Australians' experience, barriers and willingness towards consuming edible insects as an emerging protein source.

Increasing global populations and limitations on the natural resources required in food production such as land and water will place further pressure on an already strained food production system. To meet the future food production requirements, it is essential to find viable alternatives to current food sources, without the high resource challenges. Protein production is of particular concern and insects are a nutritious and sustainable source yet, despite a rich history in parts of the world, Australians have been reluctant to adopt the practice as a societal norm. This study aimed to explore Australian consumers' experiences with edible insects, identify barriers to consumption, and explore possible factors that may motivate Australians to consume insects. A total of 601 participants (23.8% male, 76.2% female), completed an online survey using a variety of open-ended questions; 5- or 7-point Likert scales and check-all-that-apply questions. Consumer willingness was measured through self-reporting willingness-to-try insects or insect-based foods. Results indicated 35.4% of participants had previously consumed insects, with Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers) the most commonly consumed order (60.1%). Participants with no previous experience consuming insects cited 'lack of opportunity' as the main reason (57.2%). 'Increased accessibility' (56.6%) and 'increased nutrition knowledge' (56.6%) were identified as major factors that may increase the likelihood of future insect consumption. Participants reporting that they were willing to try insects were most likely to accept 'insect-based flour' (65.6%) and 'chocolate-covered ants' (52.1%). By providing increased opportunity, accessibility and education of insect-based food products, a higher proportion of Australians may be willing to eat insects, particularly if presented in indistinguishable forms (i.e. flour). This may lead to a greater acceptance of insects as an alternative, more sustainable protein source than previously anticipated.

Cheesomics: the future pathway to understanding cheese flavour and quality.

Cheese is a fermented dairy product, harboring diverse microbial communities (microbiota) that change over time and vary depending on the type of cheese and their respective starter and adjunct cultures. These microorganisms play a crucial role in determining the flavor, quality and safety of the final product. Exploring the composition of cheese microbiota and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in cheese ripening has been the subject of many studies. Recent advances in next generation sequencing (NGS) methods and the development of sophisticated bioinformatics tools have provided deeper insights into the composition and potential functionality of cheese microbiota far beyond the information provided by culture-dependent methods. These advances, which include rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and metagenomics, have been complemented and expanded in recent years by the application of metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics and metabolomics. This paper reviews studies in which application of these meta-omics technologies has led to a better understanding of the microbial composition and functionality of cheese and highlights opportunities by which the integration of outputs from diverse multi-omics analytical platforms (cheesomics) could be used in the future to advance our knowledge of the cheese ripening process and identify biomarkers for predicting cheese flavor, quality, texture and safety, and bioactive metabolites with potential to influence human health.

The Effects of a Weight-Loss Herbal Formula RCM-107 and Its Eight Individual Ingredients on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Secretion-An In Vitro and In Silico Study.

Obesity is a multifactorial disease that can lead to other health issues. Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), as one of the satiety signal, has been linked with appetite suppression and weight loss. Due to the limitations of GLP-1 and its analogues, alternative treatments such as herbal therapies have become popular. The herbal formula RCM-107 has demonstrated its inhibitory effects on lipid and carbohydrate absorption in our previous work. However, no published data described its effects on GLP-1 secretion. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of RCM-107 and its individual ingredients on GLP-1 secretion via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, molecular docking was performed to predict the key chemical compounds that are likely to be GLP-1 receptor agonists. Gardeniae fructus, one of the ingredients in RCM-107, demonstrated significantly greater effects on inducing GLP-1 secretion than the positive control epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Two Gardeniae fructus ligands, 3-epioleanolic acid and crocin were predicted to bind to the active form of GLP-1 receptor at the binding pocket with residues known for the receptor activation, suggesting that they could potentially serve as receptor agonists. Overall, this study reported the effects of researched herbs on GLP-1 secretion and proposed two compounds that may be responsible for antiobesity via GLP-1 receptor activation.

Oligosaccharides in goats' milk-based infant formula and their prebiotic and anti-infection properties.

Human milk contains an abundant supply and diverse array of oligosaccharides that are known to impart significant health benefits to the nursing infant including establishment and maintenance of a healthy gut microflora, immune development and protection against gastrointestinal infections. When breastfeeding is not possible or insufficient, infant formulas are commonly used as an alternative. However, limited information is available about the presence of naturally occurring oligosaccharides in these infant formulas and their likely health benefits. The present study examined the presence of naturally occurring oligosaccharides in commercial goats' milk-based stage 1 and stage 2 infant formulas and their prebiotic and anti-infection properties. LC/MS was used to detect and quantify oligosaccharides and their prebiotic potential was assessed by their ability, at concentrations present in reconstituted ready-to-use infant formula, to promote the growth of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB12, B. longum BB536, Lactobacillus acidophilus 4461 and L. casei 2607 in vitro. For anti-infection properties, the ability of goat milk oligosaccharides to prevent the adhesion of Escherichia coli NCTC 10418 and a Salmonella typhimurium isolate to Caco-2 cells was investigated. The results showed the presence of fourteen quantifiable oligosaccharides in stage 1 and stage 2 goats' milk-based infant formula. This was similar to the number of oligosaccharides detected in the fresh goats' milk. Of these, five were structurally similar to those found in human milk. These oligosaccharides were shown to significantly enhance the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and reduce the adhesion of E. coli NCTC 10418 and S. typhimurium to Caco-2 cells. Together, these results suggest that oligosaccharides naturally present in goats' milk-based infant formula exhibit strong prebiotic and anti-pathogen adhesion properties and may confer gut health benefits to infants.

Investigation of chemical composition of meat using spatially off-set Raman spectroscopy.

Spatially off-set Raman spectroscopy (SORS) offers non-invasive chemical characterisation of the sub-surface of various biological tissues as it permits the assessment of diffusely scattering samples at depths of several orders of magnitude deeper than conventional Raman spectroscopy. Chemicals such as glycogen, glucose, lactate and cortisol are predictors of meat quality, however detection of these chemicals is limited to the surface of meat using conventional Raman spectroscopy as their concentration is higher within the tissue. Here, we have used SORS to detect spectral bands for glycogen, lactate, glucose and cortisol beneath the surface of meat tissue by spiking. To our knowledge, this is the first report on this method for potential application in meat quality analysis. We further validate our SORS spectral results using chemometric analysis to determine chemical-specific spectral characteristics suitable for chemical identification. The chemometric analysis clearly shows distinction of spiked metabolites into four distinct groups, even for such chemically similar compounds as glucose, glycogen and lactate.

Enhanced efficiency fertilisers: a review of formulation and nutrient release patterns.

Fertilisers are one of the most important elements of modern agriculture. The application of fertilisers in agricultural practices has markedly increased the production of food, feed, fuel, fibre and other plant products. However, a significant portion of nutrients applied in the field is not taken up by plants and is lost through leaching, volatilisation, nitrification, or other means. Such a loss increases the cost of fertiliser and severely pollutes the environment. To alleviate these problems, enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs) are produced and used in the form of controlled release fertilisers and nitrification/urease inhibitors. The application of biopolymers for coating in EEFs, tailoring the release pattern of nutrients to closely match the growth requirement of plants and development of realistic models to predict the release pattern of common nutrients have been the foci of fertiliser research. In this context, this paper intends to review relevant aspects of new developments in fertiliser production and use, agronomic, economic and environmental drives for enhanced efficiency fertilisers and their formulation process and the nutrient release behaviour. Application of biopolymers and complex coacervation technique for nutrient encapsulation is also explored as a promising technology to produce EEFs.

Effect of Milk Protein-Polyphenol Conjugate on the Regulation of GLP-1 Hormone.

Modern functional foods are designed to provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are enriched with bioactive ingredients like probiotics, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These foods support overall health, enhance immune function, and help prevent chronic diseases. Milk proteins and tea are known to influence satiety and regulate body weight. Studies have shown that green tea polyphenols, namely, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and whey proteins, predominantly lactoferrin (LF) from milk, play a role in regulating satiety. This study aims to investigate the effect of conjugating EGCG with apo-lactoferrin (Apo-LF) and assessing these effects on satiety through monitoring glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) regulation in a human colon (NCI-H716) cell line. Apo-LF-EGCG conjugates were synthesized and characterized in terms of structural and functional properties. The effect on GLP-1 regulation was assessed by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to monitor gene and protein expressions, respectively. The results revealed that the protein-polyphenol interaction occurs through the complex formation of hydrogen bonds at the O-H and carbonyl groups of EGCG. The conjugates also showed a significant up-regulation of gene and protein expression levels of GLP-1 while also preventing EGCG from degradation, thereby preserving its antioxidant properties. The Apo-LF-EGCG conjugates increase satiety via increasing GLP-1 secretion in human colon cells while simultaneously retaining the antioxidant properties of EGCG. Therefore, these conjugates show potential for use as dietary supplements to enhance satiety.

Special Issue "SARS-CoV-2: Epidemiology and Pathogenesis": Editorial.

Since its emergence in 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, SARS-CoV-2 has spread across hundreds of countries and all continents [...].

The Release Behavior of Anthraquinones Encapsulated into Casein Micelles during In Vitro Digestion.

The degradation of anthraquinones extracted from aloe vera plants can be prevented by encapsulating them in casein micelles (CMs). The oral, gastric, and intestinal digestion behavior of spray-dried microcapsules of casein micelles loaded with aloe vera-extracted anthraquinone powder (CMAQP), freeze-dried powder (CMFDP), and whole-leaf aloe vera gel (CMWLAG) obtained through ultrasonication was investigated. The results found that CMAQP and CMFDP dissolved slowly and coagulated into large curds during gastric digestion, improving the retention of anthraquinones in the digestive tract. In contrast, CMWLAG structure was destroyed and increased amounts of anthraquinones were released during oral and gastric digestion phases, indicating increased amounts of surface anthraquinones instead of the encapsulation of anthraquinones in the interior of CMs. The strong hydrophobic interactions protected anthraquinones within the core of CM for CMAQP and delayed diffusion. However, during SIF digestion, both CMAQP and CMFDP released significant amounts of anthraquinones, although CMAQP showed a much more controlled release for both aloin and aloe-emodin over SIF digestion time. The release behavior of anthraquinones from CM microcapsules was a function of the type of anthraquinone that was used to encapsulate. The present study provides insight into the release behavior of loaded bioactive compounds using food-grade CMs as the wall material during in vitro digestion and highlights the importance of the type of bioactive component form that will be encapsulated.

Food neophobia and its association with dietary choices and willingness to eat insects.

Growing populations, changing dietary preferences and limitations on natural resources have meant that finding an alternative to traditional animal-based protein sources is a priority. Insects have been proposed as a possible solution due to their many benefits including low resource inputs and rich nutritional profile. However, insects are not consumed on a large scale by Australians. Food neophobia (reluctance to try new foods) could be contributing to this delay and as such, this study aimed to explore the role of food neophobia on protein food source habits and willingness to eat insects as food. A total of 601 participants (76.2% female, 23.8% male) completed an online survey which included a questionnaire measuring food neophobia status, participants' self-reported usual protein dietary habits, their previous insect-eating experience, future willingness to eat insects, and potential motivations to include insects in their diet. Results indicated a strong association between food neophobia and participants' dietary choices such as following a vegan or vegetarian diet (p = 0.024). In addition, food neophobia was correlated with a reduced likelihood of previous insect-eating experience (p < 0.001), as well as a decreased willingness to eat insects in the future (p < 0.001). This study provides a greater understanding of the role of food neophobia status and dietary choices in consumers' willingness to eat insects and identifies possible motivating factors that may increase the likelihood of consumers' future insect eating.

Utilisation of QSPR ODT modelling and odour vector modelling to predict Cannabis sativa odour.

Cannabis flower odour is an important aspect of product quality as it impacts the sensory experience when administered, which can affect therapeutic outcomes in paediatric patient populations who may reject unpalatable products. However, the cannabis industry has a reputation for having products with inconsistent odour descriptions and misattributed strain names due to the costly and laborious nature of sensory testing. Herein, we evaluate the potential of using odour vector modelling for predicting the odour intensity of cannabis products. Odour vector modelling is proposed as a process for transforming routinely produced volatile profiles into odour intensity (OI) profiles which are hypothesised to be more informative to the overall product odour (sensory descriptor; SD). However, the calculation of OI requires compound odour detection thresholds (ODT), which are not available for many of the compounds present in natural volatile profiles. Accordingly, to apply the odour vector modelling process to cannabis, a QSPR statistical model was first produced to predict ODT from physicochemical properties. The model presented herein was produced by polynomial regression with 10-fold cross-validation from 1,274 median ODT values to produce a model with R2 = 0.6892 and a 10-fold R2 = 0.6484. This model was then applied to terpenes which lacked experimentally determined ODT values to facilitate vector modelling of cannabis OI profiles. Logistic regression and k-means unsupervised cluster analysis was applied to both the raw terpene data and the transformed OI profiles to predict the SD of 265 cannabis samples and the accuracy of the predictions across the two datasets was compared. Out of the 13 SD categories modelled, OI profiles performed equally well or better than the volatile profiles for 11 of the SD, and across all SD the OI data was on average 21.9% more accurate (p = 0.031). The work herein is the first example of the application of odour vector modelling to complex volatile profiles of natural products and demonstrates the utility of OI profiles for the prediction of cannabis odour. These findings advance both the understanding of the odour modelling process which has previously only been applied to simple mixtures, and the cannabis industry which can utilise this process for more accurate prediction of cannabis odour and thereby reduce unpleasant patient experiences.

Poria cocos compounds targeting neuropeptide Y1 receptor (Y1R) for weight management: A computational ligand- and structure-based study with molecular dynamics simulations identified beta-amyrin acetate as a putative Y1R inhibitor.

Poria cocos (PC) is a medicinal herb frequently used in weight-loss clinical trials, however the mechanisms by which its compounds target orexigenic receptors including the neuropeptide Y1 receptor (Y1R) remain largely unknown. This study aimed to screen PC compounds for favourable pharmacokinetics profiles and examine their molecular mechanisms targeting Y1R. Forty-three PC compounds were systematically sought from pharmacological databases and docked with Y1R (PDB: 5ZBQ). By comparing the relative binding affinities, pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles, we hypothesised that compounds designated PC1 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid, PC8 Vanillic acid, PC40 1-(alpha-L-Ribofuranosyl)uracil, could be potential antagonists as they contact major residues Asn283 and Asp287, similar to various potent Y1R antagonists. In addition, PC21 Poricoic acid B, PC22 Poricoic acid G and PC43 16alpha,25-Dihydroxy-24-methylene-3,4-secolanosta-4(28),7,9(11)-triene-3,21-dioic acid, contacting Asn299, Asp104 and Asp200 proximal to the extracellular surface could also interfere with agonist binding by stabilising the extracellular loop (ECL) 2 of Y1R in a closed position. Owing to their selective interaction with Phe302, an important residue in binding of selective Y1R antagonists, PC12 beta-Amyrin acetate, PC26 3-Epidehydrotumulosic acid and PC27 Cerevisterol were proposed as putative antagonists. Following the consensus approach, PC12 beta-Amyrin acetate, PC26 3-Epidehydrotumulosic acid and PC27 Cerevisterol were identified as candidate compounds due to their high affinities (-12.2, -11.0 and -10.8 kcal, respectively), high drug-likeness and low toxicity profiles. Trajectory analyses and energy contributions of PC12-Y1R complex further confirmed their structural stability and favourable binding free energies, highlighting the feasibility and possible development of PC12 beta-Amyrin acetate as a future Y1R inhibitor.

Novel antihypertensive peptides from lupin protein hydrolysate: An in-silico identification and molecular docking studies.

Application of non-thermal treatment to proteins prior to enzymatic hydrolysis can facilitate the release of novel bioactive peptides (BPs) with unique biological activities. In this study, lupin protein isolate was pre-treated with ultrasound and hydrolysed using alcalase and flavourzyme to produce alcalase hydrolysate (ACT) and flavourzyme hydrolysate(FCT). These hydrolysates were fractionated into 1, 5, and 10 kDa molecular weight fractions using a membrane ultrafiltration technique. The in vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) studies revealed that unfractionated ACT (IC50 = 3.21 mg mL-1) and FCT (IC50 = 3.32 mg mL-1) were more active inhibitors of ACE in comparison to their ultrafiltrated fractions with IC50 values ranging from 6.09 to 7.45 mg mL-1. Molecular docking analysis predicted three unique peptides from ACT (AIPPGIPY, SVPGCT, and QGAGG) and FCT (AIPINNPGKL, SGNQGP, and PPGIP) as potential ACE inhibitors. Thus, unique BPs with ACE inhibitory effects might be generated from ultrasonicated lupin protein.

Mechanisms of Nelumbinis folium targeting PPARγ for weight management: A molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations study.

The lotus leaf, Nelumbinis folium (NF), has frequently appeared in obesity clinical trials as an intervention to promote weight loss and improve metabolic profiles. However, the molecular mechanisms by which it interacts with important obesity targets and pathways, such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) within the PPAR signalling pathway, were not well understood. This study aims to screen for candidate compounds from NF with desirable pharmacokinetic properties and examine their binding feasibility at the PPARγ ligand-binding domain (LBD). Ligand- and structure-based screening of NF compounds were performed, and a consensus approach has been applied to identify druggable candidates. By examining the pharmacokinetic profiles, a large proportion of NF compounds exhibited favourable drug-likeness and oral bioavailability properties. Furthermore, the binding affinity scores and poses provided new insights on the distinctive binding behaviours of NF compounds at the LBD of PPARγ in its inactive form. Several NF compounds could bind strongly to PPARγ at sub-pockets where partial agonists and antagonists were found to bind and may induce conformational changes that influence co-repressor binding, trans-repression, and gene expression inhibition. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations of a candidate compound (NF129 narcissin) bound to PPARγ revealed conformational stability, residue fluctuation, and binding behaviours comparable to that of the known inhibitor, SR1664. Therefore, it can be proposed that narcissin exhibits characteristics of a PPARγ antagonist. Further experimental validation to support the development of NF129 as a future anti-obesity agent is warranted.

Temperature and pH Stability of Anthraquinones from Native Aloe vera Gel, Spray-Dried and Freeze-Dried Aloe vera Powders during Storage.

The present study explored the stability of extracted anthraquinones (aloin, aloe-emodin and rhein) from whole-leaf Aloe vera gel (WLAG), its freeze-dried powder (FDP) and spray-dried powder (SDP) under varying pH and temperature conditions during storage. Each anthraquinone behaved differently under different processing parameters. The amount of anthraquinones present in the gel was higher than in FDP and SDP. The aloin contents decreased by more than 50% at 50 °C and 70 °C, while at 25 °C and 4 °C, the decrease was moderate. A substantial reduction in aloin concentration was noticed at pH 6.7, whereas it remained unaffected at pH 3.5. The temperature and pH had no significant effect on the stability of aloe-emodin. Interestingly, a small quantity of rhein was detected during storage due to the oxidative degradation of aloin into aloe-emodin and rhein. These findings can provide significant insight into retaining anthraquinones during processing while developing functional foods and nutraceuticals to obtain maximum health benefits.

Improving the enzymolysis efficiency of lupin protein by ultrasound pretreatment: Effect on antihypertensive, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of the hydrolysates.

This study evaluated the impact of ultrasound pretreatment (UP) and enzyme type (flavourzyme, alcalase) on amino acid composition, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activities of lupin protein hydrolysate (LPH). The UP altered molecular weight of the hydrolysates as revealed by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF and their surface hydrophobicity and thermal stability. Amino acid analysis revealed that glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine, and leucine were the dominant amino acids lupin protein. Generally, sonicated hydrolysates exhibited higher biological activity than non-sonicated samples and the original LPI. Alcalase hydrolysate pretreated for 10 min showed the highest DPPH and metal chelating activities. Highest ACE inhibitory activity was observed in flavourzyme hydrolysate after 5 min of UP, while maximum α-amylase and glucosidase inhibitory activity was achieved after 10 min of UP in flavourzyme hydrolysate. The results obtained in this study demonstrated the potentials of UP as a valuable tool for enhancing the biological activity of lupin proteins.

Ultrasound-Assisted Encapsulation of Anthraquinones Extracted from Aloe-Vera Plant into Casein Micelles.

Aloe-vera extracted anthraquinones (aloin, aloe-emodin, rhein) possess a wide range of biological activities, have poor solubility and are sensitive to processing conditions. This work investigated the ultrasound-assisted encapsulation of these extracted anthraquinones (AQ) into casein micelles (CM). The particle size and zeta potential of casein micelles loaded with aloin (CMA), aloe-emodin (CMAE), rhein (CMR) and anthraquinone powder (CMAQ) ranged between 171-179 nm and -23 to -17 mV. The AQ powder had the maximum encapsulation efficiency (EE%) (aloin 99%, aloe-emodin 98% and rhein 100%) and encapsulation yield, while the whole leaf Aloe vera gel (WLAG) had the least encapsulation efficiency. Spray-dried powder (SDP) and freeze-dried powder (FDP) of Aloe vera showed a significant increase in size and zeta potential related to superficial coating instead of encapsulation. The significant variability in size, zeta potential and EE% were related to anthraquinone type, its binding affinity, and its ratio to CM. FTIR spectra confirmed that the structure of the casein micelle remained unchanged with the binding of anthraquinones except in casein micelles loaded with whole-leaf aloe vera gel (CMWLAG), where the structure was deformed. Based on our findings, Aloe vera extracted anthraquinones powder (AQ) possessed the best encapsulation efficiency within casein micelles without affecting its structure. Overall, this study provides new insights into developing new product formulations through better utilization of exceptional properties of casein micelles.

Enhancing the Biological Activities of Food Protein-Derived Peptides Using Non-Thermal Technologies: A Review.

Bioactive peptides (BPs) derived from animal and plant proteins are important food functional ingredients with many promising health-promoting properties. In the food industry, enzymatic hydrolysis is the most common technique employed for the liberation of BPs from proteins in which conventional heat treatment is used as pre-treatment to enhance hydrolytic action. In recent years, application of non-thermal food processing technologies such as ultrasound (US), high-pressure processing (HPP), and pulsed electric field (PEF) as pre-treatment methods has gained considerable research attention owing to the enhancement in yield and bioactivity of resulting peptides. This review provides an overview of bioactivities of peptides obtained from animal and plant proteins and an insight into the impact of US, HPP, and PEF as non-thermal treatment prior to enzymolysis on the generation of food-derived BPs and resulting bioactivities. US, HPP, and PEF were reported to improve antioxidant, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties of the food-derived BPs. The primary modes of action are due to conformational changes of food proteins caused by US, HPP, and PEF, improving the susceptibility of proteins to protease cleavage and subsequent proteolysis. However, the use of other non-thermal techniques such as cold plasma, radiofrequency electric field, dense phase carbon dioxide, and oscillating magnetic fields has not been examined in the generation of BPs from food proteins.

The Effects and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Blood Lipid Profiles in Placebo-Controlled Weight-Loss Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study was conducted to assess the effects and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on blood lipids among adults with overweight or obesity. Fourteen bibliographic databases were comprehensively searched, from their respective inceptions up to April 2021, for randomised placebo-controlled weight-loss trials using CHM formulation on total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol over ≥4 weeks. Data collection, risk of bias assessment, and statistical analyses were guided by the Cochrane Handbook (v6.1). Continuous outcomes were expressed as the mean difference with 95% confidence intervals, and categorical outcomes were expressed as a risk ratio with 95% confidence intervals. All analyses were two-tailed with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. Fifteen eligible studies with 1,533 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Findings from meta-analyses indicated that CHM interventions, compared to placebo, reduced triglyceride (MD -0.21 mmol/L, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.02, I 2 = 81%) and increased HDL cholesterol (MD 0.16 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.27, I 2 = 94%) over a median of 12 weeks. The reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the tendency of reduced triglycerides was identified among overweight participants with high baseline triglycerides. Attrition rates and frequency of adverse events were indifferent between the two groups. CHM may provide lipid-modulating benefits on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol among participants with overweight/obesity, with the tendency for significant triglyceride reduction observed among overweight participants with high baseline triglycerides. However, rigorously conducted randomised controlled trials with larger sample sizes are required to validate these findings.

In-Silico Analysis and Antidiabetic Effect of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Peptides from Lupin Protein Hydrolysate: Enzyme-Peptide Interaction Study Using Molecular Docking Approach.

The use of natural ingredients for managing diabetes is becoming more popular in recent times due to the several adverse effects associated with synthetic antidiabetic medications. In this study, we investigated the in vitro antidiabetic potential (through inhibition of α-glucosidase (AG) and α-amylase (AA)) of hydrolysates from lupin proteins pretreated with ultrasound and hydrolyzed using alcalase (ACT) and flavourzyme (FCT). We further fractionated ACT and FCT into three molecular weight fractions. Unfractionated ACT and FCT showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher AG (IC50 value = 1.65 mg/mL and 1.91 mg/mL) and AA (IC50 value = 1.66 mg/mL and 1.98 mg/mL) inhibitory activities than their ultrafiltrated fractions, where lower IC50 values indicate higher inhibitory activities. Then, ACT and FCT were subjected to peptide sequencing using LC-MS-QTOF to identify the potential AG and AA inhibitors. Molecular docking was performed on peptides with the highest number of hotspots and PeptideRanker score to study their interactions with AG and AA enzymes. Among the peptides identified, SPRRF, FE, and RR were predicted to be the most active peptides against AG, while AA inhibitors were predicted to be RPR, PPGIP, and LRP. Overall, hydrolysates prepared from lupin proteins using alcalase and flavourzyme may be useful in formulating functional food for managing diabetics.