Sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic effects and the mechanism of action of aqueous extracts of peanut stems and leaves in mice.

INTRODUCTION: Peanut stems and leaves (PSL) have traditionally been used as both a special food and a herbal medicine in Asia. The sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic effects of PSL have been recorded in classical traditional Chinese literature, and more recently by many other researchers. In a previous study, four sleep-related ingredients (linalool, 5-hydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavanone, 2'-O-methylisoliquiritigenin and ferulic acid), among which 5-hydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavanone and 2'-O-methylisoliquiritigenin were newly found in Arachis species, were screened by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS). In the current study, quantitative examination of the above four ingredients was conducted. Serious fundamental functional studies were done in mice, including locomotor activity, direct sleep tests, pentobarbital-induced sleeping time tests, subthreshold dose of pentobarbital tests and barbital sodium sleep incubation period tests, to determine the material base for the sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic effects of aqueous extracts of PSL. Furthermore, neurotransmitter levels in three brain regions (cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem) were determined using UHPLC coupled with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QQQ-MS) in order to elucidate the exact mechanism of action. RESULTS: Aqueous extract of PSL at a dose of 500 mg kg-1 (based on previous experience), along with different concentrations of the above four functional ingredients (189.86 µg kg-1 linalool, 114.75 mg kg-1 5-hydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavanone, 32.4mg kg-1 2'-O-methylisoliquiritigenin and 44.44 mg kg-1 ferulic acid), had a sedative-hypnotic effect by affecting neurotransmitter levels in mice. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrate that these four ingredients are the key functional factors for the sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic effects of PSL aqueous extracts and that these effects occur via changes in neurotransmitter levels and pathways. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Visualization of Protein in Peanut Using Hyperspectral Image with Chemometrics.

The study aims to explore the potential of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with chemometrics for rapidly and non-invasively visualizing the spatial distribution of protein content which can affect the quality of peanut products as a critical component of peanut. Spectral data contained in the region of interest (ROI) of the corrected hyperspectral images of peanut were extracted and protein contents were measured with conventional chemical method. By comparing different pretreatments and modeling algorithms, the second-order derivatives (2nd-der) on spectra is optimal pretreatment, and partial ceast square (PLS) is the best regression method. Based on the pretreatment spectra and the measured protein content model, a good performance model (RC=0.91, SEC=0.86; RP=0.86, SEP=0.69) was built with full wavelengths. The fourteen optimal wavelengths were carried out based on the regression coefficients (RC) of the established PLS model. Then, using optimal wavelengths built RC-PLS model which show resembling performance (RC=0.86, SEC=1.03; RP=0.80, SEP=0.77). At last, an imaging processing algorithm was developed to transfer each pixel in peanut to protein content with the 2nd-der-RC-PLS model. There was no significant difference between Kjeldahl and HSI method by the paired test. The result demonstrated the capacity of HSI in combination with chemometrics for fast and non- destructively determining protein content in peanut.

[Research Process on Hyperspectral Imaging Detection Technology for the Quality and Safety of Grain and Oils].

The quality and safety of grain and oils are related to the national nutrition and health safety of the public. Owing to the difficulties in operation, destruction, high cost, reagent pollution and other shortcomings, conventional detection method cannot meet the fast, non-destructive, efficient and pollution-free requirements, which pose great difficulties in integrating with Industry 4.0. With the development of chemometrics, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology integrates the advantages of spectroscopy and image technology to overcome the defects of conventional detection method, which has become the developingt trend of grain and oils quality testing technology. Based on many interrelated research papers, this paper reviews the principles of HSI and the existing research in quality (component determination, germination test, variety classification) and safety (fungal detection, pest detection) of grain and oils. Meanwhile, in order to promote the application and development of hyperspectral imaging technology in the field of grain and oils, we specially analyze the aspect of HSI including spectral range, chemometrics, equipment and the accuracy of model, pointing out the current problems and prospecting the direction and priority.

Effect of glycosylation with xylose on the mechanical properties and water solubility of peanut protein films.

This study aimed at improving the mechanical properties and water solubility of peanut protein isolate (PPI) films by glycosylating with xylose (X). The modification process of glycosylation was optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of pH, temperature and time on degrees of glycosylation (DG), tensile strength (TS), elongation (E), solubility and microstructure of xylose glycosylated PPI films (PPI-XF) were determined. The changes of DG in different conditions indicated that crosslinking should occur between PPI and xylose during the modification. Optimum glycosylation conditions were found to be pH 9.5, 91.5 °C and 95 min. Under these conditions, TS and E values of PPI-XF were 10.37 MPa and 96.47 %, respectively. Due to glycosylation, solubility of PPI-XF decreased from 96.64 to 35.94 % and these films remained intact in water for 24 h. The microstructure of PPI-XF was denser and more compact than the unmodified PPI films. These results suggest that the xylose glycosylated PPI films have potentiality of being used as biodegradable films in food packaging application.

Vegetable oils: Classification, quality analysis, nutritional value and lipidomics applications.

Lipids are widespread in nature and play a pivotal role as a source of energy and nutrition for the human body. Vegetable oils (VOs) constitute a significant category in the food industry, containing various lipid components that have garnered attention for being natural, environmentally friendly and health-promoting. The review presented the classification of raw materials (RMs) from oil crops and quality analysis techniques of VOs, with the aim of improving comprehension and facilitating in-depth research of VOs. Brief descriptions were provided for four categories of VOs, and quality analysis techniques for both RMs and VOs were generalized. Furthermore, this study discussed the applications of lipidomics technology in component analysis, processing and utilization, quality determination, as well as nutritional function assessment of VOs. Through reviewing RMs and quality analysis techniques of VOs, this study aims to encourage further refinement and development in the processing and utilization of VOs, offering valuable references for theoretical and applied research in food chemistry and food science.

Three new species of Gnaptorina Reitter (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae: Blaptini) from Tibet, China.

Three new species of Gnaptorina Reitter, 1887, G (Hesperoptorina) medvedevi, sp. nov., G (H.) dongdashanensis, sp nov. and G (H.) cuonaensis, sp. nov. are described from Tibet, China. A key to the known species of the subgenus Hesperoptorina is given.

[Investigation of chigger mites on small mammals in a flatland area of Menghan, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the species composition and distribution of chigger mites on small mammals in flatland area in Menghan, Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province. METHODS: The field investigation was made in a flatland area near Lancangjiang River in Menghan, Xishuangbanna of Yunnan Province. Small mammals were captured with mouse cages and traps. All mites on the hosts were collected and preserved in 70% ethanol. Hoyer's solution was used to mount the chiggers on glass slides. The specimens of the chigger mites on the slides were finally identified into species under microscope. The constituent ratio, infestation rate, mean abundance and mean intensity of chigger mites in different habitats or on different hosts were used to measure the community structure. The species richness and community diversity were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 233 small mammal hosts were captured (belonging to 2 families, 3 genera and 5 species). 5 763 individuals of chigger mites were identified as 2 subfamilies, 7 genera, and 45 species. Rattus tanezumi (R. flavipectus) was the dominant species among the captured hosts, accounting for 97.4% (227/233). The mite infestation rate, average ectoparasite abundance, and mean mite intensity on R. tanezumi was 56.4% (128/227), 24.7 (5 600/227) and 43.8 (5 600/128), respectively. Leptotrombidium deliense was dominant chigger mite species and account for 57.9% (3 337/5 763), mainly infested R. tanezumi. Compared with indoor and cultivated field habitats, the species richness and community diversity of chigger mites in shrub habitat were higher, and 41 species of chigger mites were collected. CONCLUSION: The species composition and community structure is relatively simple in the flatland area in Xishuangbanna. L. deliense is the most dominant species of chigger mites and its main host is R. tanezumi.

Two new species of the pseudoscorpion genus Stenohya (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae) from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.

Two new pseudoscorpion species, Stenohya dongtianensis sp. nov. and S. jiahensis sp. nov., from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, are described and illustrated. An identification key is provided for all known representatives of the genus Stenohya from China.

Cave-inhabiting Cheliferidae (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) from Thailand, with description of four new species of Metachelifer Redikorzev.

Four new species of the genus Metachelifer Redikorzev, 1938 are described from caves in the provinces of Tak (M.takensis sp. nov. and M.thailandicus sp. nov.), Chiangmai (M.mahnerti sp. nov.), and Nakhon Ratchasima (M.cheni sp. nov.). An identification key is provided to all known world representatives of the genus Metachelifer.

Flavonoid-Like Components of Peanut Stem and Leaf Extract Promote Sleep by Decreasing Neuronal Excitability.

SCOPE: Peanut stem and leaf (PSL), a traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used as a dietary supplement to improve sleep quality; however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, the study aims to determine whether active compounds in PSL extract exert their effects by mediating neuronal excitability. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aqueous PSL extract (500 mg kg-1 BW) increases the duration of total sleep (TS), slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) in BALB/c mice after 7 and 14 continuous days of intragastric administration. Two PSL extract components with flavonoid-like structures: 4',7-di-O-methylnaringenin (DMN, 61 µg kg-1 BW) and 2'-O-methylisoliquiritigenin (MIL, 12 µg kg-1 BW), show similar effects on sleep in BALB/c mice. Moreover, incubation with DMN (50 µM) and MIL (50 µM) acutely reduces voltage-gated sodium and potassium currents and suppresses the firing of evoked action potential in mouse cortical neurons, indicating the inhibition on neuronal excitability. Meanwhile, RNA-seq analysis predicts the potential regulation of voltage-gated channels, which is according with the molecular docking simulation that both MIL and DMN can bind to voltage gated sodium channels 1.2 (Nav 1.2). CONCLUSIONS: DMN and MIL are the active ingredients of PSL that improve sleep quality, suggesting that PSL promotes sleep by regulating the excitability of neurons.

Screening and Molecular Modeling Evaluation of Food Peptides to Inhibit Key Targets of COVID-19 Virus.

Peptide drugs, especially food-derived peptides, have a variety of functional activities including antiviral and may also have a therapeutic effect on COVID-19. In this study, comparing with the reported drugs, 79 peptides were found to bind to the key targets of COVID-19 virus with higher non-covalent interaction, while among them, six peptides showed high non-covalent interactions with the three targets, which may inhibit the COVID-19 virus. In the simulation, peptides of nine to 10 amino acids with a hydrophilic amino acid and acidic amino acid in the middle and aromatic amino acids on the side showed higher binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Peptides of five to six amino acids with a basic amnio acid in the head, acidic amnio acid in the neck, hydrophobicity group in the middle, and basic amino acids in the tail showed higher binding to COVID-19 virus main protease (Mpro), while those with basic amino acids and acidic amino acids in the two sides and aromatic amino acids in the middle might have stronger interaction with COVID-19 virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp).

[Fluorescence spectra of ponceau-4R].

The fluorescence spectra of ponceau 4R induced by 220-400 nm light were studied in the present paper. The result shows that ponceau 4R has four obvious fluorescence spectral peaks respectively located at 420, 530, 635 and 687 nm, each of these fluorescence spectral peaks has different best induced light, and the corresponding fluorescence spectra were listed. It was considered that this fluorescence comes from the transition n --> pi* of n electrons in the -OH and pi* --> pi of pi electrons in the naphthalene. The fluorescence spectral peaks at 420 nm come from the transition n --> pi* and the other three fluorescence spectral peaks come from pi* --> pi. But the intensity of the four fluorescence spectral peaks changes differently with the excited wavelength This paper attempted to give the expression of the four fluorescence spectral peaks based on the microcosmic mechanism. The reason for that ponceau 4R has complex fluorescence characteristic is that ponceau 4R not only has big and conjugate structure such as naphthalene and provides electron group -OH which can intensify its ability to emit fluorescence, but also absorbs electron group such as N=N which can depress its ability to emit fluorescence. Investigation on the fluorescence spectra and its characteristics will contribute to the study on the fluorescence spectra of other azo pigment and help find a new way for checking food safety.

A new cave-dwelling species of Lagynochthonius (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Chthoniidae) from Yunnan Province, China.

A new pseudoscorpion, Lagynochthonius bailongtanensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from specimens collected in a cave in Luoping County, Yunnan Province, China. This species is notable in being strongly troglomorphic. A new identification key is provided to all known Chinese representatives of the genus Lagynochthonius.

[Study of 1-butanol absorption and fluorescence spectra induced by UV-light].

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of 1-butanol solution induced by UV-light and its characteristics were studied experimentally and theoretically. The authors found that 1-butanol solution shows a good absorption in 190-250 nm, and fluorescence was detected when excited by 210-250 nm. Fluorescence spectra of the mixed solution with 1-butanol and n-hexane were measured, and the fluorescence intensity shows a linear relationship with the volume ratio of the former. For the mixed solution of 1-butanol and alcohol, the authors found that at different wavelength, as the matching of 1-butanol and alcohol solution changes, the law for the intensity of fluorescence also changes. Meanwhile, the mathematical formula for the fluorescence position of the mixed solution was listed, and the error between calculation and experiment has been proved to be small. This may provide some reference for the further research of fluorescence spectrum of alcohol resolutions.

[Study on three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of Yanghe classical distilled spirits].

In the present paper, the liquors of Hai zhi lan, Tian zhi lan and Meng zhi lan were selected as the objects, and by using equipment of UV-240 ultra-violet spectrophotometer and Sp-2558 multifunctional spectrometer, their absorption and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra induced by UV light were studied respectively. The maximum absorption wavelengths for all of them were located at 212 and 275 nm, but each has different intensity at 212 nm. Moreover, their three-dimensional fluorescence spectra were detected when they were induced by suitable UV-light, The results show that each of the spirits can emit three strong fluorescence lines at 310, 420 and 610 nm respectively when excited by UV-light at 245 nm. Furthermore, we found each of them can emit another two strong fluorescence lines when they absorb the UV-light at 310 and 345 nm. The authors found that they all have five different fluorescence peaks, but each has different intensity. According to the experimental phenomenon, through a careful analysis, it is pointed out that the differences of the five fluorescence peaks basically reflect the aging process and different content of the liquor. The three different brand yanghe classical liquors were identified fast and accurately. The paper also offered a kind of way to determine the quality and brand of white spirit.

Three new species of the subgenus Leipopleura Seidlitz from Tibet, China (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Bioramix Bates).

Three new species of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) belonging to the subgenus Leipopleura of the genus Bioramix Bates, 1879, Bioramix (Leipopleura) baqenensis Li & Egorov, sp. n., Bioramix (Leipopleura) nyainrongensis Li & Egorov, sp. n., and Bioramix (Leipopleura) banbarensis Li & Egorov, sp. n. are described from the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Additionally, a new identification key is provided to all known Chinese representatives of the subgenus Leipopleura.

Two new species of the subgenus Cardiobioramix Kaszab (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Bioramix Bates) from the Sichuan Province, China.

Two new species of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae: Platyscelidini) belonging to the subgenus Cardiobioramix of the genus Bioramix are described. The first one, B. (C.) jinchuanensis sp. nov. known from the Chinese Province Sichuan Jinchuan, is characterized by the elongated parameres which are uniquely curved near the apex. The second one, B. (C.) maoxianensis sp. nov. described from Sichuan Maoxian and can be distinguished from the closely related B. (C.) szetschuana, B. (C.) kulzeri and B. (C.) subaenescens by the basally parallel parameres. A new identification key is provided to all known Chinese representatives of the subgenus Cardiobioramix.

Identification of chemical ingredients of peanut stems and leaves extracts using UPLC-QTOF-MS coupled with novel informatics UNIFI platform.

Peanut stems and leaves have been used traditionally as both herbal medicines and special food in Asia. In this study, the main functional compounds of peanut stems and leaves extracts were identified using UPLC separation coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS), and a traditional medicine library. Three different extraction solvents (ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and n-butanol) were evaluated to prepare the extracts of peanut stems and leaves. A total of 283 chemical compounds were identified in peanut stems and leaves extracts, of which 207 compounds are tentatively new identifications in Genus Arachis. The integration of data acquisition and processing with the traditional medicine library provides a simple, efficient process to effectively facilitate the identification of chemical ingredients in complex natural product extracts. The integrated workflow for separation, detection and identification of functional compounds in natural products using UPLC/QTOF-MS greatly improves productivity for development of traditional herbal medicines. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Preparation of nanoliposome loaded with peanut peptide fraction: stability and bioavailability.

Nanoliposome loaded with peanut peptide fraction (PPF) prepared by high pressure microfluidization (HPM) treatment was investigated as well as its stability and bioavailability. PPF showed hydrophilicity character with a solubility of 97.50 ± 2.31 mg mL(-1) in aqueous solution. HPM treatment can prepare nanoliposome but decreased encapsulation efficiency (EE). A pressure of 120 MPa was the appropriate parameter where the particle size and EE of nanolipsome was 79.67 ± 1.85 nm and 65.12 ± 2.96%, respectively. Crude liposome and nanoliposome both showed good stability under different pH conditions, even at pH value of 2.0. Nanoliposome behaved better in vitro controlled release than crude liposome. Most important of all, nanoliposome had the highest angiotension converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity after simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) digestion. Morphology of digested liposome proved that nanoliposome can keep relative integrity in structure although it suffered a lot of attack.

Two new species of Itagonia Reitter (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Blaptini) from China.

Two new species of Itagonia Reitter, 1887, Itagonia tibialis sp. n. and Itagonia litangensis sp. n. are described from Sichuan, China. A key to the known species of Itagonia from China is given.