Discriminating Spectral-Spatial Feature Extraction for Hyperspectral Image Classification: A Review.

Hyperspectral images (HSIs) contain subtle spectral details and rich spatial contextures of land cover that benefit from developments in spectral imaging and space technology. The classification of HSIs, which aims to allocate an optimal label for each pixel, has broad prospects in the field of remote sensing. However, due to the redundancy between bands and complex spatial structures, the effectiveness of the shallow spectral-spatial features extracted by traditional machine-learning-based methods tends to be unsatisfying. Over recent decades, various methods based on deep learning in the field of computer vision have been proposed to allow for the discrimination of spectral-spatial representations for classification. In this article, the crucial factors to discriminate spectral-spatial features are systematically summarized from the perspectives of feature extraction and feature optimization. For feature extraction, techniques to ensure the discrimination of spectral features, spatial features, and spectral-spatial features are illustrated based on the characteristics of hyperspectral data and the architecture of models. For feature optimization, techniques to adjust the feature distances between classes in the classification space are introduced in detail. Finally, the characteristics and limitations of these techniques and future challenges in facilitating the discrimination of features for HSI classification are also discussed further.

Classification, application, multifarious activities and production improvement of lipopeptides produced by Bacillus.

Lipopeptides, a class of compounds consisting of a peptide ring and a fatty acid chain, are secondary metabolites produced by Bacillus spp. As their hydrophilic and oleophilic properties, lipopeptides are widely used in food, medicine, environment and other industrial or agricultural fields. Compared with artificial synthetic surfactants, microbial lipopeptides have the advantages of low toxicity, high efficiency and versatility, resulting in urgent market demand and broad development prospect of lipopeptides. However, due to the complex metabolic network and precursor requirements of synthesis, the specific and strict synthesis pathway, and the coexistence of multiple homologous substances, the production of lipopeptides by microorganisms has the problems of high cost and low production efficiency, limiting the mass production of lipopeptides and large-scale application in industry. This review summarizes the types of Bacillus-produced lipopeptides and their biosynthetic pathways, introduces the versatility of lipopeptides, and describes the methods to improve the production of lipopeptides, including genetic engineering and optimization of fermentation conditions.

Production and excretion of astaxanthin by engineered Yarrowia lipolytica using plant oil as both the carbon source and the biocompatible extractant.

This study aimed to develop a bioprocess using plant oil as the carbon source for lipid-assimilating yeast to produce high-value astaxanthin. Using high-oleic safflower oil as a model, efficient cell growth and astaxanthin production by the engineered Yarrowia lipolytica strain ST7403 was demonstrated, and a considerable portion of astaxanthin was found excreted into the spent oil. Astaxanthin was the predominant carotenoid in the extracellular oil phase that allowed facile in situ recovery of astaxanthin without cell lysis. Autoclaving the safflower oil medium elevated the peroxide level but it declined quickly during fermentation (reduced by 84% by day 3) and did not inhibit cell growth or astaxanthin production. In a 1.5-L fed-batch bioreactor culture with a YnB-based medium containing 20% safflower oil, and with the feeding of casamino acids, astaxanthin production reached 54 mg/L (53% excreted) in 28 days. Further improvement in astaxanthin titer and productivity was achieved by restoring leucine biosynthesis in the host, and running fed-batch fermentation using a high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio yeast extract/peptone medium containing 70% safflower oil, with feeding of additional yeast extract/peptone, to attain 167 mg/L astaxanthin (48% excreted) in 9.5 days of culture. These findings facilitate industrial microbial biorefinery development that utilizes renewable lipids as feedstocks to not only produce high-value products but also effectively extract and recover the products, including non-native ones.Key Points• Yarrowia lipolytica can use plant oil as a C-source for astaxanthin production.• Astaxanthin is excreted and accumulated in the extracellular oil phase.• Astaxanthin is the predominant carotenoid in the extracellular oil phase.• Plant oil serves as a biocompatible solvent for in situ astaxanthin extraction. Graphical abstract.

Effects and mechanism of free amino acids on browning in the processing of black garlic.

BACKGROUND: Black garlic is produced by heating raw garlic at a high temperature for a long time without any additives. The thermal processing induces many chemical reactions, such as the Maillard reaction, which causes the color change from white to dark brown. Garlic contains a variety of amino acids, and the effect of each amino acid on browning is not fully understood. This work investigated the effect and mechanism of free amino acids on the browning of black garlic using model solutions containing garlic neutral polysaccharide, hydrolyzed garlic neutral polysaccharide, fructose, and free amino acids. RESULTS: A significant increase in reducing sugar was detected when garlic neutral polysaccharide was heated with glycine. The browning intensity of garlic neutral polysaccharide-glycine model solution was obviously higher after heating at 80 °C compared with that of garlic neutral polysaccharide solution. The model solution containing histidine had the greatest browning degree. The histidine model has a stable pH value, and almost no 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was detected. CONCLUSION: Amino acid can promote the breaking of the garlic neutral polysaccharide chain and can react with the fructose generated to form browning. Histidine has the greatest effect on the browning, because histidine could eliminate the inhibiting effect of organic acid on Maillard reaction due to the buffer ability, and histidine had high reactivity in the late stage of Maillard reaction. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization, Variables, and Antioxidant Activity of the Maillard Reaction in a Fructose⁻Histidine Model System.

Fructose and its polysaccharides are widely found in fruits and vegetables, with the Maillard reaction of fructose affecting food quality. This study aimed to investigate the Maillard reaction of fructose using a fructose⁻histidine model system. The reaction process was characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The effects of temperature, initial reactant concentration, initial fructose concentration, initial histidine concentration, and initial pH value on the different stages of the Maillard reaction were studied. Reactant reduction, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra, acetic acid content, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) content, and browning intensity were evaluated. The results showed that increasing the temperature and reactant concentration promoted the condensation reaction of fructose and amino acid in the early stage, the formation of intermediate products with ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence in the intermediate stage, and the formation of pigment in the final stage. The 5-HMF concentration decreased with increasing histidine concentration and initial pH value. Changes in the shape of ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra showed that the initial pH value affected not only the reaction rate, but also the intermediate product types. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging rate of the Maillard reaction products increased with increasing temperature, reactant concentration, and initial pH value.

Effects of temperature on the quality of black garlic.

BACKGROUND: Black garlic is a type of garlic product that is generally produced by heating raw garlic at high temperature with controlled humidity for more than 30 days. Black garlic has appeared on the market for many years. It is crucial to investigate the characteristics of quality formation of black garlic during processing at various temperatures. RESULTS: In this study, fresh garlic was processed to black garlic at temperatures of 60, 70, 80 and 90 °C. Moisture, amino acid nitrogen and allicin contents decreased gradually during thermal processing of various temperatures. Reducing sugar, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, total phenols, total acids contents and browning increased. The changing rate of quality indicators and flavour of black garlic varied at different temperatures. Browning intensity reached about 74 when black garlic aged. The sensory score was significantly higher in black garlic aged at 70 °C (39.95 ± 0.31) compared with that at other temperatures, suggesting that 70 °C might facilitate formation of good quality and flavour of black garlic during processing. CONCLUSION: Temperature had a remarkable impact on the quality and flavour of black garlic. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

TrkA promotes MDM2-mediated AGPS ubiquitination and degradation to trigger prostate cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: As a novel necrosis manner, ferroptosis has been increasingly reported to play a role in tumor progression and treatment, however, the specific mechanisms underlying its development in prostate cancer remain unclear. Growing evidence showed that peroxisome plays a key role in ferroptosis. Herein, we identified a novel mechanism for the involvement of ferroptosis in prostate cancer progression, which may provide a new strategy for clinical treatment of prostate cancer. METHODS: Label-Free Mass spectrometry was used to screen and identify candidate proteins after ferroptosis inducer-ML210 treatment. Immunohistochemistry was undertaken to explore the protein expression of AGPS in prostate cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. Co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down were used to identify the directly binding of AGPS to MDM2 in vivo and in vitro. CCK8 assay and colony formation assay were used to illustrate the key role of AGPS in the progression of prostate cancer in vitro. The xenograft model was established to verify the key role of AGPS in the progression of prostate cancer in vivo. RESULTS: AGPS protein expression was downregulated in prostate cancer tissues compared with normal tissues from the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University dataset. Lower expression was correlated with poorer overall survival of patients compared to those with high expression of AGPS. In addition, AGPS can promote ferroptosis by modulating the function of peroxisome-resulting in the lower survival of prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, it was shown that AGPS can be ubiquitinated and degraded by the E3 ligase-MDM2 through the proteasomal pathway. Meanwhile, kinase TrkA can promote the combination of AGPS and MDM2 by phosphorylating AGPS at Y451 site. It was verified that kinase TrkA inhibitor-Larotrectinib can increase the susceptibility of prostate cancer cells to ferroptosis, which leads to the inhibition of prostate cancer proliferation to a great extent in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, we proposed the combination of ferroptosis inducer and TrkA inhibitor to synergistically exert anti-tumor effects, which may provide a new strategy for the clinical treatment of prostate cancer.

Extraction, purification and anticancer activity studies on triterpenes from pomegranate peel.

Pomegranate peel is the by-product of pomegranate processing, which contains a lot of triterpene compounds. In this study, the total triterpenes of pomegranate peel (TPP) were extracted using an ultrasonic-assisted ethanol extraction method under optimal conditions, purified using D-101 macroporous resin to obtain a purity of 75.28%. The triterpenes in TPP were mainly pentacyclic triterpenes determined by LC-MS/MS. Network pharmacological analysis predicted that the anticancer targets were closely related to the MAPK pathway. The in vitro results showed that TPP could inhibit cell proliferation, promote apoptosis, reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and increase ROS levels. The western blot results indicated that the expression levels of the apoptotic proteins Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome C, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were increased. In addition, the protein expression of the MAPK pathway predicted by network pharmacology also changed significantly. These results provided that TPP has potential for adjuvant therapy of tumors.

Monitoring the fluctuation of hydrogen peroxide with a near-infrared fluorescent probe for the diagnosis and management of kidney injury.

Kidney injury has become an increasing concern for patients because of environmental hazards and physiological factors. However, the early diagnosis of kidney injury remains challenging. Studies have shown that oxidative stress was closely related to the occurrence and development of kidney injury, in which abnormal hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production was a common characteristic. Consequently, monitoring H2O2 level changes is essential for the diagnosis and management of kidney injury. Herein, based on fluorescence imaging advantages, a near-infrared fluorescent probe DHX-1 was designed to detect H2O2. DHX-1 showed high sensitivity and selectivity toward H2O2, with a fast response time and excellent imaging capacity for H2O2 in living cells and zebrafish. DHX-1 could detect H2O2 in pesticide-induced HK-2 cells, revealing the main cause of kidney injury caused by pesticides. Moreover, we performed fluorescence imaging, which confirmed H2O2 fluctuation in kidney injury caused by uric acid. In addition, DHX-1 achieved rapid screening of active compounds to ameliorate pesticide-induced kidney injury. This study presents a tool and strategy for monitoring H2O2 levels that could be employed for the early diagnosis and effective management of kidney injury.

Evaluating the hypolipidemic effect of garlic essential oil encapsulated in a novel double-layer delivery system.

The limited application of garlic essential oil (GEO) is attributed to its pungent taste, poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Liposomes are nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible, and ß-cyclodextrin can inhibit undesirable odors and improve the stability and bioavailability. Thus a promising dual-layer GEO ß-cyclodextrin inclusion compound liposome (GEO-DCL) delivery system with both advantages was designed and prepared in this study. Experimental results indicated that the encapsulation efficiency of GEO-DCLs was 5% higher than that of GEO liposomes (GEO-CLs), reaching more than 88%. In vitro release experiment showed that the release rate of GEO in GEO-DCLs was 40% lower than that of GEO-CLs after incubation in gastric juice for 6-h, indicating that the stability of GEO-DCLs was better than GEO-CLs. Evaluation of the effects of GEO-DCLs on lowering blood lipid levels in hypercholesterolemia mice. GEO-DCLs could reduce the weight and fat deposition in hypercholesterolemia mice. Inhibiting the increase of TC, LDL-C, and decrease of HDL-C in mice. The degree of liver injury was decreased, the number of round lipid droplets in liver cytoplasm was reduced, and the growth of fat cells was inhibited. The lipid-lowering effects of GEO-DCLs were dose-dependent. GEO-DCL can improve the bioavailability of GEO and improve dyslipidemia. Based on GEO's efficacy in lowering blood lipids, this study developed a kind of GEO-DCL compound pomegranate juice beverage with good taste, miscibility and double effect of reducing blood lipids. This study lays a foundation for the application of GEO in the field of functional food.

8-Br-cGMP activates HSPB6 and increases the antineoplastic activity of quinidine in prostate cancer.

Heat shock protein family B [small] member 6 (HSPB6), widely found in various muscles, has been recently identified as a tumor suppressor gene. However, its role in prostate cancer remains unexplored. Herein, we investigated the expression of HSPB6 in prostate cancer and its association with prognosis. Our findings revealed that HSPB6 downregulation in prostate cancer correlated with a poor prognosis. Moreover, we discovered that HSPB6 can be phosphorylated and activated by 8-Br-cGMP, leading to apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by activating Cofilin. Additionally, we demonstrated that knocking down E2F1 by quinidine administration enhances the transcriptional level of HSPB6. Furthermore, we evaluated the combination of quinidine and 8-Br-cGMP as a potential therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer. Our results revealed that the combined treatment was more effective than either treatment alone in inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer through the HSPB6 pathway, both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our study provides compelling evidence that HSPB6 suppresses malignant behavior in prostate cancer by inducing apoptosis. The combination of quinidine and 8-Br-cGMP emerges as a promising approach for the treatment of prostate cancer.

PDE3B regulates KRT6B and increases the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to copper ionophores.

Cuproptosis is a new Cu-dependent programmed cell death manner that has shown regulatory functions in many tumor types, however, its mechanism in bladder cancer remains unclear. Here, we reveal that Phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE3B), a cuproptosis-associated gene, could reduce the invasion and migration of bladder cancer. PDE3B is downregulated in bladder cancer tissues, which is correlated with better prognosis. Conversely, overexpression of PDE3B in bladder cancer cell could significantly resist invasion and migration, which is consistent with the TCGA database results. Future study demonstrate the anti-cancer effect of PDE3B is mediated by Keratin 6B (KRT6B) which leads to the keratinization. Therefore, PDE3B can reduce KRT6B expression and inhibit the invasion and migration of bladder cancer. Meanwhile, increased expression of PDE3B was able to enhance the sensitivity of Cuproptosis drug thiram. This study show that PDE3B/KRT6B is a potential cancer therapeutic target and PDE3B activation is able to increase the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to copper ionophores.

Punicalagin attenuates hyperuricemia via restoring hyperuricemia-induced renal and intestinal dysfunctions.

INTRODUCTION: It is estimated that 90% of hyperuricemia cases are attributed to the inability to excrete uric acid (UA). The two main organs in charge of excreting UA are the kidney (70%) and intestine (30%). Previous studies have reported that punicalagin (PU) could protect against kidney and intestinal damages, which makes it a potential candidate for alleviating hyperuricemia. However, the effects and deeper action mechanisms of PU for managing hyperuricemia are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and action mechanisms of PU for ameliorating hyperuricemia. METHODS: The effects and action mechanisms of PU on hyperuricemia were assessed using a hyperuricemia mice model. Phenotypic parameters, metabolomics analysis, and 16S rRNA sequencing were applied to explore the effect and fundamental action mechanisms inside the kidney and intestine of PU for improving hyperuricemia. RESULTS: PU administration significantly decreased elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels in hyperuricemia mice, and effectively alleviated the kidney and intestinal damage caused by hyperuricemia. In the kidney, PU down-regulated the expression of UA resorption protein URAT1 and GLUT9, while up-regulating the expression of UA excretion protein ABCG2 and OAT1 as mediated via the activation of MAKP/NF-κB in hyperuricemia mice. Additionally, PU attenuated renal glycometabolism disorder, which contributed to improving kidney dysfunction and inflammation. Similarly, PU increased UA excretion protein expression via inhibiting MAKP/NF-κB activation in the intestine of hyperuricemia mice. Furthermore, PU restored gut microbiota dysbiosis in hyperuricemia mice. CONCLUSION: This research revealed the ameliorating impacts of PU on hyperuricemia by restoring kidney and intestine damage in hyperuricemia mice, and to be considered for the development of nutraceuticals used as UA-lowering agent.

Macroalgae as biofactories of metal nanoparticles; biosynthesis and food applications.

Nanotechnology has opened a new frontier in recent years, capable of providing new ways of controlling and structuring products with greater market value and offering significant opportunities for the development of innovative applications in food processing, preservation, and packaging. Macroalgae (MAG) are the major photoautotrophic group of living beings known as a potential source of secondary metabolites, namely phenolic compounds, pigments, and polysaccharides. Biosynthesis based on the abilities of MAG as "nanobiofactories" targets the use of algal secondary metabolites as reducing agents to stabilize nanoparticles (NPs). Nowadays, most of the studies are focused on the use of metal (Ag, Au) and metal-oxide (CuO, ZnO) NPs derived from algae. The eco-friendly biosynthesis of metal NPs reduces the cost and production time and increases their biocompatibility, due to the presence of bioactive compounds in MAG, making them suitable for a wide variety of applications. These compounds have been attributed to the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties responsible for their application through innovative technologies such as nanoencapsulation, nanocomposites, or biosensors in the food industry. Nevertheless, toxicity is a key factor that should be considered, so the applicable regulation needs to guarantee the safe use of metal NPs. Consequently, the aim of this review will be to compile the available information on MAG-mediated metal NPs, their biosynthesis, and potential food applications.

Camellia japonica Flowers as a Source of Nutritional and Bioactive Compounds.

In recent decades, plants have strengthened their relevance as sources of molecules potentially beneficial for health. This underpinning effect also arises from the extensive research that has been conducted on plants that are typically undervalued, besides being scarcely used. This is the case with Camellia japonica in Galicia (NW Spain), where, despite its abundance, it is exclusively used for ornamental purposes and has been studied only for its proximate composition. Thus, the present study was conducted on several additional parameters in the flowers of eight C. japonica varieties. Our results show that camellia has a high nutritional value, with carbohydrates as the most abundant macronutrients followed by a moderate protein content (4.4-6.3 g/100 g dry weight) and high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially ω-3 fatty acids, which represent 12.9-22.7% of the total fatty acids), raising its potential for use for nutritional purposes. According to the thermochemical characterization and elemental composition of camellia, the raw material has poor mineralization and low nitrogen content, but high percentages of volatile matter and high carbon-fixation rates, making it a promising alternative for biofuel production. Furthermore, preliminary analysis reveals a high concentration of different bioactive compounds. As a result of these findings, camellias can be used as food or functional ingredients to improve the nutritional quality of food formulations.

Molecular mechanisms of the chemical constituents from anti-inflammatory and antioxidant active fractions of Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki.

Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki is a rare medicinal mushroom that has been reported to play a role in scavenging free radicals, protecting the liver, and inhibiting tumor cell activity. In this study, crude extracts were prepared, and 47 triterpenoids were identified by Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole time-of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Triple TOF-MS/MS). Then, the crude extracts were subjected to column chromatography for the first time to obtain six fractions (Fr. (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f)). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory active tracking assays of all fractions found that Fr. (c) exhibited the strongest bioactivity. Subsequently, the chemical composition of Fr. (c) was clarified, and eight triterpenoids were determined in combination with the standard substances. In addition, this study demonstrated that Fr. (c) reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further studies showed that Fr. (c) could down-regulate the expression level of proteins associated of NF-κB signaling pathway, and upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 protein level. In conclusion, our study showed that Fr. (c) inhibited LPS-mediated inflammatory response and oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inactivating the NF-κB pathway. In the future, with the clearing of its composition and activity mechanism, Fr. (c) of G. neo-japonicum are expected to become a functional food for health and longevity.

Improved colonic inflammation by nervonic acid via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway of DSS-induced colitis mice.

BACKGROUND: Nervonic acid (C24:1∆15, 24:1 ω-9, cis-tetracos-15-enoic acid; NA), a long-chain monounsaturated fatty acid, plays an essential role in prevention of metabolic diseases, and immune regulation, and has anti-inflammatory properties. As a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) can affect the large intestine. The influences of NA on UC are largely unknown. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to decipher the anti-UC effect of NA in the mouse colitis model. Specifically, we wanted to explore whether NA can regulate the levels of inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 cells and mouse colitis model. METHODS: To address the above issues, the RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), then the inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The therapeutic effects of NA for UC were evaluated using C57BL/6 mice gavaged dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) kit assay, ELISA, immunofluorescence assay, and LC-MS/MS were used to assess histological changes, MPO levels, inflammatory factors release, expression and distribution of intestinal tight junction (TJ) protein ZO-1, and metabolic pathways, respectively. The levels of proteins involved in the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway in the UC were investigated by western blotting and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: In vitro experiments verified that NA could reduce inflammatory response and inhibit the activation of key signal pathways associated with inflammation in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Further, results from the mouse colitis model suggested that NA could restore intestinal barrier function and suppress NF-κB signal pathways to ameliorate DSS-induced colitis. In addition, untargeted metabolomics analysis of NA protection against UC found that NA protected mice from colitis by regulating citrate cycle, amino acid metabolism, pyrimidine and purine metabolism. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that NA could ameliorate the secretion of inflammatory factors, suppress the NF-κB signaling pathway, and protect the integrity of colon tissue, thereby having a novel role in prevention or treatment therapy for UC. This work for the first time indicated that NA might be a potential functional food ingredient for preventing and treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

The antihyperuricemia activity of Astragali Radix through regulating the expression of uric acid transporters via PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Astragali Radix (AR) is the dry root of the leguminous plants Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Beg. var. mongholicus (Beg) Hsiao, and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge., being used as a medicinal and edible resource. AR is used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions to treat hyperuricemia, but this particular effect is rarely reported, and the associated mechanism of action is still need to be elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To research the uric acid (UA)-lowering activity and mechanism of AR and the representative compounds through the constructed hyperuricemia mouse and cellular models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, the chemical profile of AR was analysed by UHPLC-QE-MS, as well as the mechanism of action of AR and the representative compounds on hyperuricemia was studied through the constructed hyperuricemia mouse and cellular models. RESULTS: The main compounds in AR were terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids. Mice group treated with the highest AR dosage showed significantly lower (p < 0.0001) serum uric acid (208 ± 9 µmol/L) than the control group (317 ± 11 µmol/L). Furthermore, UA increased in a dose-dependence manner in urine and faeces. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen standards, as well as xanthine oxidase in mice liver, decreased (p < 0.05) in all cases, indicating that AR could relieve acute hyperuricemia. UA reabsorption protein (URAT1 and GLUT9) was down-regulated in AR administration groups, while the secretory protein (ABCG2) was up-regulated, indicating that AR could promote the excretion of UA by regulating UA transporters via PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. CONCLUSION: This study validated the activity, and revealed the mechanism of AR in reducing UA, which provided experimental and clinical basis for the treatment of hyperuricemia with it.

Characterization of the physicochemical, thermal and rheological properties of cashew kernel starch.

The study aimed to characterize physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties of cashew nut starch (CNS) and then compare the obtained results with the properties of potato and corn starches. CNS showed higher gelatinization temperatures (112.29 °C) than those noted for potato and maize starches (78.44-94.65 °C). In addition, CNS had higher peak viscosity (19.03 mPa·s) than high amylose corn starch. The static shear rheological test indicated that the CNS followed a pseudoplastic behavior. In addition, CNS sample showed a thixotropic patter, which was less pronounced than that observed for potato starch, but higher than the value reported for high amylose corn starch. These results demonstrated that the shear resistance of CNS was lower than high amylose corn starch, but higher than potato starch. The storage and loss modulus (G' and G", respectively) of the CNS were higher than those reported for the rest of samples. In this line, elastic properties were predominant in CNS sample. In conclusion, results from this study provided insight into physicochemical and structural properties of cashew nut starch, which could represent a preliminary step for its future application in food processing.

Fucoxanthin's Optimization from Undaria pinnatifida Using Conventional Heat Extraction, Bioactivity Assays and In Silico Studies.

Brown macroalgae are a potential source of natural pigments. Among them, Undaria pinnatifida is recognized for its high concentration of fucoxanthin (Fx), which is a pigment with a wide range of bioactivities. In this study, three independent parameters were optimized for conventional heat extraction (CHE) to maximize the recovery of Fx from Undaria pinnatifida. Optimal conditions (temperature = 45 °C, solvent = 70%, and time = 61 min) extracted 5.1 mg Fx/g dw. Later, the bioactivities of the Fx-rich extracts (antioxidant, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective) were assessed using in vitro and in silico approaches. In vitro assays indicated that Fx has a strong antioxidant capacity and even stronger antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. This data was supported in silico where Fx established a high binding affinity to DR, a Staphylococcus aureus protein, through aa ALA-8, LEU-21, and other alkane interactions. Finally, the in vitro enzymatic inhibition of AChE using Fx, was further supported using docking models that displayed Fx as having a high affinity for aa TYR72 and THR 75; therefore, the Fx extraction behavior explored in this work may reduce the costs associated with energy and solvent consumption. Moreover, this paper demonstrates the efficiency of CHE when recovering high amounts of Fx from Undaria pinnatifida. Furthermore, these findings can be applied in different industries.