structure, was extracted from Sargassum fusiforme. It had a molecular weight of 703 kDa and was composed of fucose and galactose with the ratio of 73.16:26.84 (mol%). Structural analyses showed that it mainly consisted of 1,3-, 1,4-, 1,3,4-linked-α-l-Fucp and 1,3-, 1,6-linked-β-d-Galp, with partial sulfation at C-4, C-3 of fucose units and C-6, C-3 of galactose units. The branches consisted of sulfated fucosyl and galactofucosyl oligosaccharides. The regulatory effects of SFP on the intestinal microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice were investigated. The high-dosage SFP exhibited good hypolipidemic effects, especially in regulating the high-densitylipoproteincholesterol, non-esterified fatty acid levels and lipase activity. It also significantly decreased the ratio of phyla Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (P 0.05). Besides, SFP had certain effects on the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota. Therefore, SFP exhibited novel structure and certain beneficial effects on the disorder of intestinal microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice.

Water-soluble polysaccharides from two specimens of brown alga Sargassum muticum (April 2014 and June 2015), which synthesized heterogeneous sulfated fucoidans, were isolated and studied. Both specimens produced insignificant amounts of laminarans. Two of three fucoidan fractions from alga collected in April contained mannogalactofucans; one, galactofucan (Fuc–Gal, 2:1). The alga specimen collected in June afforded two galactofucans of different structures (Fuc–Gal, 1:1 and 3:1). Studies of the antitumor activity of the obtained fucoidans and their modified derivatives showed a lack of cytotoxicity and the manifestation of activity against DLD-1 human colon carcinoma cells.

Hot water pretreatment of sea cucumbers potentially changes nutritional benefits. This study aimed to quantify hot water pretreatment-induced changes in metabolite profiles of sea cucumber body walls. ICP-OES, GC-MS, and LC-MS analyses of untreated- (UT-BW), hot water-treated body walls (HW-BW) of Apostichopus japonicus, and the hot water extract (HW-E) determined significant losses of minerals (25-50% w/w), protein (~11% w/w), carbohydrate (33% w/w), saponins (~41% w/w), and spermidine (100%), a potential antipsychotic from hot water-treated samples. Multivariate comparisons of HW-BW with UT-BW and HW-BW with HW-E showed increases in amino acids and fatty acids, suggesting hot water-induced degradation or transformation or easier extraction of protein, lipid or other components. Presence of 80 to 88.5% of compounds in the HW-E and lower DHA, EPA and glycerophospholipids levels in HW-BW suggested extraction of these metabolites. These data indicate that novel processing technologies are required to preserve the full nutritional benefits of sea cucumbers.

BACKGROUND Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in regulating blood pressure in the human body. ACE inhibitory peptides derived from food proteins could exert antihypertensive effects without side effects. Jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum) is an important fishery resource suitable for production of ACE inhibitory peptides. The objective of this study was to optimize the hydrolysis conditions for production of protein hydrolysate from R. esculentum (RPH) with ACE inhibitory activity, and to isolate and identify the ACE inhibitory peptides from RPH. RESULTS Rhopilema esculentum protein was hydrolyzed with Compound proteinase AQ to produce protein hydrolysate with ACE inhibitory activity, and the hydrolysis conditions were optimized using response surface methodology. The optimum parameters for producing peptides with the highest ACE inhibitory activity were as follows: hydrolysis time 3.90 h, hydrolysis temperature 58 °C, enzyme:substrate ratio 2.8% and pH 7.60. Under these conditions, the ACE inhibitory rate reached 32.21%. In addition, four novel ACE inhibitory peptides were isolated, and their amino acids sequences were identified as Val-Gly-Pro-Tyr, Phe-Thr-Tyr-Val-Pro-Gly, Phe-Thr-Tyr-Val-Pro-Gly-Ala and Phe-Gln-Ala-Val-Trp-Ala-Gly, respectively. The IC50 value of the purified peptides for ACE inhibitory activity was 8.40, 23.42, 21.15 and 19.11 µmol L−1. CONCLUSION These results indicate that the protein hydrolysate prepared from R. esculentum might be a commercial competitive source of ACE inhibitory ingredients to be used in functional foods. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry

Cellulase-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Polygonatum odoratum (CPP) was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) and the extracted CPP's preliminary chemical characteristics, as well as antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities were also investigated. The optimal extraction parameters comprised an extraction temperature of 58.21 °C, an extraction time of 3.18 h, pH value of 5.8, and cellulase amount of 6.0%. Under these conditions, the relative yield was 15.76%, higher than the yield achieved with hot water extracted polysaccharide (HPP). Chemical composition analysis demonstrated that CPP and HPP consisted of mannose, glucosamine, rhamnose, glucose, galactose, and arabinose with a molecular ratio of 7.80:1.08:1.63:65.93:3.58:1.00 and 11.22:0.23:0.23:17.59:2.73:9.10, respectively. The molecular weight distribution of CPP was lower and more homogeneous compared with HPP. CPP exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than HPP, including DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power. Both CPP and HPP could significantly promote the proliferation and neutral red phagocytosis of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells in vitro. These results indicate that the cellulase-assisted extraction method influenced the physicochemical characteristics, and consequently, the functional activities of polysaccharides, suggesting the cellulose-assisted method may be a viable option for extraction polysaccharides from P. odoratum.

Phytochemical investigation of the 1-butanol soluble fraction of 60% ethanol extract of the seeds of Celosia cristata L. led to the identification of three new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins. Using 1D and 2D NMR experiment methods, ESI-MS analysis and acid hydrolysis, their structures were identified as 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-2β-hydroxy-oleanolic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-2β, 23-dihydroxy-oleanolic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) and 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-2-hydroxyl-medicagenic acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyide (3), respectively.

Polysaccharides (AJP) were prepared from Apostichopus japonicus by protease hydrolysis method. Antioxidant activity in vitro and antihyperlipidemic activity in vivo was investigated. Chemical composition analysis indicated that AJP was mainly composed of glucosamine, galactosamine, glucuronic acid, mannose, glucose, galactose and fucose, with an average molecular weight of about 36.2 kDa. The antioxidant capacities of AJP were, respectively, evaluated by the assays of scavenging DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, and reducing power in vitro. It showed potent free radical scavenging activities and reducing power. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) decreased significantly and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly after treatment of hyperlipidemic Wistar rats with AJP. These results suggest that AJP may prove to be a potential candidate of the natural antioxidants as a therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, antihypertensive and antihyperlipidaemic activities of protein hydrolysates (RPH) from the jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum were investigated. R. esculentum was hydrolysed sequentially with pepsin and papain, and then the hydrolysate was ultrafiltered with a 2000 Da cut-off membrane. It was found that RPH contained high levels of Gly, Glu, Pro, Asp and Ala, having potential ACE inhibitory activity in vitro with an IC(50) of 1.28 mg/ml. It was also found that systolic blood pressure was reduced markedly in spontaneously hypertensive rats after single and chronic oral administration of RPH, indicating that RPH had an antihypertensive effect. In addition, oral administration of RPH decreased total serum cholesterol and triglyceride, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in rats fed with high-fat diet. These results indicate that RPH may prove to be a promising functional food for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia.

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in regulating blood pressure in the human body. ACE inhibitory peptides derived from food proteins could exert antihypertensive effects without side effects. Jellyfish (Rhopilema esculentum) is an important fishery resource suitable for production of ACE inhibitory peptides. The objective of this study was to optimize the hydrolysis conditions for production of protein hydrolysate from R. esculentum (RPH) with ACE inhibitory activity, and to isolate and identify the ACE inhibitory peptides from RPH.Rhopilema esculentum protein was hydrolyzed with Compound proteinase AQ to produce protein hydrolysate with ACE inhibitory activity, and the hydrolysis conditions were optimized using response surface methodology. The optimum parameters for producing peptides with the highest ACE inhibitory activity were as follows: hydrolysis time 3.90 h, hydrolysis temperature 58 °C, enzyme:substrate ratio 2.8% and pH 7.60. Under these conditions, the ACE inhibitory rate reached 32.21%. In addition, four novel ACE inhibitory peptides were isolated, and their amino acids sequences were identified as Val-Gly-Pro-Tyr, Phe-Thr-Tyr-Val-Pro-Gly, Phe-Thr-Tyr-Val-Pro-Gly-Ala and Phe-Gln-Ala-Val-Trp-Ala-Gly, respectively. The IC50 value of the purified peptides for ACE inhibitory activity was 8.40, 23.42, 21.15 and 19.11 µmol L(-1) .These results indicate that the protein hydrolysate prepared from R. esculentum might be a commercial competitive source of ACE inhibitory ingredients to be used in functional foods. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

A new compound, 4-acetyl-5-hydroxy-3, 6, 7-trimethylbenzofuran-2(3H)-one (1), together with two known compounds, 2-carboxy-3-(2-hydroxypropanyl) phenol (2) and 5-methyl- 6-hydroxy-8-methyoxy-3-methylisochroman (3) were isolated from the fungus Alternaria sp. (HS-3) associated with a sea cucumber from the Yellow Sea in China. Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods.

AIM: To investigate the antioxidant activity of chito-oligosaccharides (COSs) on pancreatic islet cells in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. METHODS: The antioxidant effect of COSs on pancreatic islet cells was detected under optical microscopy and with colorimetric assay and gel electrophoresis. The activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and content of malondialdehyde in serum and tissue slices of pancreas were examined after 60 d to determine the effect of COSs in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. RESULTS: COSs can prohibit the apoptosis of pancreatic islet cells. All concentrations of COSs can improve the capability of total antioxidant capacity and activity of superoxide dismutase and decrease the content of malondialdehyde drastically. Morphological investigation in the pancreas showed that COSs have resulted in the reduction of islets, loss of pancreatic cells, and nuclear pyknosis of pancreatic cells. CONCLUSION: COSs possess various biological activities and can be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.