Linalool as a key component in strawberry volatile organic compounds (VOCs) modulates gut microbiota, systemic inflammation, and glucolipid metabolism.

Strawberries are rich in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are increasingly recognized as potential health-promoting factors. This study explored the health effects of intaking strawberry VOC extract and its dominant terpene, linalool. The results indicated that linalool and strawberry VOC extract significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Alistipes in mice. Moreover, mice treated with linalool and strawberry VOC extract exhibited notable reductions in serum pro-inflammatory cytokines; interleukin IL-6 decreased by 14.5% and 21.8%, respectively, while IL-1ß levels decreased by 9.6% and 13.4%, respectively. Triglyceride levels in the treated groups were reduced by 38.3% and 58.1%, respectively. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that Bacillus negatively correlated with glucolipid indices, and Bifidobacterium and Dubosiella negatively correlated with inflammatory factors, indicating that alterations in glucolipid metabolism might be associated with the regulation of gut microbiota and systemic inflammation.

Terpinen-4-ol Enhances Disease Resistance of Postharvest Strawberry Fruit More Effectively than Tea Tree Oil by Activating the Phenylpropanoid Metabolism Pathway.

This study aimed to reveal the effects and possible mechanism of terpinen-4-ol, the main component of tea tree oil (TTO), on the disease resistance of strawberry fruit. When the effects of TTO and its components were compared on the decay development in fruit inoculated with Botrytis cinerea after treatment, strawberry treated with terpinen-4-ol showed the lowest disease incidence (44.4%) after 48 h and also the smallest lesion diameter during the whole storage. This indicates that terpinen-4-ol induces the highest disease resistance in strawberry compared with TTO and other components. Untargeted metabolomic analysis showed that terpinen-4-ol treatment strongly activated phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid metabolism pathway by increasing the accumulation of cinnamaldehyde, coniferyl aldehyde, naringenin, taxifolin, quercetin, and quercitrin in fruit at 12 h after treatment. In addition, terpinen-4-ol treatment also caused the accumulation of total phenolics and lignin by enhancing activities and relative gene expression of key enzymes in the phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway. These results suggest that terpinen-4-ol, as the key component of TTO, is the most important contributor to the effectiveness of TTO in improving disease resistance of strawberry fruit through activating the phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway.

Transcriptome analysis of Botrytis cinerea in response to tea tree oil and its two characteristic components.

Tea tree oil (TTO) and its two characteristic components (terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole) have been shown to inhibit Botrytis cinerea growth. In this study, we conducted a transcriptome analysis to determine the effects of TTO and its characteristic components, alone and in combination, against B. cinerea. Most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from B. cinerea cells treated with terpinen-4-ol participated in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. All treatments containing terpinen-4-ol potentially induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. These were further confirmed by the decreased activities of several enzymes (e.g., succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH)), the increased activities of certain enzymes (e.g., catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD)), and increased content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). 1,8-Cineole mainly affected DEGs involved in genetic information processing, resulting in cell death. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanism of B. cinerea inhibition by TTO, and explains the synergistic effect of terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole on B. cinerea.

[Protective effect of amlodipine against contrast agent-induced renal injury in elderly patients with coronary heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of amlodipine against contrast agent-induced renal injury in elderly patients with coronary heart disease. METHODS: A total of 189 elderly patients (>60 years) with coronary heart disease undergoing coronary artery angiography were randomly assigned into amlodipine group and control group to receive amlodipine or placebo, respectively, before and after administration of the contrast agent. At 24 h, 48 h and 5 days after contrast agent administration, the parameters of renal function were measured including serum cystatin C, urea nitrogen, creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, urine ß2-microglobulin, and urine N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase. RESULTS: In both groups, the contrast agents obviously affected the renal functions of the patients (P<0.05). At 24 h after contrast administration, the levels of serum cystatin C, urine ß2-microglobulin and urine NAG were significantly lower in amlodipine group than in the control group, but the other functional parameters showed no significant difference. At 48 h after contrast administration, the glomerular and tubular functional parameters were all superior in amlodipine group (P<0.05). At 5 days, the two groups showed significant differences in such glomerular and tubular functional parameters as urea nitrogen, creatinine, creatinine clearance rate, urine ß2-microglobulin, and urine NAG (P<0.05), but not in serum cystatin C level. The incidence of contrast agent-induced nephropathy was significantly lower in amlodipine group than in the control group (5/95 vs 10/94, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Amlodipine offers protection against radiographic contrast agent-induced renal injury in elderly patients with coronary heart disease.