Comparative and phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of ten Pittosporum species from East Asia.

Pittosporum (Pittosporaceae) is famous as the ornamental and medical values, which is distributed tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Hemisphere. The few phylogenetic studies have included samples from the Pacific Island, but the phylogenetic relationships of Asian species has not been studied. Here, the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of ten Pittosporum species from East Asia were first sequenced and compared with those of the published species of this genus. Our results indicated that cp genomes of these species had a typical and conserved quadripartite structure. 131 genes were identical in order and orientation and no changes of inverted repeat (IR) occurred. However, the comparative analysis of cp genomes suggested that sequence divergence mainly appeared in non-coding or intergenic regions, in which several divergence hotspots were identified. By contrast, protein-coding genes showed the lowest variance under strong purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genome sequences showed that the tested Pittosporum species were clustered into two major clades, in which the Asian species formed Clade I and the remaining species from Australia and New Zealand formed Clade II with high support values, which was consistent with the results of ITS data with low support values. These results suggested that cp genome is a robust phylogenetic indicator for deep nodes in the phylogeny of Pittosporum. Meanwhile, these results will provide the valuable information to better understand the phylogeny and biogeography of Pittosporum.

A Holistic Additive Protocol Steers Dendrite-Free Zn(101) Orientational Electrodeposition.

Orientation guidance has shown its cutting edges in electrodeposition modulation to promote Zn anode stability toward commercialized standards. Nevertheless, large-scale orientational deposition is handicapped by the competition between Zn-ion reduction and mass transfer. Herein, a holistic electrolyte additive protocol is put forward via incorporating bio-derived dextrin molecules into a zinc sulfate electrolyte bath. Electrochemical tests in combination with molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate the alleviation of concentration polarization throughout accelerating Zn2+ diffusion and retarding their reduction. The predominant (101) texture on inert current collectors (i.e., Cu, Ti, and stainless steel) and (101)/(002) textures on Zn foils afford homogeneous electrical field distribution, which is contributed by the work difference to form the 2D nucleus and the adsorption of dextrin molecules, respectively. Consequently, the symmetric cell harvests a longevous cycling lifespan of over 4000 h at 0.5 mA cm-2 /0.5 mAh cm-2 while the Zn@Cu electrode sustains for 240 h at a high depth of discharge of 40%.

Experimental and Quantum Chemical Calculations on the High-Efficiency Transesterification of Dimethyl Carbonate with Alcohol Catalyzed by Calcium Oxide.

Typical catalysts used in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) transesterification encounter challenges in terms of environmental sustainability and economic viability. Calcium oxide (CaO), being an environmentally friendly and cost-effective catalyst, exhibits favorable compatibility with the criteria above. It has been conclusively demonstrated that CaO performs high efficiency as a catalyst for the transesterification between alcohols and DMC. The optimal conditions for the CaO-catalyzed transesterification of DMC and 1-octanol were determined (90 °C, 17 h, and CaO/1-octanol/DMC molar ratio = 0.3:1.0:40.0), under which the conversion of 1-octanol reaches 98.3%, while the yield and selectivity of methyl octyl carbonate are 98.1 and 99.9%, and CaO has been proven to have the efficient ability to be recycled three times. Meanwhile, the CaO-catalyzed reaction mechanism of the transesterification of DMC with alcohol is illustrated in the quantum chemical method based on the M06-2X functional, and the structures of the corresponding transition states are simultaneously derived. The activation energy barrier is proven to be effectively decreased by the catalytic effect of CaO. In addition, the electrostatic potential diagram verifies the proposed reaction sites. This research constructs the theoretical basis for CaO-based DMC chemistry and expands the green catalysts available for the synthesis of dialkyl carbonates.

Laboratory-adapted and wild-type black soldier flies express differential plasticity in bioconversion and nutrition when reared on urban food waste streams.

BACKGROUND: The black soldier fly (BSF) offers a potential solution to address shortages of feed and food sources; however, selecting effective rearing substrates remains a major hurdle in BSF farming. In an urban area like Singapore, current practice is based on rearing BSF on homogeneous waste streams (e.g., spent brewery grains or okara) because heterogeneous food wastes (e.g., mixed kitchen/canteen waste or surplus cooked food) present several operational challenges with respect to the standardization of development, nutritional content, and harvesting. RESULTS: In this study, we compared two genetic strains of BSF larvae (wild-type and laboratory-adapted line) in a bioconversion experiment with diverse types of food waste (homogeneous/heterogeneous; plant/meat) and we quantified the phenotypic plasticity. Our results demonstrate different plasticity in bioconversion performance, larval growth and larval nutrition between the two BSF lines. This difference may be attributed to the selective breeding the laboratory-adapted line has experienced. Notably, larval lipid content displayed little to no genetic variation for plasticity compared with larval protein and carbohydrate content. Despite variation in larval development, heterogeneous food wastes can produce better performance in bioconversion, larval growth, and larval nutrient content than homogeneous food waste. All-meat diets result in high larvae mortality but larval survival could be rescued by mixing meat with plant-based food wastes. CONCLUSION: Overall, we suggest using mixed meals for BSF larvae feeding. Targeted breeding may be a promising strategy for the BSF industry but it is important to consider the selection effects on plasticity in larval nutrition carefully. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Specific capture and determination of glycoprotein using a hybrid epitopes and monomers-mediated molecular-imprinted polymer enzyme-free electrochemical biosensor.

A novel molecular-imprinted polymer (MIP)-based enzyme-free biosensor was created for the selective detection of glycoprotein transferrin (Trf). For this purpose, MIP-based biosensor for Trf was prepared by electrochemical co-polymerization of novel hybrid monomers 3-aminophenylboronic acid (M-APBA) and pyrrole on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cMWCNTs). Hybrid epitopes of Trf (C-terminal fragment and glycan) have been selected as templates. The produced sensor exhibited great selective recognition ability toward Trf under optimal preparation conditions, offering good analytical range (0.125-1.25 µM) with a detection limit of 0.024 µM. The proposed hybrid epitope in combination with hybrid monomer-mediated imprinting strategy was successfully applied to detect Trf in spiked human serum samples, with recoveries and relative standard deviations ranging from 94.7 to 106.0% and 2.64 to 5.32%, respectively. This study provided a reliable protocol for preparing hybrid epitopes and monomers-mediated MIP for the synergistic and effective determination of glycoprotein in complicated biological samples.

Artificial Interphase Layer for Stabilized Zn Anodes: Progress and Prospects.

The burgeoning Li-ion battery is regarded as a powerful energy storage system by virtue of its high energy density. However, inescapable issues concerning safety and cost aspects retard its prospect in certain application scenarios. Accordingly, strenuous efforts have been devoted to the development of the emerging aqueous Zn-ion battery (AZIB) as an alternative to inflammable organic batteries. In particular, the instability from the anode side severely impedes the commercialization of AZIB. Constructing an artificial interphase layer (AIL) has been widely employed as an effective strategy to stabilize the Zn anode. This review specializes in the state-of-the-art of AIL design for Zn anode protection, encompassing the preparation methods, mechanism investigations, and device performances based on the classification of functional materials. To begin with, the origins of Zn instability are interpreted from the perspective of electrical field, mass transfer, and nucleation process, followed by a comprehensive summary with respect to functions of AIL and its designing criteria. In the end, current challenges and future outlooks based upon theoretical and experimental considerations are included.

Photocurable bioresorbable adhesives as functional interfaces between flexible bioelectronic devices and soft biological tissues.

Flexible electronic/optoelectronic systems that can intimately integrate onto the surfaces of vital organ systems have the potential to offer revolutionary diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities relevant to a wide spectrum of diseases and disorders. The critical interfaces between such technologies and living tissues must provide soft mechanical coupling and efficient optical/electrical/chemical exchange. Here, we introduce a functional adhesive bioelectronic-tissue interface material, in the forms of mechanically compliant, electrically conductive, and optically transparent encapsulating coatings, interfacial layers or supporting matrices. These materials strongly bond both to the surfaces of the devices and to those of different internal organs, with stable adhesion for several days to months, in chemistries that can be tailored to bioresorb at controlled rates. Experimental demonstrations in live animal models include device applications that range from battery-free optoelectronic systems for deep-brain optogenetics and subdermal phototherapy to wireless millimetre-scale pacemakers and flexible multielectrode epicardial arrays. These advances have immediate applicability across nearly all types of bioelectronic/optoelectronic system currently used in animal model studies, and they also have the potential for future treatment of life-threatening diseases and disorders in humans.

An edible molecularly imprinted material prepared by a new environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent for removing oxalic acid from vegetables and human blood.

A novel deep eutectic solvent-magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (DES-MMIP) for the specific removal of oxalic acid (OA) was prepared by an environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent, consisting of betaine, citric acid, and glycerol, which acted as the functional monomer for polymerization. The structure and morphology of DES-MMIPs were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. DES-MMIPs had a core-shell structure, with magnetic iron oxide as the core, and showed good thermal stability and high adsorption capacity (18.73 mg/g) for OA. The adsorption process of OA by DES-MMIPs followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. DES-MMIPs had significant selectivity for OA and their imprinting factor was 3.26. When applied to real samples, high performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that DES-MMIPs could remove OA from both spinach and blood serum. These findings provide potential methods for removal of OA from vegetables and for specific removal of OA in renal dialysis.

Effects of dihydroartemisinin, a metabolite of artemisinin, on colon cancer chemoprevention and adaptive immune regulation.

BACKGROUND: Artemisinin (ART) is an anti-malaria natural compound with a moderate anticancer action. As a metabolite of ART, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) may have stronger anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) bioactivities. However, the effects of DHA and ART on CRC chemoprevention, including adaptive immune regulation, have not been systematically evaluated and compared. METHODS: Coupled with a newly-established HPLC analytical method, enteric microbiome biotransformation was conducted to identify if the DHA is a gut microbial metabolite of ART. The anti-CRC potential of these compounds was compared using two different human CRC cell lines for cell cycle arrest, apoptotic induction, and anti-inflammation activities. Naive CD4+ T cells were also obtained for testing the compounds on the differentiation of Treg, Th1 and Th17. RESULTS: Using compound extraction and analytical methods, we observed for the first time that ART completely converted into its metabolites by gut microbiome within 24 h, but no DHA was detected. Although ART did not obviously influence cancer cell growth in the concentration tested, DHA very significantly inhibited the cancer cell growth at relatively low concentrations. DHA included G2/M cell cycle arrest via upregulation of cyclin A and apoptosis. Both ART and DHA downregulated the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. The DHA significantly promoted Treg cell proliferation, while both ART and DHA inhibited Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: As a metabolite of ART, DHA possessed stronger anti-CRC activities. The DHA significantly inhibited cell growth via cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction and anti-inflammation actions. The adaptive immune regulation is a related mechanism of actions for the observed effects.

Harnessing the interface mechanics of hard films and soft substrates for 3D assembly by controlled buckling.

Techniques for forming sophisticated, 3D mesostructures in advanced, functional materials are of rapidly growing interest, owing to their potential uses across a broad range of fundamental and applied areas of application. Recently developed approaches to 3D assembly that rely on controlled buckling mechanics serve as versatile routes to 3D mesostructures in a diverse range of high-quality materials and length scales of relevance for 3D microsystems with unusual function and/or enhanced performance. Nonlinear buckling and delamination behaviors in materials that combine both weak and strong interfaces are foundational to the assembly process, but they can be difficult to control, especially for complex geometries. This paper presents theoretical and experimental studies of the fundamental aspects of adhesion and delamination in this context. By quantifying the effects of various essential parameters on these processes, we establish general design diagrams for different material systems, taking into account 4 dominant delamination states (wrinkling, partial delamination of the weak interface, full delamination of the weak interface, and partial delamination of the strong interface). These diagrams provide guidelines for the selection of engineering parameters that avoid interface-related failure, as demonstrated by a series of examples in 3D helical mesostructures and mesostructures that are reconfigurable based on the control of loading-path trajectories. Three-dimensional micromechanical resonators with frequencies that can be selected between 2 distinct values serve as demonstrative examples.

Efficient Catalysts for the Green Synthesis of Adipic Acid from Biomass.

Green synthesis of adipic acid from renewable biomass is a very attractive goal of sustainable chemistry. Herein, we report efficient catalysts for a two-step transformation of cellulose-derived glucose into adipic acid via glucaric acid. Carbon nanotube-supported platinum nanoparticles are found to work efficiently for the oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid. An activated carbon-supported bifunctional catalyst composed of rhenium oxide and palladium is discovered to be powerful for the removal of four hydroxyl groups in glucaric acid, affording adipic acid with a 99 % yield. Rhenium oxide functions for the deoxygenation but is less efficient for four hydroxyl group removal. The co-presence of palladium not only catalyzes the hydrogenation of olefin intermediates but also synergistically facilitates the deoxygenation. This work presents a green route for adipic acid synthesis and offers a bifunctional-catalysis strategy for efficient deoxygenation.

Rapid measurements of curcumin from complex samples coupled with magnetic biocompatibility molecularly imprinted polymer using electrochemical detection.

Curcumin widely exists in food, and rapid selective and accurate detection of curcumin have great significance in chemical industry. In this experiment, a new magnetic biocompatibility molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared with nontoxic and biocompatible Zein to adsorb curcumin selectively. The polymer has high biocompatibility, good adsorption capacity, and specific adsorption for curcumin. Combined with portable electrochemical workstations, the polymer can be used to detect curcumin rapidly and cost-effectively. Using curcumin as a template and Zein as the crosslinking agent, the polymers were synthesized on the surface of Fe3 O4 particles for solid phase extraction. The experimental results showed that the polymer reached large adsorption capacity (32.12 mg/g) with fast kinetics (20 min). The adsorption characteristic of the polymer followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Hexacyanoferrate was used as electrochemical probe to generate signals, and the linear range was 5-200 µg/mL for measuring curcumin. The experimental analysis showed that the polymer was an ideal material for selective accumulation of curcumin from complex samples. This approach has been successfully applied to the determination of curcumin in food samples with electrochemical detection, indicating that this is a feasible and practical technique.

Human intestinal microbiota derived metabolism signature from a North American native botanical Oplopanax horridus with UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis.

Oplopanax horridus, widely distributed in North America, is an herbal medicine traditionally used by Pacific indigenous peoples for various medical conditions. After oral ingestion, constituents in O. horridus extract (OhE) could be converted to their metabolites by the enteric microbiome before absorption. In this study, in order to mimic gut environment, the OhE was biotransformed using the enteric microbiome of healthy human subjects. For accurate and reliable data collection with optimized approaches in sample preparation and analytical conditions, ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to characterize parent constituents and their metabolites. In the extract, 20 parent compounds were identified including polyynes, sesquiterpenes, monoterpeondids, phenylpropanoids and phenolic acids. After the biotransformation, a total of 78 metabolites were identified, of which 37 belonged to polyynes metabolites. The common biotransformation pathways are hydroxylation, acetylization, methylation and demethylation. Based on the pathway distributions, the metabolism signature of OhE has been explored. The metabolism pathways of OhE compounds are dependent on their structural classifications and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties. In summary, with comprehensive analysis, we systematically investigated human microbiome-derived OhE metabolites. The enteric microbial metabolism signature provides novel information for future effective use of O. horridus.

[Rotective Effects of Quercetin Against the Triptolide Induced Liver Injury and Relevant Mechanism Study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effects of quercetin (QE) on triptolide (TP) induced liver injury and the relevant mechanism. METHODS: Forty C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into 4 groups, control group, TP model group, 20 mg/kg QE treatment group and 80 mg/kg QE treatment group randomly. The 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg QE groups were gastrointestinal administration with QE at the dose of 0.2 mL/10 g for 10 d, twice daily, while other groups were administrated with equivalent normal saline. Four hours post the last dose, animals were gastrointestinal administered with TP at a dose of 500 µg/kg per mouse, except for NS control. All the mice were sacrificed 22 h later, blood and liver tissue samples were collected. The pathologic change of liver tissue was detected by HE staining. The level of aminotransferase (AST) and aspartate alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum, and the level of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver tissue homogenates were detected using the commercial kits. The level of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-10 and IL-6 in liver tissue homogenates was measured by ELISA. Hepatic expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, in the TP model group, hepatic lobule structure atrophied and even disappeared, hepatic cell necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration are obvious. Additionally, in TP model group, serum ALT, AST and MDA levels were significantly increased, SOD and GSH levels were decreased, IL-6 and IL-17 levels were increased, IL-10 levels were decreased, and TLR4 protein levels were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the TP model group, liver tissue injury and inflammatory cell infiltration were reduced in the QE group, and serum levels of ALT, AST, MDA, IL-6 and IL-17 were all decreased. TLR4 expression was down-regulated (P < 0.05) in both QE groups, and the decease levle was more significant in the high-dose QE group (P < 0.05, compared with the low-dose QE group). CONCLUSION: Quercetin can reduce TP-induced liver injury by reducing oxidative damage, promoting antioxidant and regulating cytokine secretion.

Preparation and evaluation of temperature and magnetic dual-responsive molecularly imprinted polymers for the specific enrichment of formononetin.

Thermo-responsive magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared by simple surface molecular imprinting polymerization for the selective adsorption and enrichment of formononetin from Trifolium pretense by temperature regulation. Using formononetin as a template, N-isopropylacrylamide as the thermo-responsive functional monomer, and methacrylic acid as an assisting functional monomer, the polymers were synthesized on the surface of the magnetic substrate. The results show that imprinted polymers attained controlled adsorption of formononetin in response to the temperature change, with large adsorption capacity (16.43 mg/g), fast kinetics (60 min) and good selectivity at 35°C compared with that at 25 and 45°C. The selectivity experiment indicated that the materials had excellent recognition ability for formononetin and the selectivity factors were between 1.32 and 2.98 towards genistein and daidzein. The excellent linearity was attained in the range of 5-100 µg/mL, with low detection limits and low quantitation limits of 0.017 and 0.063 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the thermo-responsive magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers were successfully utilized for enriching and purifying formononetin from Trifolium pretense. The analytical results indicate that the imprinted polymers are promising materials for selective identification and enrichment of formononetin in complicated herbal medicines by simple temperature-responsive regulation.

Cytochrome P450 CYP6EV11 in Chironomus kiiensis Larvae Involved in Phenol Stress.

Phenol is one of the organic pollutants which can cause water environment pollution. It is not only enriched in aquatic organisms but is also a serious threat to human health. Chironomus kiiensis is very sensitive to the contaminants in water and its cytochrome P450s are usually chosen as biomarkers for water pollution. To examine whether CYP6EV11 plays a role in the oxidative metabolism of phenol, we measured the silencing efficiency of CYP6EV11 and evaluated larval susceptibility to sublethal phenol levels by RNA interference (RNAi) technology. The results showed that the transcription of CYP6EV11 was found significantly up-regulated when the 4th instar C.kiiensis larvae were exposed to three doses of phenol. However, the transcriptional levels of CYP6EV11 were significantly suppressed by 92.7% in the 4th instar C. kiiensis larvae soaked in dsCYP6EV11 compared with those soaked in dsGFP for 6 h. The CYP6EV11 expression and mortality of the 4th instar C. kiiensis larvae with CYP6EV11 silencing were mostly decreased under phenol stress. Therefore, the CYP6EV11 gene may be used as a molecular biomarker for earlier warning and monitoring for water pollution.

Significant difference in active metabolite levels of ginseng in humans consuming Asian or Western diet: The link with enteric microbiota.

After ingestion of ginseng, the bioavailability of its parent compounds is low and enteric microbiota plays an important role in parent compound biotransformation to their metabolites. Diet type can influence the enteric microbiota profile. When human subjects on different diets ingest ginseng, their different gut microbiota profiles may influence the metabolism of ginseng parent compounds. In this study, the effects of different diet type on gut microbiota metabolism of American ginseng saponins were investigated. We recruited six healthy adults who regularly consumed different diet types. These subjects received 7 days' oral American ginseng, and their biological samples were collected for LC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. We observed significant ginsenoside Rb1 (a major parent compound) and compound K (a major active metabolite) level differences in the samples from the subjects consuming different diets. Subjects on an Asian diet had much higher Rb1 levels but much lower compound K levels compared with those on a Western diet. Since compound K possesses much better cancer chemoprevention potential, our data suggested that consumers on a Western diet should obtain better cancer prevention effects with American ginseng intake compared with those on an Asian diet. Ginseng compound levels could be enhanced or reduced via gut microbiota manipulation for clinical utility.

Biotransformation and metabolic profile of anemoside B4 with rat small and large intestine microflora by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel is commonly used in Asia, and anemoside B4 (AB4) is its major saponin, with diverse pharmaceutical effects. Previous studies showed that intestinal flora plays an important role in the metabolism of herbs administered orally. In this study, the metabolic profile of AB4 with microflora in rat small and large intestines in vitro was investigated. Gut microflora was collected from different intestinal segments and anaerobically incubated with AB4 at 37°C for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. A total of 10 metabolites were detected and identified by ultra- performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, involving the products of oxygenation and deglycosylation reactions. Gut microflora in the large intestine generated more comprehensive metabolic pathways, which appears to be attributable to the wider range of bacterial types and numbers of bacteria. Human cancer cell lines SMMC-7721, Hela and MCF-7 were treated with metabolite pools by MTT assay, together with M6 as the greatest deglycosylation product. As a result, M6 exhibited a reduction in cell viability of SMMC-7721 with an IC50 value of 22.28 ± 1.26 µg/mL. The present study provided scientific evidence for AB4 metabolism in small and large intestines, which is helpful to reveal the active forms of AB4 in vivo.

Evaluation of affinity interaction between small molecules and platelets by open tubular affinity capillary electrochromatography.

In this paper, an open tubular affinity capillary electrochromatography (OT-ACEC) was developed by physical adsorption of rabbit platelets on the inner surface of capillary. The interactions between small molecules include adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (positive control), protocatechuic acid (negative control) and seven natural products (salvianolic acid B, salvianic acid A sodium, hydroxysafflor yellow A, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, caffeic acid) and platelets were evaluated by their retention factors and binding constants obtained based on peak-shift assay. Then, the activities of anti-platelet aggregation induced by thrombin (THR), ADP and arachidonic acid (AA) for those small molecules (except ADP) were evaluated by turbidimetric method. The results indicate that: (i) ADP, a platelet aggregation inducer, had strong interaction with platelet, while protocatechuic acid that had no inhibition on platelet aggregation behaved no specific interaction; (ii) there was a positive correlation between the anti-platelet aggregation activities of small molecules and their interactions with platelet, generally those compounds with higher binding constants with platelet exhibited higher activities. Therefore, the OT-ACEC method developed in the present study can be a potential method to evaluate affinity interactions between small molecules and platelets, so as to predict the biological activities such as anti-platelet aggregation for the small molecules.

Solid-phase microextraction technology for in vitro and in vivo metabolite analysis.

Analysis of endogenous metabolites in biological samples may lead to the identification of biomarkers in metabolomics studies. To achieve accurate sample analysis, a combined method of continuous quick sampling and extraction is required for online compound detection. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) integrates sampling, extraction and concentration into a single solvent-free step for chemical analysis. SPME has a number of advantages, including simplicity, high sensitivity and a relatively non-invasive nature. In this article, we reviewed SPME technology in in vitro and in vivo analyses of metabolites after the ingestion of herbal medicines, foods and pharmaceutical agents. The metabolites of microorganisms in dietary supplements and in the gastrointestinal tract will also be examined. As a promising technology in biomedical and pharmaceutical research, SPME and its future applications will depend on advances in analytical technologies and material science.