Study on the emulsification and oxidative stability of ovalbumin-pectin-pumpkin seed oil emulsions using ovalbumin solution prepared by ultrasound.

Pumpkin seed oil (PSO), which is a valuable compound with high nutritional value used for the prevention of various chronic diseases, is prone to oxidation. In this work, small and uniform (su) ovalbumin (OVA) and pectin (PEC) were used to stabilize PSO in the form of an emulsion. The results showed that suOVA-PEC-PSO emulsion with a droplet size of 9.82 ± 0.05 µm was successfully self-assembled from PSO, PEC, and suOVA solution (with a droplet size of 230.13 ± 14.10 nm) treated with 300 W ultrasound, owing to the formation of a more stable interfacial film on the surface of droplets. The interfacial, rheological, emulsifying, and antioxidant properties of the suOVA-PES-PSO emulsions were excellent, owing to the synergistic effects between PEC and suOVA solution. Moreover, the physical stability of the suOVA-PEC-PSO emulsions to salt stress, a freeze-thaw cycle, and heat treatment was also increased and the oxidation of linolenic acid was notably delayed. These results have extended the food-related applications of OVA and PSO, and provide a promising foundation for further exploration of the self-assembly of composite emulsions by small and uniform proteins.

Study on the Emulsifying Properties of Pomegranate Peel Pectin from Different Cultivation Areas.

Pomegranate peel pectin is an important acidic anionic plant polysaccharide which can be used as a natural emulsifier. In order to study its emulsifying properties, this paper systematically analyses pomegranate peel pectin samples from Chinese Xinjiang, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, through rheometer, interfacial rheometer, Zetasizer Nano-ZS and mastersizer. It is shown that pomegranate peel pectin can effectively reduce the oil-water interfacial tension, reaching an emulsion droplet size of only 0.507 µm, 0.669 µm and 0.569 µm, respectively, while the pectin concentration is 1.5% and the oil phase (MCT) is 10%. It has also shown that the extreme conditions of pH and ion strength can not significantly change its emulsion stability. However, freeze-thaw cycles can cause the pomegranate peel pectin emulsion to become less stable. Furthermore, the effects of decolourization, protein removal and dialysis on the emulsifying properties of pomegranate peel pectin are investigated using mastersizer rheometer and interfacial rheometer. It is found that the protein and pigment in pomegranate peel pectin have little effect on its emulsifying properties, while the results from dialyzed pectin show that the small molecule substances can reduce the emulsion particle size and increase the emulsion stability. The research outcomes of this study provide technical support for the further application of pomegranate peel pectin in the food industry.

Endogenously synthesized n-3 fatty acids in fat-1 transgenic mice prevent melanoma progression by increasing E-cadherin expression and inhibiting ß-catenin signaling.

Malignant melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer. Although preclinical studies have shown that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are beneficial for prevention of melanoma, the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of n­3 PUFAs on melanoma remain largely unknown. In the present study, endogenously increased levels of n-3 PUFAs in the tumor tissues of omega­3 fatty acid desaturase (fat­1) transgenic mice was associated with a reduction in the growth rate of melanoma xenografts. This reduction in tumor growth in fat­1 mice compared with wild­type controls may have been associated, in part, to the: i) Increased expression of E­cadherin and the reduced expression of its transcriptional repressors, the zinc finger E­box binding homeobox 1 and snail family transcriptional repressor 1; ii) significant repression of the epidermal growth factor receptor/Akt/ß­catenin signaling pathway; and iii) formation of significant levels of n­3 PUFA­derived lipid mediators, particularly resolvin D2 and E1, maresin 1 and 15­hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid. In addition, vitamin E administration counteracted n­3 PUFA­induced lipid peroxidation and enhanced the antitumor effect of n­3 PUFAs, which suggests that the protective role of n­3 PUFAs against melanoma is not mediated by n­3 PUFAs­induced lipid peroxidation. These results highlight a potential role of n­3 PUFAs supplementation for the chemoprevention of melanoma in high­risk individuals, and as a putative adjuvant agent in the treatment of malignant melanoma.

Salidroside rescued mice from experimental sepsis through anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis effects.

BACKGROUND: Salidroside (SDS) is the main effective component of Rhodiola rosea L with a variety of pharmacologic properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of SDS in the treatment of experimental sepsis in mice and explore the possible underlying action mechanisms. METHODS: Sepsis was induced in C57BL/6 male mice via cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The animals were divided into three groups as follows: sham, CLP, and CLP plus SDS. SDS (50 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 1 h after operation. Postoperative survival of the mice, bacterial clearance in blood and peritoneal lavage fluid, cytokine secretion in blood, and histology of lung were evaluated. In addition, apoptosis of immune cells in the spleen and thymus were examined, respectively. RESULTS: SDS administration prolonged the survival of the septic mice, inhibited the proinflammatory responses, and enhanced bacterial clearance. It also alleviated the pathologic changes in the lung and inhibited the apoptosis of immune cells in the spleen and thymus after CLP challenge. CONCLUSIONS: SDS exerts a protective effect in CLP-induced sepsis by attenuating the proinflammatory responses, enhancing bacterial clearance, and preserving adaptive immunity. SDS may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of sepsis.