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Obesity and type 2 diabetes are widespread throughout the world, especially in developed countries. Starch is an important part of human staple food, the modulating of starch digestibility is conducive to reducing postprandial blood glucose levels and alleviating the chronic disease caused by high caloric intake. The digestion properties of starch are correlated with its structural features, including crystallization, amylose/amylopectin ratio, non-starch components, etc. Among the modified methods applied to regulate starch digestibility, non-thermal processing techniques (NTPT) receive extensive attention due to the characteristics of safety, environmental friendliness and high efficiency. The influence and mechanism of NTPT on the digestion properties of starch are discussed in this review, including ultrasounds, high pressure, γ-irradiation, etc. NTPT induces the alternation of morphological and structural characteristics of native starch, changing their sensitivity to enzymes. The effects of NTPT on the digestibility of starch are highly related to the processing parameters and structure characteristics of native starch. The review shows that NTPT is an effective way to modulate the digestion properties of starch and prevent people from suffering from chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The biological activity of plant polysaccharides can be enhanced by sulfated modification. In this study, the immunomodulatory effect of sulfated Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides (SCP3) on macrophages RAW264.7 and its potential molecular mechanism were investigated. Results showed that SCP3 at 25−100 μg/mL increased viability and improved phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells. Meanwhile, SCP3 could activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways, which increased the phosphorylation of Erk1/2, JNK, p38 and NF-κB p65, promoting secretion of cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) as well as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) receptor inhibitors were able to block the production of NO and TNF-α by SCP3-stimulated macrophages. Based on Western blot analysis and validation using specific inhibitors against MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, the results demonstrated that SCP3 induced macrophages activation and enhanced TNF-α and NO production via TLR4-mediated MAPK and NF-κB pathways. In summary, SCP3 has significant immunomodulatory potential. The underlying molecular mechanism was that SCP3 activates macrophages via TLR4 receptors to promote ROS production, which in turn activates the downstream MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway and then increases the secretion levels of cytokines and NO.

In this study, the antitumor properties and the possible molecular mechanisms of Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharide (CP) and its phosphorylated derivative (P-CP) on CT-26 mouse colon carcinoma cells were investigated. Results found that CP had high inhibition ratio against CT-26 cells. The flow cytometry results found that CP treatment could cause the intracellular acidification, arrest the cell cycle in the S phase and increase reactive oxygen species generation. Additionally, CP treatment triggered mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and Ca2+ overloading, and broke down the balance of antioxidant system, Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase. Further analysis found CP induced cell apoptosis through improving the activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and increasing the level of cytochrome C. Furthermore, the comparative study of antitumor effect on CT-26 cells displayed that the phosphorylation enhanced antitumor activities of polysaccharides. These results suggest CP is a potential natural therapeutic agent for colon cancer and phosphorylation represents an effective method of enhancing the antitumor activity of CP.

In this study, chondroitin sulfate was extracted from Oreochromis niloticus bones (OCS) and isolated to three fractions (OCS-1, OCS-2, and OCS-3). The physicochemical properties and structure characterization including monosaccharide, disaccharide compositions, molecular weight (Mw) of OCS were determined by HPAEC, HPLC-SAX, HPGPC, FT-IR spectra, and 1D/2D NMR. Moreover, their thermal properties, crystalline structure, and microstructure were also analyzed. Results showed that their Mw were between 10 kDa and 50 kDa. CS-6 was the predominant disaccharide unit in four OCS, and the CS-4/CS-6 ratios were close to CS from shark cartilage. Besides, the results of antioxidant activity showed that different fractions of OCS had a distinct DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity. OCS-1 has the highest scavenging activities in DPPH and hydroxyl radical compared with other fractions, which showed a higher medicinal value. Those findings may lay some theoretical basis for the potential application development of OCS.

Dietary intake of natural substances to regulate physiological functions is currently regarded as a potential way of promoting health. As one of the recommended dietary ingredients, phytosterols that are natural bioactive compounds distributed in plants have received increasing attention for their health effects. Phytosterols have attracted great attention from scientists because of many physiological functions, for example, cholesterol-lowering, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. In addition, the physiological functions of phytosterols, the purification, structure analysis, synthesis, and food application of phytosterols have been widely studied. Nowadays, many bioactivities of phytosterols have been assessed in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanisms of their pharmacological activities are not yet fully understood, and in-depth investigation of the relationship between structure and function is crucial. Therefore, a contemporaneous overview of the extraction, beneficial properties, and the mechanisms, as well as the current states of phytosterol application, in the food field of phytosterols is provided in this review.

Natural macromolecular substances are prevalent in the organs of plants and animals, such as polysaccharides, resins, proteins, etc [...]

Total polysaccharides of Pinus massoniana Lamb. pollen (PPPSt) is a natural carbohydrate with known anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation was the main cause of death due to myocardial damage caused by sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential protective effect of PPPSt on the septic myocardial injury. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected intraperitoneally to establish the myocardial injury model and PPPS was used for intervention, then the changes in myocardial enzymes, myocardial tissue morphology, oxidative stress, and inflammation levels were evaluated experimentally. The results showed that PPPSt could alleviate the LPS-induced increase of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK) levels, and also ameliorate the histopathological damage of myocardium, but PPPSt had no protective effect on oxidative stress injury. In terms of inflammation, PPPSt treatment can significantly reduce the levels of IL-1β and NO in the serum. In addition, PPPSt can also down-regulate the phosphorylation of Nuclear factor kappa beta (NFκB) and NFκB inhibitor alpha (IKBα) in the septic myocardial tissue, and inhibit the activation of NFκB signaling pathway. In conclusion, PPPSt can protect against LPS-induced septic myocardial injury in chicks, which provides a theoretical basis for the potential treatment of septic myocardial injury.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the improvement effect of Mesona chinensis Benth polysaccharide (MP) on cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced liver injury in mice. To explore metabolic profile of liver tissue and feces among normal group, CTX-induced group and MP management group based on metabolomics method by using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. The results showed that MP could alleviate liver injury and promote the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with the best dose of 200 mg/kg·body weight (bw). The principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) scores plots of the liver and feces samples showed a clear separation among normal, model and high-dose of MP (MPH). There were 18 endogenous metabolites in liver and 29 endogenous metabolites in feces, which were mainly involved in 8 metabolic pathways: taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism as well as tryptophan metabolism. Moreover, a common metabolite arachidonic acid was observed in liver and feces samples. These endogenous metabolites may be considered to be MP's response to liver protection. It will help to further understand the mechanism of MP and provide a basis for further research.

2-Monochloropropane-1, 3-diol (2-MCPD) esters and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) esters, a class of substances potentially harmful to human health, are usually formed during the refining of vegetable oils under high temperature. The effects of endogenous antioxidants in vegetable oils on the formation of 2- and 3-MCPD esters is still unknown. In this study, the effects of endogenous antioxidants (α-tocopherol, stigmasterol and squalene) on the formation of 2- and 3-MCPD esters in model thermal processing of camellia oil were investigated. The possible formation mechanism of 2- and 3-MCPD esters was also studied through the monitoring of acyloxonium ions, the intermediate ions of 2- and 3-MCPD esters formation, and free radicals by employing infrared spectra and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), respectively. The results indicated that the addition of α-tocopherol had either promoting or inhibiting effects on the formation of 2- and 3-MCPD esters, depending on the amount added. Stigmasterol inhibited the formation of 3-MCPD ester and 2-MCPD ester at low concentrations, while promoting their formation at high concentrations. Squalene exhibited a promotional effect on the formation of 3-MCPD ester and 2-MCPD ester, with an increased promotion effect as the amount of squalene added increased. The EPR results suggested that CCl3•, Lipid alkoxyl, N3• and SO3• formed during the processing of camellia oil, which may further mediate the formation of chlorpropanol esters. This study also inferred that squalene promotes the participation of the free radical in chlorpropanol ester formation.

A method for the detection of 8 heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in fried beef patties by solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established in this study, and the effects of six traditional spices added at different concentrations including Sichuan pepper (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%), chili pepper (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%), black pepper (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%), ginger (1%, 2%, 3%), garlic (1%, 3%, 5%), and onion (3%, 6%, 9%) on the formation of 8 HAAs in fried beef patties were investigated. The results showed that the linear range was from 0.5~40 ng/mL for 8 HAAs with the good determination coefficients (R2>0.999). The limits of detection were 0.047~0.102 ng/g, and the limits of quantification were 0.127~0.336 ng/g. The precision was 1.2%~10.9%. The recoveries were in the range of 54.0%~109.4% with the relative standard deviations of 1.4%~8.9%. This method could be effectively applied for the quantification of HAAs. The total amount of HAAs in the control group without adding spices were 37.5 ng/g. Compared with the control group, the addition of six spices could significantly reduce the total amount of HAAs (P

The effect of Mesona chinensis Benth gum (MCG) on pasting, rheological and texture properties of different types of starches (tubers, cereals, and beans) were investigated. Pasting results showed that the pasting temperatures (PT) of native cereal and beans starch were higher, and MCG decreased the PT of starch granules by competing water with starch granules for water. MCG increased the peak viscosity and breakdown viscosity of native starches except potato starch, and effectively promoted the short-term retrogradation of all kinds of starches. Rheological results also revealed MCG increased apparent viscosity and dynamic modulus of native starch gels, given that the compacter network structures could be formed after adding MCG. The compacter network structures also contribute to the enhancement of gel strength and hardness, and the decreased spin relaxation time of starch gels. The information provided in this paper could help people to understand the different effects of MCG on the various starch, which had certain significance for starch-MCG product development.

Maillard reaction during food processing contributes to the formation of some unpleasant heat-induced toxicants including advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which have been linked to various health risks. The effects of baking factors and recipes, such as baking temperature (130°C–180 °C) and time (8 min–15 min), sucrose levels (0 g–20 g), butter levels (0 g–20 g) and egg liquid levels (0 g–12 g) on the formation of free Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), free Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), protein-bound CML, protein-bound CEL, HMF, glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) and on the sensory qualities were investigated in butter cookies. The results suggested that the levels of AGEs initially increased and then followed by decrease as baking temperature and time increased, HMF is very sensitive to baking temperature and time and grows sharply. The changes of protein-bound AGEs are lagging behind that of free AGEs. The proportions of sucrose, butter and egg liquid in butter cookies were positively correlated with AGEs, with sucrose greatly promoting on the formation of HMF and 3-DG. In addition, the high level of sucrose and butter in cookies is preferred by panelists, especially in terms of appearance, taste and smell.

The effect of non-starch polysaccharides on the structural and functional properties of native starch have been extensively studied. However, the effect of non-starch polysaccharides on the structural characteristics of debranched starch, a kind of enzymatic modified starch, remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Mesona chinensis polysaccharide (MP) on starch retrogradation and structural properties of debranched waxy corn starch (DWS). The results showed that only appropriate addition of MP (0.5 or 1%) can effectively promote the short-term retrogradation of DWS, while excessive MP (3 or 5%) had a negative effect. Gel hardness results revealed that the short-term retrogradation (24 h) of DWS could be divided into two phases. The retrogradation of DWS-MP gels mainly occurred at first stage (0–4 h), which was demonstrated by the rapid increase of gel hardness and relative crystallinity in this stage. In the second stage (4–24 h), DWS-MP gels were more likely to undergo the aggregation of starch granules as proved by SEM and particle size results. The degree of short-range ordered decreased during the total retrogradation stage. Overall, this work aims to provide an insight into the effect of non-starch polysaccharides on the short-term retrogradation of DWS.

There are a number of health benefits of Mesona chinensis Benth polysaccharide (MP), but little is known about its hepatoprotective effect and effect on gut microbiota composition in mice with liver damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX). This study indicated that MP supplementation effectively inhibited the production of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), enhanced liver antioxidant capacity and repaired liver damage in mice caused by CTX. The release of inflammatory cytokines in liver and the concentration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in serum were decreased, and the level of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in colon was increased after MP administration. Those effects may be correlated with the regulation of the gut microbiota. Importantly, MP restrained liver inflammatory responses induced by CTX may via increasing the SCFAs-producing bacteria family Ruminococcaceae and reduced LPS-producing bacteria genus Bacteroides. In short, the prevention of CTX-induced liver injury by supplementing MP is achieved at least in part by regulating the community structure of the gut microbiota, and MP is expected to be a potential prebiotic to treat and prevent liver diseases.

Mesona chinensis Benth has been consumed as a functional food for many years. It is widely believed that storage times affect its health benefits. In this study, Mesona chinensis Benth polysaccharides with two different storage times (fresh and storage for 1 year) were prepared, namely, FMP and AMP. The physicochemical properties and bioactivity were comparatively assessed. Results indicated that FMP was mainly composed of galacturonic acid, galactose, and glucose with a molecular weight of 44.39 kDa. AMP was composed of galacturonic acid, galactose, and fructose with a molecular weight of 64.34 kDa. However, the principal structural characteristics of polysaccharides remained stable. Furthermore, assays of antioxidant activity showed that Mesona chinensis Benth polysaccharide had an antioxidant effect against DPPH radical, ABTS radical cation, among which FMP was stronger. Additionally, flow cytometry indicated that the apoptosis rate of FMP and AMP on HepG2 tumor cells was 22.50 ± 1.25% and 15.49 ± 1.30%, respectively. In general, antioxidant and antitumor activities of Mesona chinensis Benth polysaccharides were decreased as the storage for 1 year. The change of physicochemical properties was responsible for the enhanced bioactivities. These results explained how polysaccharides contributed to the decreased health benefits of Mesona chinensis Benth during storage.

A dysphagia diet is a special eating plan. The development and design of dysphagia foods should consider both swallowing safety and food nutritional qualities. In this study, the effects of four food supplements, namely vitamins, minerals, salt and sugar, on swallowing characteristics, rheological and textural properties were investigated, and a sensory evaluation of dysphagia foods made with rice starch, perilla seed oil and whey isolate protein was carried out. The results showed that all the samples belonged to foods at level 4 (pureed) in The International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) framework, and exhibited shear thinning behavior, which is favorable for dysphagia patients. Rheological tests showed that the viscosity of a food bolus was increased with salt and sugar (SS), while it decreased with vitamins and minerals (VM) at shear rates of 50 s−1. Both SS and VM strengthened the elastic gel system, and SS enhanced the storage modulus and loss modulus. VM increased the hardness, gumminess, chewiness and color richness, but left small residues on the spoon. SS provided better water-holding, chewiness and resilience by influencing the way molecules were connected, promoting swallowing safety. SS brought a better taste to the food bolus. Dysphagia foods with both VM and 0.5% SS had the best sensory evaluation score. This study may provide a theoretical foundation for the creation and design of new dysphagia nutritional food products.

This study aimed to test the preventive anti-inflammatory properties of Chinese yam polysaccharides (CYP) and sulfated Chinese yam polysaccharides (SCYP) on LPS-induced systemic acute inflammation in mice and investigate their mechanisms of action. The results showed that SCYP can efficiently reduce plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels, exhibiting an obvious anti-inflammation ability. Moreover, SCYP reduced hepatic TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β secretion more effectively than CYP, and significantly altered intestinal oxidative stress levels. In addition, a 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that CYP regulated the gut microbiota by decreasing Desulfovibrio and Sutterella and increasing Prevotella. SCYP changed the gut microbiota by decreasing Desulfovibrio and increasing Coprococcus, which reversed the microbiota dysbiosis caused by LPS. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) revealed that treatment with CYP and SCYP can produce more biomarkers of the gut microbiome that can promote the proliferation of polysaccharide-degrading bacteria and facilitate the intestinal de-utilization of polysaccharides. These results suggest that SCYP can differentially regulate intestinal flora, and that they exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, thus providing a new reference to rationalize the exploitation of sulfated yam polysaccharides.

Sausages are among the most popular meat products worldwide. However, some harmful products, such as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and N-nitrosamines (NAs), can be formed simultaneously during sausage processing. In this study, the contents of AGEs, NAs, α-dicarbonyls and the proximate composition were investigated in two kinds of commercial sausages (fermented sausages and cooked sausages) in the Chinese market. The correlations among them were further analyzed. The results showed that the fermented and cooked sausages had different in protein/fat contents and pH/thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values due to their different processing technologies and added ingredients. The Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) concentrations varied from 3.67 to 46.11 mg/kg and from 5.89 to 52.32 mg/kg, respectively, and the NAs concentrations ranged from 1.35 to 15.88 µg/kg. The contents of some hazardous compounds, such as CML, N-nitrosodimethylamine, and N-nitrosopiperidine, were observed to be higher in the fermented sausages than in the cooked sausages. Moreover, levels of NAs in some sausage samples exceeded the limit of 10 µg/kg issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, suggesting that particular attention should be paid to mitigating NAs, especially in fermented sausages. The correlation analysis suggested that the levels of AGEs and NAs were not significantly correlated in both kinds of sausages.

Oxidative stress is involved in maintaining homeostasis of the body, and an in-depth study of its mechanism of action is beneficial for the prevention of chronic illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the protective mechanism of yam polysaccharide (CYP) against H2O2-induced oxidative damage by an RNA-seq technique. The expression of genes and the function of the genome in the process of oxidative damage by H2O2 in IEC-6 cells were explored through transcriptomic analysis. The results illustrated that H2O2 damaged cells by promoting cell differentiation and affecting tight junction proteins, and CYP could achieve cell protection via restraining the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. RNA-seq analysis revealed that H2O2 may damage cells by promoting the IL-17 signaling pathway and the MAPK signaling pathway and so forth. The Western blot showed that the pretreatment of CYP could restrain the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In summary, this study demonstrates that the efficacy of CYP in modulating the MAPK signaling pathway against excessive oxidative stress, with a corresponding preventive role against injury to the intestinal barrier. It provides a new perspective for the understanding of the preventive role of CYP on intestinal damage. These findings suggest that CYP could be used as oxidation protectant and may have potential application prospects in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and nitrosamines (NAs) in sausage are associated with pathogenic and carcinogenic risks. However, the multiple reaction parameters affecting the production of AGEs and NAs during sausage processing remain unclear. This experiment evaluated the effects of processing parameters, food additives and fat ratios on the formation of AGEs and NAs in sausages. The results showed a 2–3-fold increase in Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) when the sausage processing temperature was increased from 90 °C to 130 °C, and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDEA) increased from 3.68 ng/g to 6.41 ng/g. The addition of salt inhibited the formation of AGEs and NAs, and the inhibitory ability of 2 g/100 g of salt was 63.6% for CML and 36.5% for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The addition of 10 mg/kg nitrite to sausages reduced CML formation by 43.9%, however, nitrite had a significant contribution to the formation of NAs. The addition of fat only slightly contributed to the production of CML. In addition, the relationship between α-dicarbonyl compounds and the formation of AGEs was investigated by measuring the changes in α-dicarbonyl compounds in sausages. The results showed two trends of AGEs and α-dicarbonyl compounds: AGEs increased with the increase in α-dicarbonyl compounds and AGE level increased but α-dicarbonyl compound level decreased.

A sulfated polysaccharide (SMP) from the Mesona chinensis Benth was successfully obtained and its immunomodulatory effects were evaluated. Results showed that SMP exhibited the proliferation effects in splenocytes in vitro and ameliorated the impaired of splenocytes in Cy-treated mice. SMP induced the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL) −2, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), and reduced the production of malondialdehyde (MDA) in Cy-treated mice, as well as improved the blood index, body weight and organ index. In addition, SMP enhanced the viability of RAW264.7 macrophages and increased the secretion of IL-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and production of NO in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, SMP binds to TLR4 (Toll-like Receptor 4) to promote RAW264.7 to produce cytokines, thereby exerting immunoregulatory function. These data indicated that SMP act a pivotal part in immunomodulatory and could be used as functional foods.

Phytosterols have been shown to be effective in reducing blood cholesterol by suppressing intestinal cholesterol absorption in both humans and animals. In present study, the inhibition of cholesterol absorption in Caco-2 cells by ergosterol, ergosterol acetate, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol and stellasterol were systematically assessed. Results showed that the phytosterols produced cholesterol-lowering effect in Caco-2 cells. This effect was largely mediated via reducing the biosynthesis of cholesterol (HMGCS1); meditating the key proteins in cholesterol transportation and metabolism (NPC1L1, ABCG5/ABCG8); interrupting the conversion of cholesterol to cholesterol esters (ACAT2). Results indicated that their cholesterol-lowering activity may be correlated with the functional group (hydroxyl or ester) on C-3 position (ergosterol stellasterol). Further researches are needed to confirm the cholesterol-lowering effects of phytosterols with functional group (methyl or ethyl) on C-24 and the functional groups on C-22 position.

Two sulfated polysaccharides SCP3 and SCP5 with degree of substitution (DS) 0.45 and 0.13 were obtained by modifying the Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharide (CP) with chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method. Results demonstrated that the physicochemical properties, molar ratios of monosaccharide composition, molecular weights, and in vitro immunomodulatory activity were changed after being sulfated. Splenocytes proliferation assay showed that both CP and sulfated polysaccharides have immunomodulatory, while sulfated polysaccharides were stronger. CP mainly stimulate the production of the Th1-type cytokines, SCP3 and SCP5 not only significantly enhanced the secretion level of Th1-type cytokines, but also promote the Th2-type cytokines. Sulfated polysaccharides could significantly stimulate splenic lymphocyte proliferation synergistically with ConA or LPS. SCP3 significantly promoted the proliferation of T lymphocytes, while SCP5 stimulated the proliferation of B lymphocytes, which might be related to the DS. These results indicated that sulfation could improve the immune-enhancing effects of CP and different DS has different immunomodulatory activity.

This study aimed to characterize the structure of Chinese yam (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) polysaccharide (CYP) and to investigate its protective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in IEC-6 cells. The chemical composition and structural characteristics of the samples were analyzed by chemical and instrumental methods, including high-performance gel permeation chromatography, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet (UV), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Antioxidant activity was evaluated by establishing a cellular model of oxidative damage. The molecular weight of CYP was 20.89 kDa. Analysis of the monosaccharide composition revealed that CYP was primarily comprised of galactose (Gal), glucose (Glu), and galacturonic acid (GalA), and the ratio between them was 28.57:11.28:37.59. Pretreatment with CYP was able to improve cell viability, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and malondialdehyde (MDA) content after H2O2 injury. CYP also attenuated oxidative damage in cells through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. This study showed that CYP was an acidic heteropolysaccharide with a good protective effect against oxidative damage, and it thus has good prospects in food and biopharmaceutical industries.

Maillard reaction during food processing contributes to the formation of some unpleasant heat-induced toxicants including advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The current study prepared butter cookies fortified with two dietary natural antioxidants (catechins and curcumin) and two dietary hydrocolloids (pectin and chitosan), and investigated their effects on formation of free Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML)/Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), protein-bound CML/CEL and HMF and on the sensory qualities of butter cookies. Meanwhile, three typical α-dicarbonyl compounds were also determined to identify possible correlations between α-dicarbonyl intermediates and formation of these harmful heat-induced products in butter cookies. Experimental data showed that catechin exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects on formation of AGEs and HMF, but its addition would impair the color and taste of cookies. On the other hand, chitosan was not so effective in inhibiting AGEs and HMF as compared to catechin, but its addition could increase the sensory qualities of butter cookies.

SCP1 as a nuclear transcriptional regulator acts globally to silence neuronal genes and to affect the dephosphorylation of RNA Pol ll. However, we report the first finding and description of SCP1 as a plasma membrane-localized protein in various cancer cells using EGFP- or other epitope-fused SCP1. Membrane-located SCP1 dephosphorylates AKT at serine 473, leading to the abolishment of serine 473 phosphorylation that results in suppressed angiogenesis and a decreased risk of tumorigenesis. Consistently, we observed increased AKT phosphorylation and angiogenesis followed by enhanced tumorigenesis in Ctdsp1 (which encodes SCP1) gene - knockout mice. Importantly, we discovered that the membrane localization of SCP1 is crucial for impeding angiogenesis and tumor growth, and this localization depends on palmitoylation of a conserved cysteine motif within its NH2 terminus. Thus, our study discovers a novel mechanism underlying SCP1 shuttling between the plasma membrane and nucleus, which constitutes a unique pathway in transducing AKT signaling that is closely linked to angiogenesis and tumorigenesis.

Mung bean is nutritious and rich in protein (19.5%−33.1%). However, there are few studies on mung bean protein active peptides so the mung bean protein hydrolysates (MBPHs) were investigated for evaluating their ability to clear intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulating the ability of antioxidant enzymes on NCTC-1469 cells. Results showed that MBPHs, MBPHs-I (molecular weight < 3 kDa), MBPHs-II (molecular weight between 3 and 10 kDa), and MBPHs-III (molecular weight > 10 kDa) could all improve the survival rate of cells compared with the model group. MBPHs, MBPHs-I, and MBPHs-II could significantly decrease the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduce the generation of malonaldehyde (MDA) at a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL. Regarding the intracellular ROS, the result showed that MBPHs-I significantly reduced the production of ROS (from 58.3% to 26.6%) and had a dose-dependent relationship. In addition, the amino acid analysis showed that MBPHs-I had a balanced amino acid composition. MBPHs-I is rich in lysine but was deficient in cereals. Therefore, the hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids in MBPHs-I were high, which could improve its antioxidant activity. According to the results, MBPHs-I was the best and most potent natural antioxidant and it can contribute to drug development and medical application.

Phytosterols, found in many commonly consumed foods, exhibit a broad range of physiological activities including anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of ergosterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, and ergosterol acetate were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Results showed that all phytosterol compounds alleviated the inflammatory reaction in LPS-induced macrophage models; cell phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO) production, release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and expression and activity of pro-inflammatory mediator cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK) were all inhibited. The anti-inflammatory activity of β-sitosterol was higher than stigmasterol and campesterol, which suggests that phytosterols without a double bond on C-22 and with ethyl on C-24 were more effective. However, inconsistent results were observed upon comparison of ergosterol and ergosterol acetate (hydroxy or ester group on C-3), which suggest that additional research is still needed to ascertain the contribution of structure to their anti-inflammatory effects.

Duck circovirus (DuCV) is widely recognized as a prominent virus in China's duck farming industry, known for its ability to cause persistent infections and significant immunosuppression, which can lead to an increased susceptibility to secondary infections, posing a significant threat to the duck industry. Moreover, clinical evidence also indicates the potential vertical transmission of the virus through duck embryos to subsequent generations of ducklings. However, the limited availability of suitable cell lines for in vitro cultivation of DuCV has hindered further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying its infection and pathogenicity. In this study, we observed that oral DuCV infection in female breeding ducks can lead to oviduct, ovarian, and follicular infections. Subsequently, the infection can be transmitted to the fertilized eggs, resulting in the emergence of virus-carrying ducklings upon hatching. In contrast, the reproductive organs of male breeding ducks were unaffected by the virus, thus confirming that vertical transmission of DuCV primarily occurs through infection in female breeding ducks. By analyzing transcriptome sequencing data from the oviduct, we focused on claudin-2, a gene encoding the tight junction protein CLDN2 located on the cell membrane, which showed significantly increased expression in DuCV-infected oviducts of female breeding ducks. Notably, CLDN2 was confirmed to interact with the unique structural protein of DuCV, namely capsid protein (Cap), through a series of experimental approaches including co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), GST pull-down, immunofluorescence, and adhesion-blocking assays. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the Cap protein binds to the extracellular loop structural domains EL1 and EL2 of CLDN2. Subsequently, by constructing a series of truncated bodies of the CLDN2 promoter region, we identified the transcription factor SP5 for CLDN2. Moreover, we found that DuCV infection triggers the activation of the MAPK-ERK signaling pathway in DEF cells and ducks, leading to an upregulation of SP5 and CLDN2 expression. This process ultimately leads to the transportation of mature CLDN2 to the cell surface, thereby facilitating increased virus adherence to the target organs. In conclusion, we discovered that DuCV utilizes host CLDN2 proteins to enhance adhesion and infection in oviducts and other target organs. Furthermore, we elucidated the signaling pathways involved in the interaction between DuCV Cap proteins and CLDN2, which provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanism underlying DuCV's infection and vertical transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]