Natural chlorophyll: a review of analysis methods, health benefits, and stabilization strategies.

Chlorophyll (Chl) is a natural pigment, widely distributed ranging from photosynthetic prokaryotes to higher plants, with an annual yield of up to 1.2 billion tons worldwide. Five types of Chls are observed in nature, that can be distinguished and identified using spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Chl is also used in the food industry owing to its bioactivities, including obesity prevention, inflammation reduction, viral infection inhibition, anticancer effects, anti-oxidation, and immunostimulatory properties. It has great potential of being applied as a colorant and dietary supplement in the food industry. However, Chl is unstable under various enzymatic, acidic, heat, and light conditions, which limit its application. Although some strategies, such as aggregation with other food components, microencapsulation, and metal cation replacement, have been proposed to overcome these limitations, they are still not enough to facilitate its widespread application. Therefore, stabilization strategies and bioactivities of Chl need to be expected to expand its application in various fields, thereby aiding in the sustainable development of mankind.

The regionalized ecological, economic and social benefit of China's sloping cropland erosion control during the 12th five-year plan (2011-2015).

With Kriging interpolation, analytic hierarchy process and grey relational analysis, this paper evaluates the regionalized benefit of China's sloping cropland erosion control (SCEC) during 2011-2015, including the ecological, economic, social benefit and the comprehensive benefit. The results show that, in the ecological benefits, the distribution of soil erosion control degree presents patchy characteristics. The reduction of runoff modulus gradually decreases from southeast to northwest. The reduction of soil erosion modulus is the largest in the Northwest Loess Plateau and the smallest in the Northeast Black Soil Zone. In the economic benefits, the increase in the annual output value per unit land area is characterized by "high in the south and low in the north", but there are patchy high-value areas in central Loess Plateau and the Northern Earthy-Rocky Mountain Zone. The increase in the agricultural population's per capita income is higher in the western area than that in the eastern area. In the social benefits, the per capita grain increase in most of the northern China is larger than that in the south, while the characteristic agricultural development in the south is more advantageous than that in the north. The comprehensive benefit is "high in the south and low in the north; highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast". The spatial heterogeneity implies the necessity to specify the influencing factors for the SCEC benefit in different areas and take pointed measures to improve the benefit.

More simple, efficient and accurate food research promoted by intermolecular interaction approaches: A review.

The investigation of intermolecular interactions has become increasingly important in many studies, mainly by combining different analytical approaches to reveal the molecular mechanisms behind specific experimental phenomena. From spectroscopic analysis to sophisticated molecular simulation techniques like molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and quantum chemical calculations (QCC), the mechanisms of intermolecular interactions are gradually being characterized more clearly and accurately, leading to revolutionary advances. This article aims to review the progression in the main techniques involving intermolecular interactions in food research and the corresponding experimental results. Finally, we discuss the significant impact that cutting-edge molecular simulation technologies may have on the future of conducting deeper exploration. Applications of molecular simulation technology may revolutionize the food research, making it possible to design new future foods with precise nutrition and desired properties.

Inhibitory effects of chlorophylls and its derivative on starch digestion in vitro.

Chlorophylls (Chls) have been shown to help regulate blood glucose levels. In this study, the effects of Chls and its derivative, pheophytin a (Phe a), on starch digestion in vitro were investigated. Chls significantly decreased starch hydrolysis while increasing resistant starch content (p < 0.05). SEM revealed that Chls either existed in free form or was absorbed and embedded on the surface of starch granules. Spectroscopic analysis and molecular docking demonstrated that Chls had a dual effect: (1) the phytol chain of Chls formed a double helix structure with starch, which may hinder the starch-enzyme contacts; and (2) the porphyrin ring of Chls interacted with amino acid residues of α-amylase and α-glucosidase to change the characteristics of enzymes, thereby inhibiting their activities. The investigation may serve as motivation for developing healthful starchy foods rich in Chls and enhancing the selection of foods for diabetics and hyperglycemias.

Chlorophyll Inhibits the Digestion of Soybean Oil in Simulated Human Gastrointestinal System.

Nowadays, much available processed and highly palatable food such as cream products and fried and convenient food, which usually showed a high energy density, had caused an increase in the intake of dietary lipids, further leading to significant growth in the prevalence of obesity. Chlorophyll, widespread in fruits and vegetables, was proven to have beneficial effects on alleviating obesity. This study investigated the effects of chlorophyll on the digestive characteristics of lipids under in vitro simulated adult and infant gastrointestinal systems. Chlorophyll decreased the release rate of free fatty acid (FFA) during in vitro adult and infant intestinal digestion by 69.2% and 60.0%, respectively. Meanwhile, after gastrointestinal digestion, chlorophyll changed the FFA composition of soybean oil emulsion and increased the particle size of oil droplets. Interestingly, with the addition of chlorophyll, the activity of pancreatic lipase was inhibited during digestion, which may be related to pheophytin (a derivative of chlorophyll after gastric digestion). Therefore, the results obtained from isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular docking further elucidated that pheophytin could bind to pancreatic lipase with a strong affinity of (4.38 ± 0.76) × 107 M-1 (Ka), while the binding site was amino acid residue Trp253. The investigation not only explained why chlorophyll inhibited digestive enzyme activity to reduce lipids digestion but also provided exciting opportunities for developing novel chlorophyll-based healthy products for dietary application in preventing obesity.

Effect of Antioxidants Supplementation on Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: In Erectile dysfunction (ED) patients, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are considered as the first-line therapy. However, 30-50% of ED patients fail to follow this therapeutic option because of adverse events, lack of efficacy, or drug costs. Antioxidant supplementation is widely applied in clinical practice and viewed as a potential therapeutic option for ED. Therefore, it is attractive to assess the effect of antioxidants supplementation on ED patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of antioxidants supplementation on ED. METHODS: Published randomized controlled trials of antioxidants in ED were searched in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to October 3, 2021. Meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model. The results were presented as standard mean differences (SMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Eighteen studies with 1,331 ED patients were included in the study. Compared with placebo, antioxidants alone treatment showed a statistical increase in International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score (SMD = 1.93; 95% CI: 0.15, 3.72; P = .034). Compared with placebo, antioxidants compound treatment elicited a significant increase in IIEF score (SMD = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.67, 3.81; P < .001) as well as sexual satisfaction score (SMD = 1.61; 95% CI: 0.63, 2.59; P = .001). Compared with the PDE5 inhibitors alone, combination of PDE5 inhibitors and antioxidants showed a significant increase in IIEF score (SMD = 1.1; 95% CI: 0.51, 1.68; P < .001) and sexual satisfaction score (SMD = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.06, 2.51; P = .04). CONCLUSION: This study found that the effect of antioxidant alone treatment on ED may be limited. However, antioxidant compound treatment, as well as combination of PDE5 inhibitors and antioxidants, were associated with improved ED, and can be considered as an accessary therapeutic option for ED. Su L, Yang Z, Qu H, et al. Effect of Antioxidants Supplementation on Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Sex Med Rev 2022;10:754-763.

Effect of Antioxidants Supplementation on Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

INTRODUCTION: In Erectile dysfunction (ED) patients, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are considered as the first-line therapy. However, 30-50% of ED patients fail to follow this therapeutic option because of adverse events, lack of efficacy, or drug costs. Antioxidant supplementation is widely applied in clinical practice and viewed as a potential therapeutic option for ED. Therefore, it is attractive to assess the effect of antioxidants supplementation on ED patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of antioxidants supplementation on ED. METHODS: Published randomized controlled trials of antioxidants in ED were searched in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to October 3, 2021. Meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model. The results were presented as standard mean differences (SMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Eighteen studies with 1,331 ED patients were included in the study. Compared with placebo, antioxidants alone treatment showed a statistical increase in International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score (SMD = 1.93; 95% CI: 0.15, 3.72; P = .034). Compared with placebo, antioxidants compound treatment elicited a significant increase in IIEF score (SMD = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.67, 3.81; P < .001) as well as sexual satisfaction score (SMD = 1.61; 95% CI: 0.63, 2.59; P = .001). Compared with the PDE5 inhibitors alone, combination of PDE5 inhibitors and antioxidants showed a significant increase in IIEF score (SMD = 1.1; 95% CI: 0.51, 1.68; P < .001) and sexual satisfaction score (SMD = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.06, 2.51; P = .04). CONCLUSION: This study found that the effect of antioxidant alone treatment on ED may be limited. However, antioxidant compound treatment, as well as combination of PDE5 inhibitors and antioxidants, were associated with improved ED, and can be considered as an accessary therapeutic option for ED.