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To analyze the metabolic differences in Wangdu peppers, this study employed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect chemical components and perform non-targeted metabolomics analysis on five different varieties of Wangdu peppers: Yan Jiao (YJ), La Yan (LY), Guo Ta (GT), Yan Jiao 110 (YJA), and Re La (RL). Machine learning was used to classify and identify the differential metabolites screened. First, HPLC was used to measure the content of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and Vitamin C (VC) in the five pepper varieties. Then, GC-MS was used for non-targeted metabolite analysis of the five peppers. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were employed to identify differential metabolites and metabolic pathways. Machine learning methods were used to identify the different pepper varieties based on the differential metabolites. In the five pepper varieties, Re La had the highest content of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, at 533.897±62.187 μg/g and 264.526±28.532 μg/g, respectively. Yan Jiao had the highest VC content at 146.9±0.029 mg/100 g. OPLS-DA identified 16 differential metabolites, including organic acids such as quinic acid and aconitic acid, which were higher in Yan Jiao, D-sorbitol, which was highest in La Yan, citric acid, D-fructose, D-mannose, and lactic acid, which were most enriched in Guo Ta, D-tagatose and amino acids, which were highest in Yan Jiao 110, and glucose and inositol, which were most abundant in Re La. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the differential metabolic pathways mainly included galactose metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, the citric acid cycle, starch and sucrose metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and pyruvate metabolism. Finally, three machine learning methods—random forest (RF), XGBoost, and backpropagation (BP) neural networks were used to classify and validate the differential metabolites of the five pepper varieties. The established classification models achieved accuracies of 100%, 92.9%, and 78.6%, respectively, demonstrating their utility in identifying pepper varieties. These results would provide fundamental data for the quality evaluation, variety improvement, and comprehensive utilization of Wangdu peppers.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a growing global health problem. IBD is commonly prevalent in Europe and America and the incidence rate in Asia is on the rise due to altered dietary structure. Diosgenin is a natural steroidal saponin derived from Dioscorea plants. Diosgenin is the main active ingredient of some Chinese medicines which are mainly used to treat coronary heart disease, angina and hyperlipidemia. Recently, growing evidence has exhibited a crucial role of diosgenin and dioscin in alleviating IBD in multiple ways. However, the precise mechanism of diosgenin against IBD needs further exploration.In this study, network pharmacological and systematic bioinformatic analyses were performed to investigate the diosgenin's targets against IBD. 71 targets such as SRC, TNF and STAT3 were identified as overlapped genes between diosgenin and IBD. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis exhibited their involvement in the tyrosine kinase signaling pathway and its membrane receptors. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and its downstream Ras-MAPK pathway and PI3K-Akt pathway might become the mechanism of diosgenin against IBD. In addition, molecular docking analysis showed that diosgenin has the massive potential of direct binding to tyrosine kinase and its receptors such as SRC, EGFR, FGFR1 and VEGFR. The results above collectively provided evidence that diosgenin is a promising nutraceutical food against IBD.

Rosa Roxburghii (RR), a traditional Chinese medicinal fruit, is rich in bioactive substances that make it a potential natural antioxidant resource. This research aimed to study the antioxidant properties of RR by in vitro experiments and through intracellular assessment in H2O2-induced HepG2 cells. A non-targeted metabolic analysis was conducted to indicate changes in intracellular and extracellular metabolites. Differential metabolites and metabolic pathways were explored using PCA, PLS-DA, and KEGG pathway analysis. The results showed that RR rich in bioactive substances exhibited a significant antioxidative property in vitro and intracellularly. This property may be achieved by scavenging free radicals, increasing the activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the levels of bicinchoninic acid (BCA) while reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This study identified 13 differential metabolites intracellularly and 7 extracellularly, among which the key differential metabolites included D-glucopyranose, D-mannose, fructose, citric acid, malic acid, cholesterol, and cholestenone. These key metabolites primarily regulated glucose-related metabolism, the citrate cycle, and the primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway in H2O2-induced HepG2 cells. These findings provide potential application evidence of RR in the development of natural resources for functional foods.

In order to determine the effect of different silicon window areas on the preservation of garlic in silicon windows, garlic was packed in polyethylene (PE) bags with an area of 30 cm×25 cm at low temperature in combination with 1, 3, 6 and 9 cm2 silicon window films, and a control group of polyethylene (PE) bags without silicon windows, and the quality indexes were measured within 120 d of storage. The results showed that the area of the silicon window had a greater influence on the weight loss, bud to cloves ratio and colour (ΔE) of the garlic after harvesting, and a smaller influence on the hardness and water content was observed. The optimal silicon window area was 6 cm2, the alliin content of garlic in the low temperature combined with 6 cm2 silicon window treatment group reached 0.38±0.00 g/100 g during 120 days of storage. Compared with 0 d, the alliin content increased by 50.97%, the malic acid content decreased by 92.38%, and the contents of citric acid, tartaric acid and fumaric acid increased by 21.13%, 65.87% and 43.26% respectively. The principal component analysis revealed that the key indicators of garlic freshness were ΔE value, weight loss, shoot to clove ratio, water content and tartaric acid content. Considering the variation of each index and the results of the principal component analysis, it was concluded that the use of 6 cm2 silicon window area combined with 30 cm×25 cm polyethylene (PE) bags at low temperature could effectively alleviate the deterioration of garlic storage quality. This study can provide a theoretical reference for the storage and processing of white-skinned garlic.

Thermally stable high-performance phenolic resin aerogels (PRAs) are of great interest for thermal insulation because of their light weight, fire retardancy and low thermal conductivity. However, the drawbacks of PRA synthesis, such as long processing time, inherent brittleness and significant shrinkage during drying, greatly restrict their wide applications. In this work, PRAs were synthesized at ambient pressure through a near-net shape manufacturing technique, where boron-containing thermosetting phenolic resin (BPR) was introduced into the conventional linear phenolic resin (LPR) to improve the pore characteristics, mechanical properties and thermal performances. Compared with the traditional LPR-synthesized aerogel, the processing time and the linear shrinkage rate during the drying of the PRAs could be significantly reduced, which was attributed to the enhanced rigidity and the unique bimodal pore size distribution. Furthermore, no catastrophic failure and almost no mechanical degradation were observed on the PRAs, even with a compressive strain of up to 60% at temperatures ranging from 25 to 200 °C, indicating low brittleness and excellent thermo-mechanical stability. The PRAs also showed outstanding fire retardancy. On the other hand, the PRAs with a density of 0.194 g/cm3 possessed a high Young’s modulus of 12.85 MPa and a low thermal conductivity of 0.038 W/(m·K).

In this study, the main components of the extract of (Lithocarpus litseifolius folium extract, LLFE) were analyzed,and the anti-oxidative stress and anti-aging effects of LLFE on C.elegans were evaluated using Caenorhabditis elegans (C.elegans) as a model to explore the possible mechanisms of action.The results showed that LLFE contained 52.84±1.45 mg/g of total phenols, 380.74±15.12 mg/g of total flavonoids, 470.36±5.84 mg/g of total sugars and about 6.00% of dihydrochalcone compounds, with phloridzin 52.76±0.71 mg/g, phloretin 1.64±0.06 mg/g and trilobatin 4.88±0.01 mg/g. LLFE (0.25, 1.25 mg/mL) also significantly extended the mean lifespan of C.elegans under oxidative and heat stress conditions (P

In this study, non-targeted metabolomic research was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on Laba garlic at different storage times to explore the signature metabolite changes during storage. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to screen out the significant metabolites of Laba garlic at different storage times. Further, the deep learning support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm was used to determine its landmark metabolites, and enrichment analysis of the pathways of its landmark metabolites was carried out. A total of 57 different metabolites were screened out (VIP≥1, P

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the primary sources of energy and nutrients needed by the body, and rice resistant starch (RRS) has been found to have hypoglycemic effects. However, its biological activity and specific mechanisms still need to be further elucidated. In the present study, 52 RRS differential metabolites were obtained from mouse liver, rat serum, canine feces, and human urine, and 246 potential targets were identified through a literature review and database analysis. A total of 151 common targets were identified by intersecting them with the targets of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). After network pharmacology analysis, 11 core metabolites were identified, including linolenic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid, lithocholylglycine, glycoursodeoxycholic acid, phenylalanine, norepinephrine, cholic acid, and L-glutamic acid, and 16 core targets were identified, including MAPK3, MAPK1, EGFR, ESR1, PRKCA, FYN, LCK, DLG4, ITGB1, IL6, PTPN11, RARA, NR3C1, PTPN6, PPARA, and ITGAV. The core pathways included the neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, cancer, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. The molecular docking results showed that bile acids such as glycoursodeoxycholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, lithocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and cholic acid exhibited strong docking effects with EGFR, ITGAV, ITGB1, MAPK3, NR3C1, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. In vitro hypoglycemic experiments further suggested that bile acids showed significant inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and α-amylase, with CDCA and UDCA having the most prominent inhibitory effect. In summary, this study reveals a possible hypoglycemic pathway of RRS metabolites and provides new research perspectives to further explore the therapeutic mechanism of bile acids in T2DM.

The chemical composition and nutritional content of garlic are greatly impacted by its production location, leading to distinct flavor profiles and functional properties among garlic varieties from diverse origins. Consequently, these variations determine the preference and acceptance among diverse consumer groups. In this study, purple-skinned garlic samples were collected from five regions in China: Yunnan, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu Provinces. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy were utilized to analyze the components of garlic cells. Three preprocessing methods, including Multiple Scattering Correction (MSC), Savitzky–Golay Smoothing (SG Smoothing), and Standard Normalized Variate (SNV), were applied to reduce the background noise of spectroscopy data. Following variable feature extraction by Genetic Algorithm (GA), a variety of machine learning algorithms, including XGboost, Support Vector Classification (SVC), Random Forest (RF), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), were used according to the fusion of spectral data to obtain the best processing results. The results showed that the best-performing model for ultraviolet spectroscopy data was SNV-GA-ANN, with an accuracy of 99.73%. The best-performing model for mid-infrared spectroscopy data was SNV-GA-RF, with an accuracy of 97.34%. After the fusion of ultraviolet and mid-infrared spectroscopy data, the SNV-GA-SVC, SNV-GA-RF, SNV-GA-ANN, and SNV-GA-XGboost models achieved 100% accuracy in both training and test sets. Although there were some differences in the accuracy of the four models under different preprocessing methods, the fusion of ultraviolet and mid-infrared spectroscopy data yielded the best outcomes, with an accuracy of 100%. Overall, the combination of ultraviolet and mid-infrared spectroscopy data fusion and chemometrics established in this study provides a theoretical foundation for identifying the origin of garlic, as well as that of other agricultural products.

In order to explore the development and application of edible dock, the main nutrients and functional components contents were measured, and the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities were evaluated by measuring the free radical scavenging ability, reducing power and α-glucosidase inhibitory of extract from edible dock. The results showed that the value of total protein reached about 34.70 mg/100 mg (dry weight), the ratios of essential amino acids and medicinal amino acids to total amino acids were respectively 45% and 65%, and the score of amino acid ratio coefficient (SRC) was over 68, indicating that the edible dock was a kind of plant of high nutritional value. The contents of total phenol, total flavonoid and the specific activity of superoxide dismutase were 11.35 mg GAE/g (dry weight), 3.56 mg RE/g (dry weight) and 15.24±3.40 U/mg pro, respectively. Malic acid and oxalic acid were the main organic acid in edible dock (~89.24%). The values corresponding to the extract concentration required to scavenge 50% (IC50) of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) free radical were respectively 0.465 mg/mL and 0.066 mg/mL, and the extract concentration providing reducing power (absorbance) of 0.5 (IC0.5) was about 0.528 mg/mL, which indicated that the edible dock possessed good antioxidant activity. Moreover, the extract of edible dock significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity in experimental ranges, thus proving its favorable hypoglycemic activity. The above results can enrich the scientific research of edible dock and provide the theoretical foundation for its further development and utilization.

In order to increase the sensory evaluation score of bottling fermentation draft Huangjiu indicated by the national judges and young students, six factors of the fermentation (initial brix, water bath sterilization time, liquid filling amount, fermentation temperature, fermentation time, inoculation amount) were analyzed by Plackett-Burman tests in which three significant factors were screened as initial brix, fermentation temperature and time. Then the reasonable range of factors was determined by the steepest ascent method, and optimized by central composite design response surface test. The model was significant and therefore provided a good fit to the actual data and predicted responses. The results showed that the optimal initial brix, fermentation time, temperature, filling volume, 95 ℃ water bath and inoculum volume were 126 g/L, 20.5 ℃, 69.2 h , 195 mL, 2.5 h, 10 mL, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the sensory evaluation score of bottling fermentation draft Huangjiu reached 96.6, which was better than that before tests.

In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based untargeted metabolomics was used to describe the changes of metabolites in edible grass with Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) fermentation durations of 0 and 7 days, and subsequently to investigate the protective effect of fermented edible grass on acetaminophen-induced stress injury in HepG2 cells. Results showed that 53 differential metabolites were identified, including 31 significantly increased and 22 significantly decreased metabolites in fermented edible grass. Fermented edible grass protected HepG2 cells against acetaminophen-induced stress injury, which profited from the reduction in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the enhancement in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Cell metabolomics analysis revealed that a total of 13 intracellular and 20 extracellular differential metabolites were detected. Fermented edible grass could regulate multiple cell metabolic pathways to exhibit protective effects on HepG2 cells. These findings provided theoretical guidance for the formation and regulation of bioactive metabolites in fermented edible grass and preliminarily confirmed the protective effects of fermented edible grass on drug-induced liver damage.

The flaxseed oil emulsion (O/W type) was prepared by high-speed shearing with rice bran protein as emulsifier. The effects of different rice bran protein addition amount, ultrasonic power, shear speed on the change of emulsion particle size were investigated. The preparation process of the emulsion was optimized by response surface methodology, and the emulsion was characterized and evaluated for its stability. The results showed that the optimal preparation process of flaxseed oil emulsion was as follows: The addition of rice bran protein 0.56%, the shear speed 7900 r/min, and the ultrasonic power 300 W. Under these conditions, the minimum average particle size of the emulsion was 315.14 nm. The prepared emulsion has good pH stability. The emulsion showed outstanding stability within 55 days of storage at 4 ℃ and room temperature at 25 ℃ for 10 days, on the 7th day, the contents of primary oxidation products and secondary oxidation products decreased by 0.026 mmoL/L and 0.031 mg/kg, respectively, showing certain antioxidant properties. This study aimed to provide a theoretical reference for the application of flaxseed oil products.

In order to compare the change trend of fermented garlic broth by different strains in the fermentation process, the chemical and physical index of total phenol, titratable acid, methanol, ethanol, and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity during the fermentation process were determined, then the types and content of organic acid was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The taste of fermented garlic broth at different fermentation time was analyzed by electronic tongue. The results showed that the total phenols and titratable acids of fermented garlic broth prepared by different strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus plantarum) showed an upward trend during the fermentation process. The content of six organic acids (tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, succinic acid) was measured in fermented garlic broth, among which the content of malic acid and lactic acid was relatively high. The taste response value of fermented garlic broth prepared by Lactobacillus plantarum had a large change in the early stage of fermentation. The value of sourness response rapidly increased to 9.21±0.03 after 4 days of fermentation, and the value of saltiness response rapidly decreased to −21.11±0.01 after 4 days of fermentation. The scavenging capacity hydroxyl radicals and the content of methanol, ethanol showed a trend that firstly increasing and then keeping in a steady state. The hydroxyl radical scavenging ability for fermented garlic solution was 99.88%±0.05% after 80 days of fementation by Lactobacillus plantarum. The ethanol content produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation was higher, while the content of methanol produced by fermentation of Lactobacillus plantarum was higher. Considering the comprehensive evaluation of the effects of strains on the quality of fermented garlic broth, Lactobacillus plantarum was more suitable for garlic fermentation than Saccharomyces cerevisiae, methanol content was within the safe range. This research would provide a theoretical study for the research and development of garlic fermentation products.

A two-step fermentation method was used to prepare Hovenia dulcis Thunb Huangjiu, its physical and chemical indexes were tested, and its antioxidant capacity was evaluated. To explore the reasons for its antioxidant, the total phenols and total flavonoids in soaked and fermented Hovenia dulcis Thunb Huangjiu were compared, and the differences in the content of the main active ingredients dihydromyricetin and myricetin were further analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that Huangjiu fermented with Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HFH) belonged to special type semi-dry Huangjiu. It had medicinal aroma, improved bitterness and astringency, and better taste. Its VC milligram equivalents on DPPH, ABTS, OH free radical scavenging ability and reducing power were 0.727, 33.60, 9.07 and 0.823 mg VC/mL, which were higher than those of Huangjiu. After comparison, it was found that the total phenol content of HFH was 1120.20 mg/L, which was significantly higher than that of the soaked type (P

In this work, we exploited an efficient method to release hemicellulosic polysaccharides (BLHP) from bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel) leaves assisted by a small amount of phosphotungstic acid. Structural unit analysis proved that BLHP-A1 and BLHP-B1 samples possessed abundant low-branch chains in →4)-β-D-Xylp-(1→ skeleton mainly consisting of Xylp, Manp, Glcp, Galp, and Araf residues. According to the results of the antioxidant activity assays in vitro, both of the two fractions demonstrated the activity for scavenging DPPH⋅ and ABTS+ radicals and exhibited relatively a high reducing ability compared to the recently reported polysaccharides. Moreover, the antioxidant activities of purified polysaccharides were evaluated against H2O2-induced oxidative stress damage in HepG2 cells. BLHP-B1 showed more activity for preventing damages from H2O2 in HepG2 cells by improving the enzyme activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px and decreasing the production of MDA as well as suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. This study implied that BLHP could demonstrate its attenuation ability for oxidative stress in HepG2 cells.

In this work, spontaneously fermented and inoculation-fermented Akebia trifoliata fruit Jiaosu (SFAJ/IFAJ) were compared. The key metabolites and antioxidant activities of SFAJ and IFAJ were tracked and tested during fermentation. The antioxidant effect of fermented Akebia trifoliata fruit and the underlying mechanisms were explored using network pharmacology for the prediction and verification of the molecular targets and pathways of the Akebia trifoliata fruit’s action against oxidative stress. Furthermore, the results were verified by molecular docking and then investigated, based on a HepG2 cell model. The results of correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that there were significant positive correlations between the phenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids in SFAJ and IFAJ and their antioxidant activities. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis disclosed the antioxidation mechanism at the molecular level. In addition, both SFAJ and IFAJ were effective at alleviating oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. In particular, IFAJ performed better than SFAJ in protecting cells with an intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of 99.96 ± 4.07 U/mg prot, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of 41.56 ± 0.06 U/mg prot, catalase (CAT) activity of 91.78 ± 3.85 U/mg prot, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of 39.32 ± 2.75 mU/mg prot in the IFAJ group. Collectively, this study revealed the changes in bioactive metabolite contents and the in vitro antioxidant activity during fermentation and investigated the protectiveness of SFAJ and IFAJ against oxidative stress within HepG2 cells, promoting the study of the antioxidant efficacy of IFAJ, thereby providing valuable reference data for the optimization of its preparation and the development of relevant products with health benefits.

Fermentation is a crucial technology to improve the nutritional and functional properties of food materials. In this study, edible grass was processed by spontaneous fermentation. Changes in physicochemical properties, metabolites, and antioxidant activity of edible grass were investigated by colorimetric method and chromatography mass spectrometry-based non-targeted metabolomics approach during fermentation. The highest total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents, and free radical scavenging abilities were observed on the 17th day of fermentation. The maximum activity of superoxide dismutase was maintained stable in the fermentation time range of 7–70 days. In total, 16 differential metabolites were identified with fermentation duration up to 124 days. Fermented edible grass exerted protection from H2O2-induced cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells, regulating by the reduction in reactive oxygen species level and the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities. Overall, this study confirms that fermented edible grass obtained by spontaneous fermentation presented favorable nutritional and functional quality, and is expected to be a kind of food with antioxidant function.

Fermented foods are known worldwide for their functional health properties. In order to promote the relative product development of edible grass, Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lr) were used to ferment edible grass in this study. Effects of fermentation using Lp and Lr in monoculture and binary mixture on physicochemical properties, the contents of functional compounds and the antioxidant activity of edible grass at different fermentation times were investigated by colorimetric method and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results show that the pH value and total sugar content of the three fermented edible grasses at the 4th day were lower than those of unfermented water extract (defined as the control sample) and kept almost unchanged at the 7th day. The total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content of the three fermented edible grasses were lower than those of the control sample by the oxidation of phenolic compounds caused by polyphenol oxidases. The highest soluble protein content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were found in the binary mixture of Lp and Lr fermentation at the 7th day, which were respectively 11 and 1.78 times higher than those of control sample. The oxalic acid content of all fermented edible grasses shows a significant decrease with increasing fermentation time, especially for the binary mixture at the 7th day, reaching only 24% of the control sample. However, the contents of lactic acid and succinic acid of the three fermented edible grasses were higher than those of the control sample because of the metabolism of the microorganism. Functional compounds including soluble protein, SOD, lactic acid and succinic acid played the main positive roles in antioxidation, while oxalic acid had a negative correlation with antioxidation. Therefore, the antioxidant activity of edible grass was dramatically enhanced by Lactobacillus strain fermentation.

Pear fruits have been reported to contain abundant bioactive compounds and exhibit antidiabetic activity. In this study, Pingguoli pear (Pyrus pyrifolia cv.‘Pingguoli’) fermentation broth was sequentially extracted by five solvents with increasing polarity (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) to evaluate its antioxidant and hypothermic activities, and then the main compounds of the fraction with the highest activity were assessed, which might be responsible for such activities. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity according to DPPH (IC50 = 0.238 mg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 0.293 mg/mL), and FRAP (IC50 = 0.193 mg/mL) assays. The in vitro hypoglycemic activity assay showed that EAF exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect, with IC50 values of 0.34 and 0.95 mg/mL for α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. The glucose consumption in HepG2 cells treated with EAF was significantly increased to 252%, compare with control group. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis implied that the main compounds, 3′-C-glucosylisoliquiritigenin, robustside D, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid may be potential candidates for the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of the EAF. This study suggested that EAF of Pingguoli pear fermentation broth could be utilized for development of potential functional food and antidiabetic agents.

In order to understand the influence of the mechanisms of ZrC nanoparticles on the high-temperature mechanical properties of C-SiC ceramic matrix composites, the mechanical properties were measured from room temperature (RT) to 1600 °C under vacuum. The microstructures features were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. In comparison with the composites without ZrC nanoparticles, the ZrC-modified composite presented better mechanical properties at all temperatures, indicating that the mechanical properties could be improved by the ZrC nanoparticles. The ZrC nanoparticles could reduce the residual silicon and improve the microstructure integrity of composite. Furthermore, the variation of flexural strength and the flexural modulus showed an asynchronous trend with the increase of temperature. The flexural strength reached the maximum value at 1200 °C, but the highest elastic modulus was obtained at 800 °C. The strength increase was ascribed to the decrease of the thermally-induced residual stresses. The degradation of mechanical properties was observed at 1600 °C because of the microstructure deterioration and the formation of strongly bonded fiber–matrix interface. Therefore, it is concluded that the high temperature mechanical properties under vacuum were related to the consisting phase, the matrix microstructure, and the thermally-induced residual stresses.

Primary bone tumors especially, sarcomas affect adolescents the most because it originates from osteoblasts cells responsible for bone growth. Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are the most often used clinical treatments. Regrettably, surgical resection frequently fails to entirely eradicate the tumor, which is the primary cause of metastasis and postoperative recurrence, leading to a high death rate. Additionally, bone tumors frequently penetrate significant regions of bone, rendering them incapable of self-repair, and impairing patients' quality of life. As a result, treating bone tumors and regenerating bone in the clinic is difficult. In recent decades, numerous sorts of alternative therapy approaches have been investigated due to a lack of approved treatments. Among the novel therapeutic approaches, hydrogel-based anticancer therapy has cleared the way for the development of new targeted techniques for treating bone cancer and bone regeneration. They include strategies such as co-delivery of several drug payloads, enhancing their biodistribution and transport capabilities, normalizing accumulation, and optimizing drug release profiles to decrease the limitations of current therapy. This review discusses current advances in functionalized hydrogels to develop a new technique for treating bone tumors by reducing postoperative tumor recurrence and promoting tissue repair.

Abstract Background Hypermethylation of gene promoters has been regarded as an epigenetic regulator for gene inactivation in the development of several diseases. In the current study, we aimed to explore how long noncoding RNA X-inactive specific transcript (lncRNA XIST) function in collagen degradation in chondrocytes of osteoarthritis (OA) after tibial plateau fracture by regulating tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) promoter methylation. Methods In silico analysis was used to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs in cartilage tissues of OA. Chondrocytes were then successfully isolated from normal and OA cartilage tissues and identified, with the expressions of lncRNA XIST and TIMP-3 examined. The methylation levels of TIMP-3 promoter were determined by MS-PCR. The binding of lncRNA XIST to DNA methyltransferase and the binding of TIMP-3 promoter to DNA methyltransferase were determined by a series of experiments, including RIP, RNA pull-down, and ChIP assays. Results The differentially expressed lncRNA XIST was determined in OA. In addition, cartilage tissues of OA showed upregulation of lncRNA XIST and downregulation of TIMP-3. LncRNA XIST was primarily localized in the nucleus and was capable of binding to the promoter of TIMP-3. The silencing of lncRNA XIST decreased the methylation levels of TIMP-3 promoter and increased the expressions of TIMP-3, which consequently inhibited collagen degradation in OA chondrocytes. Furthermore, TIMP-3 over-expression reversed the effect of lncRNA XIST on collagen degradation in OA chondrocytes. Conclusion Collectively, lncRNA XIST raises collagen degradation in OA chondrocytes after tibial plateau fracture by accelerating the methylation of TIMP-3 promoter by recruiting DNA methyltransferase.