Effects of whey protein isolate and ferulic acid/phloridzin/naringin/cysteine on the thermal stability of mulberry anthocyanin extract at neutral pH.

In this study, the effects of whey protein isolate (WPI) and four copigments, including ferulic acid (FA), phloridzin, naringin, and cysteine (Cys), on the thermal stability (80 °C/2h) of mulberry anthocyanin extract (MAE) pigment solution at pH 6.3 were studied. WPI addition or copigment (except for Cys) addition alone could protect anthocyanin from degradation to a certain degree, and FA exhibited the best effect among copigments. Compared with the MAE-WPI and MAE-FA binary systems, ΔE of the MAE-WPI-FA ternary system decreased by 20.9% and 21.1%, respectively, and the total anthocyanin degradation rate decreased by 38.0% and 39.3%, respectively, indicating the best stabilizing effect. Remarkably, interactions between anthocyanins and Cys, which generate four anthocyanin derivatives with 513-nm UV absorption during heat treatment, did not alter the color stability of MAE solution; however, they accelerated anthocyanin degradation. These results favor the combined use of multiple methods to stabilize anthocyanins at neutral conditions.

Effects of different food ingredients and additives on the digestibility of extruded and roller-dried maize starch and its application in low glycemic index nutritional formula powder.

BACKGROUND: Complex interactions that occur among starch, protein, and fat during food processing affect the taste, texture, and digestibility of starch-based food. The physicochemical properties of starch, in particular its slow digestibility, are greatly influenced by processing techniques such as extrusion and roller-drying. This study investigated the effects of various food ingredients and additives on the digestion properties of maize starch treated with extrusion and roller drying. It designed a nutritional formula to develop low glycemic index products. RESULTS: The extruded group containing raw maize starch, soybean protein isolate, soybean oil, lecithin and microcrystalline cellulose in the ratio of 580:250:58:20:3 had the best slow digestion properties. Nutritional formulas were designed at the above ratio, with supplements including calcium casein peptide, multi-vitamins, sodium ascorbate, fructooligosaccharides, xylitol, and peanut meal. The sample containing 10% peanut meal and a 1:3 ratio of fructooligosaccharides and xylitol additions obtained the highest sensory evaluation scores. An obvious slow digestion effect was observed in samples produced from the optimal formula. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study could contribute to the development and production of a low glycemic index, nutritional powder. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Quercetin 3-O-glucuronide-rich lotus leaf extract promotes a Brown-fat-phenotype in C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells.

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is an aquatic perennial crop planted worldwide and its leaf (also called "He-Ye") has therapeutic effects on obesity. However, whether the underlying mechanism leads to increased energy expenditure by activation of brown adipocytes has not been clarified. Here, murine C3H10T1/2 mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were employed to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts from lotus leaf (LLE) on brown adipocytes formation and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results showed LLE was rich in polyphenols (383.7 mg/g) and flavonoids (178.3 mg/g), with quercetin 3-O-glucuronide (Q3G) the most abundant (128.2 µg/mg). In LLE-treated C3H10T1/2 MSCs, the expressions of lipolytic factors (e.g., ATGL, HSL, and ABHD5) and brown regulators (e.g., Sirt1, PGC-1α, Cidea, and UCP1) were significantly upregulated compared to that in the untreated MSCs. Furthermore, LLE promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and fatty acid ß-oxidation, as evidenced by increases in the expression of Tfam, Cox7A, CoxIV, Cox2, Pparα, and Adrb3. Likewise, enhanced browning and mitochondrial biogenesis were also observed in Q3G-stimulated cells. Importantly, LLE and Q3G induced phosphorylation of AMPK accompanied by a remarkable increase in the brown fat marker UCP1, while pretreatment with Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) reversed these changes. Moreover, stimulating LLE or Q3G-treated cells with CL316243 (a beta3-AR agonist) increased p-AMPKα/AMPKα ratio and UCP1 protein expression, indicating ß3-AR/AMPK signaling may involve in this process. Collectively, these observations suggested that LLE, especially the component Q3G, stimulates thermogenesis by activating brown adipocytes, which may involve the ß3-AR/AMPK signaling pathway.

[Pseudotargeted metabolomics analysis of pine pollen intervention in the liver of premature ovarian failure rats].

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a prevalent gynecological disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that POF is directly related to abnormal function of the liver and kidneys. As such, regulation of the liver metabolism through the use of medicinal and edible substances is important for the treatment of POF. Pine pollen, a traditional Chinese medicinal and edible pollen variety, contains various active substances, such as sex hormones and phytohormones, which have been used to inhibit inflammation, regulate the immune system, and protect reproductive tissues. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), this study examined the influence of pine pollen on the liver metabolome of cyclophosphamide-induced POF model Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The variations in the metabolites present in the liver tissue of control SD rats, model SD rats, and SD rats treated with various doses of pine pollen or estrogen were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) in combination with orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other multivariate statistical methods to reveal the mechanism of pine pollen intervention in the livers of POF SD rats. An animal model experiment was conducted using six groups of ten-week-old rats. Cyclophosphamide was administered intraperitoneally to the model group and four intervention groups at a dosage of 60 mg/kg for 1 d followed by a dosage of 10 mg/kg for 14 d. Within the following four weeks, each of the four intervention groups received the intragastric administration of 0.1, 0.5, or 1.5 g/kg bodyweight (BW) of pine pollen, or 0.075 g/kg BW of conjugated estrogens (positive control). Equal quantities of normal saline were administered to the control and cyclophosphamide-treated model groups. Subsequently, the rat livers were subject to pseudotargeted metabolomics, and a total of 687 liver metabolites were discovered using both positive and negative ions. The metabolites differing in content were screened using the t-test (p<0.05) and the fold change (FC>2 or <0.5) in univariate analysis, and the variable importance in projection (VIP>1) in multivariate analysis. It was found that in comparison with the control group, the contents of 32 metabolites significantly increased, while those of 28 metabolites significantly decreased in the model group. The majority of these metabolites were involved α-linolenic acid metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, and purine metabolism, along with the lysine degradation and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolic pathways. Compared with the cyclophosphamide-induced model group, the estrogen group exhibited increased levels of 47 metabolites and decreased levels of 29 metabolites, wherein 34 metabolites were restored to the levels found in the control group. These metabolites mainly involved the vitamin B6, lysine, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, arginine and proline, and cysteine and methionine metabolic pathways. In the low/medium/high-dose pine pollen groups, the contents of 34/32/34 metabolites increased, the contents of 30/37/24 metabolites decreased, and the contents of 47/38/34 metabolites were restored to the levels found in the control group, respectively. These metabolites were mainly involved in vitamin B6 metabolism, purine metabolism, and the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolic pathway. These results therefore indicate that the restoring effect of pine pollen is equivalent or superior to that of conjugated estrogen. Additionally, based on the known metabolic pathways, it appears that when estrogen interferes with the liver metabolism, the key metabolic pathways that become affected are the arginine and proline metabolism and cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways. In contrast, pine pollen intervention affected existing metabolic pathways that were known to be disordered by cyclophosphamide. The use of pine pollen may therefore restore the levels of many metabolites. It should be noted that 23 overlaps exist between the estrogen-restored metabolites and the pine pollen-restored metabolites, including a variety of acylcarnitines, such as ACar 10∶0. As a result, pine pollen extract may be able to normalize the liver metabolic abnormalities induced by POF. This study therefore establishes a theoretical reference for the development of functional applications for pine pollen and for the treatment of POF.

Pine pollen extract alleviates ethanol-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in HepG2 cells via MAPK signaling.

Pine pollen extract (PPE) has various effects such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic and anti-obesity. However, the anti-ALD mechanism of PPE has rarely been studied. In this study, PPE was prepared and chemical components such as total protein, total sugars, total phenols, total flavonoids and polyphenol composition were determined. The effect of PPE on HepG2 cells after ethanol damage was also measured. HepG2 cells were pre-treated with 200 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL of PPE for 24 h followed by treatment with ethanol for 24 h. The results suggested that PPE significantly decreased the production of LDH, ROS and MDA. Meanwhile, the levels of GSH and SOD were also increased. The levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and Keap1 were upregulated after PPE treatment. Additionally, Bax were downregulated and Caspase3 activation was inhibited after PPE treatment. What's more, PPE also attenuated the ethanol-induced phosphorylation levels of MAPK in HepG2 cells. Three major phenols were identified as p-coumaric acid, catechins and caffeic acid. These results suggest that PPE can be effective against ALD by alleviating MAPK pathway-mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis. In conclusion, PPE is a natural product with hepatoprotective potential.

The construction of garlic diallyl disulfide nano-emulsions and their effect on the physicochemical properties and heterocyclic aromatic amines formation in roasted pork.

Garlic diallyl disulfide (DAD) nano-emulsions consisting of soy proteins were constructed, and their effects on physicochemical properties and heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) formation in roasted pork were investigated. DAD was well encapsulated by soy proteins with a mean particle of 400-700 nm. Applying DAD nano-emulsions to pork patties significantly altered the color and texture of roasted pork, with a slight increase in brightness and decreases in redness and yellowness. The flavor determination demonstrated that sulfur-containing compound levels in encapsulated DAD were significantly reduced, particularly 7S group compounds, indicating an effective shielding effect on the irritating odor of garlic oil by protein. The levels of three HAAs (MeIQx, PhIP, and Harman) were significantly reduced by DAD nano-emulsion exposure (51.84 %, 76.80 %, and 48.70 %, respectively). This study provides a new method for inhibiting HAA formation and improving the sensory qualities of meat products.

Entrapment of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in ß-conglycinin: From interaction to bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity under thermal treatment.

The thermal-induced interaction between ß-conglycinin (7S) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) on the bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity of C3G was investigated. High ratio of 7S to C3G (1:100) led to a more ordered secondary structure of 7S. Thermal treatment promoted the formation of 7S-C3G complexes via hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds but did not induce the formation of 7S-C3G covalent products. Thermal treatment at 65 °C and 121 °C enhanced the binding affinity of 7S-C3G complexes by 46.19 % and 1203 % compared with 25 °C. The 7S-C3G interaction decreased C3G bioaccessibility by 4.37 %, 8.74 %, and 46.37 % at 25 °C, 65 °C, and 121 °C. Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS antioxidant capacity assay indicated an antagonistic effect between 7S and C3G. The increased binding affinity of C3G to 7S limited the bioaccessibility of C3G and promoted the antagonism of antioxidant capacity between 7S and C3G. 7S addition was detrimental to the antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility of C3G in vitro after thermal processing.

Alkaloids from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera): recent advances in biosynthesis, pharmacokinetics, bioactivity, safety, and industrial applications.

Different parts of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) including the seeds, rhizomes, leaves, and flowers, are used for medicinal purposes with health promoting and illness preventing benefits. The presence of active chemicals such as alkaloids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and terpenoids (particularly alkaloids) may account for this plant's pharmacological effects. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview and summarize up-to-date research on the biosynthesis, pharmacokinetics, and bioactivity of lotus alkaloids as well as their safety. Moreover, the potential uses of lotus alkaloids in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors are explored. Current evidence shows that alkaloids, mainly consisting of aporphines, 1-benzylisoquinolines, and bisbenzylisoquinolines, are present in different parts of lotus. The bioavailability of these alkaloids is relatively low in vivo but can be enhanced by technological modification using nanoliposomes, liposomes, microcapsules, and emulsions. Available data highlights their therapeutic and preventive effects on obesity, diabetes, neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc. Additionally, industrial applications of lotus alkaloids include their use as food, medical, and cosmetic ingredients in tea, other beverages, and healthcare products; as lipid-lowering, anticancer, and antipsychotic drugs; and in facial masks, toothpastes, and shower gels. However, their clinical efficacy and safety remains unclear; hence, larger and longer human trials are needed to achieve their safe and effective use with minimal side effects.

Effect of Ionic Strength on Heat-Induced Gelation Behavior of Soy Protein Isolates with Ultrasound Treatment.

This study investigated the effect of ultrasound on gel properties of soy protein isolates (SPIs) at different salt concentrations. The results showed that ultrasound could significantly improve the gel hardness and the water holding capacity (WHC) of the salt-containing gel (p < 0.05). The gel presents a uniform and compact three-dimensional network structure. The combination of 200 mM NaCl with 20 min of ultrasound could significantly increase the gel hardness (four times) and the WHC (p < 0.05) compared with the SPI gel without treatment. With the increase in NaCl concentration, the ζ potential and surface hydrophobicity increased, and the solubility decreased. Ultrasound could improve the protein solubility, compensate for the loss of solubility caused by the addition of NaCl, and further increase the surface hydrophobicity. Ultrasound combined with NaCl allowed proteins to form aggregates of different sizes. In addition, the combined treatment increased the hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bond interactions in the gel. Overall, ultrasound could improve the thermal gel properties of SPI gels with salt addition.

Enzymatic hydrolysates of soy protein promote the physicochemical stability of mulberry anthocyanin extracts in food processing.

Soy protein papain hydrolysate (SPAH) and soy protein pepsin hydrolysate (SPEH) were used as protective agents for mulberry anthocyanin extracts (MAEs) to inhibit its color fading and enhance the anthocyanin stability at pH 6.3. Both SPAH and SPEH showed a significant protective effect on total anthocyanins in MAEs solutions. 1.0 mg/mL of SPEH presented the best protective effect on MAEs by increasing its half-life from 1.8 to 5.7 days. SPAH/SPEH-cyaniding-3-O-glucoside (C3G) interactions were investigated at pH 6.3 by fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Circular Dichroism (CD). Their association was mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions, and SPEH showed a higher binding affinity for C3G than SPAH, with a KA value of 2.62 × 105 M-1 at 300 K. The second structures of SPAH and SPEH were altered by C3G, with a decrease in the ß-sheets and an increase in the turns and random coils.

The immune-enhancing effect and in vitro antioxidant ability of different fractions separated from Colla corii asini.

In this study, Colla corii asini (CCA) was fractionated into three fractions with different molecular weights using ultracentrifugation equipment. Components with a molecular weight of >10 kDa in F1 accounted for 81.90%, whereas that in F2 and F3 was 15.63% and 0.94%, respectively. The immunomodulatory activity of CCA fractions was investigated using RAW264.7 cell model and their antioxidant abilities were evaluated by 2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The results indicated that RAW264.7 cells treated with F1 released the highest level of nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. The ABTS and FRAP value of F1 were 65.81% and 29.33 µM TE/L, respectively, which were 22.53%, 128.44% and 43.72%, 132.16% higher than that of F2 and F3, respectively. These results suggested that components with a molecular weight of >10 kDa in CCA had stronger immunomodulatory and antioxidant ability, which would help develop the health food based on CCA. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Colla corii asini (CCA) is a famous protein-based traditional Chinese medicine and nutritional supplement. During the processing of CCA, the molecular weight (MW) of CCA collagen components changed dynamically due to the protein aggregation, degradation, and the Maillard reaction. Some studies have shown that the MW distribution of CCA was not uniform. However, the MW range of CCA components which has strong antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity is still not clear, and few studies have reported the mechanism of CCA's immunomodulatory activity and active ingredients. Therefore, it is important to figure out the characteristics of CCA components with stronger immunomodulatory and antioxidant ability, such as the MW distribution and chemical composition of CCA fractions. And this study will be great for the processing of CCA products which has better biological functions.

Effect of whey protein isolate and phenolic copigments in the thermal stability of mulberry anthocyanin extract at an acidic pH.

This study investigated the effect of whey protein isolate (WPI) and phenolic copigments on the color and anthocyanin stability of mulberry anthocyanin extract (MAE) subjected to heat treatment (80℃/120 min) at pH 3.6. Results showed that four phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, ferulic acid, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and rutin, significantly affected the color enhancement of MAE solution, among which the strongest copigmentation effect on MAE was observed for rutin at 0.08-0.8 mg/ml. WPI (0.16 mg/ml) and rutin (0.8 mg/ml) reduced the thermal degradation rate of total anthocyanins by 27.1% and 50%, respectively. WPI-MAE-rutin ternary mixtures improved the color stability of MAE solution and decreased the anthocyanin's thermal degradation rate by 18.1% and 10.6%, respectively, compared with the corresponding binary systems (MAE-WPI and MAE-rutin). The results implied the MAE-WPI-rutin had a better protective effect on the thermal stability of MAE than the binary systems.

In vitro phenolic bioaccessibility of coffee beverages with milk and soy subjected to thermal treatment and protein-phenolic interactions.

The effect of skimmed bovine milk and soy protein on the in vitro bioaccessibility of polyphenols in coffee beverages under thermal treatment (25, 90, and 121 °C) and the protein-phenolic interaction was investigated. Thermal treatment at 90 °C and 121 °C reduced the in vitro bioaccessibility of total and individual phenolic. Skimmed milk and soy protein addition increased the total (by 37.01%-64.21% and 24.74%-47.32%, respectively) and individual phenolic in vitro bioaccessibility (by 4.40%-27.29% and 12.02%-28.61%, respectively) of coffee beverages subjected to thermal treatment at 25, 90 and 121 °C. Compared with soy protein, skimmed milk significantly enhanced the in vitro bioaccessibility of coffee polyphenols, possibly owing to the presence of different types and strengths of noncovalent protein-phenolic interactions. These findings can provide certain theoretical knowledge for optimizing the processing technology and formula of the food industry to help improve the health benefits of milk coffee beverages.

Processed potatoes intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of nine prospective cohort studies.

The current cohort study shows the inconsistent association between potato consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of published prospective cohort studies to quantitatively estimate this association. We searched PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library up to September 2019 for all published articles. Seven of the articles reported nine cohort studies with 383,211 participants, with 23,189 T2DM cases that met the inclusion criteria and were included for our analysis. The results of random effects model pooled relative risk (RR) showed an association between potato intake and the risk of T2DM (pooled RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02-1.26, p > 0.01). In the subgroup analysis, French fries, long-term follow-up, large sample size, and high-quality studies were associated with an increased T2DM risk. Further, a linear dose-response analysis indicated that 100 g/day increment of total potato (RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08) and French fries (RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.14) consumption may increase the risk of T2DM by 5% and 10%, respectively. Our meta-analysis showed that potato consumption, especially French fries consumption, was associated with increased T2DM risk.

Competitive interactions among tea catechins, proteins, and digestive enzymes modulate in vitro protein digestibility, catechin bioaccessibility, and antioxidant activity of milk tea beverage model systems.

This work aimed to study the effects of the competitive interaction among tea catechins, milk proteins, and digestive enzymes on protein digestibility, catechin bioaccessibility, and antioxidant activity by simulating in vitro digestion. The inhibitory effect of catechins on digestive enzymes was positively correlated with the binding affinity of catechins to digestive enzymes. The interaction between tea catechins and milk proteins or digestive enzymes resulted in the reduction of protein digestibility. The bioaccessibility of catechins and antioxidant activity of the milk tea beverage were reduced by protein-catechin interaction, but they increased via competition among proteins, catechins, and digestive enzymes. After the addition of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-Lg), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and epicatechin (EC) bioaccessibility increased by 252.6%, 85.0%, and 37.0%, respectively. The addition of ß-casein (ß-CN) negatively affected EGCG and EGC bioaccessibility but significantly increased EC bioaccessibility. The addition of ß-Lg and ß-CN showed better protective effects on antioxidant activity. The bioaccessibility of tea catechins mixed with ß-Lg is significantly higher than that of tea catechins mixed with ß-CN in the gastrointestinal digestion stage, except for the mixture of EC and ß-CN. The increase in catechin bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity was positively correlated to the binding affinity of catechins-proteins.

Effects of ten vegetable oils on heterocyclic amine profiles in roasted beef patties using UPLC-MS/MS combined with principal component analysis.

Soybean oil (SBO), rapeseed oil (RSO), peanut oil (PO), corn oil (CO), olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SFO), rice germ oil (RGO), walnut oil (WO), torreya seed oil (TSO), and grapeseed oil (GSO) were used to investigate the formation of heterocyclic amines (HAs) in roasted beef patties. Seven HAs, including 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4-dimethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinolone (MeIQ), 2-amino-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (IQx), 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (4,8-DiMeIQx), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), 1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (harman), and 9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (norharman) were detected in control patties and patties with vegetable oils. GSO, SFO, and WO greatly reduced the content of PhIP and MeIQ. 1.25%TSO and 3.75% RGO showed higher inhibition effects on the more strongly mutagenic compounds (PhIP, MeIQ, IQx, 4,8-DiMeIQx, MeIQx). SBO, PO, and RSO promoted imidazoquin(ox)aline (MeIQ, MeIQx, 4,8-DiMeIQx, and IQx) and ß-carboline (harman and norharman); 1.25% SBO had the most significant promoting effect on total HA. This could be useful for the reduction of HA by selecting oils during cooking.

Exploring the relationship between potato components and Maillard reaction derivative harmful products using multivariate statistical analysis.

The correlation between potato components and Maillard reaction derivative harmful products (MRDHPs) formation during heat-processing was assessed in nine commercial potato varieties in China. Principal component analysis (PCA) combined with canonical correlation analysis (CCA) approach was performed to explore their relationships. The variables contributing most to the PCA results were extracted for CCA, and the results indicated that several amino acids, including lysine, tryptophan, alanine, phenylalanine, aspartate, and glutamate, have significant impacts on acrylamide and ß-carboline heterocyclic amine formation. Moreover, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, α-solanine, and α-chaconine were also important factors associated with acrylamide and ß-carboline heterocyclic amine formation. Optimally using raw potato varieties based on the impacts of these factors can help control MRDHP formation during thermal processing. For the first time, such approach was applied, which may be a useful tool for discovering the correlation of food components and MRDHPs.

Effects of 60Co-irradiation and superfine grinding wall disruption pretreatment on phenolic compounds in pine (Pinus yunnanensis) pollen and its antioxidant and α-glucosidase-inhibiting activities.

Effects of 60Co-irradiation and superfine grinding wall disruption on the phenolic, antioxidant activity, and α-glucosidase-inhibiting potential of pine pollen were investigated. Eight soluble phenolics (SP) and insoluble-bound phenolic (IBP) compounds were characterized for the first time. After 60Co-irradiation, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in SP increased by 16.90% and 14.66%, respectively; in IBP, they decreased by 53.26% and 21.57%, respectively; whereas they were unchanged in pine pollen, but antioxidant activity decreased by 29.18%-40.90%. After superfine grinding wall disruption, the TPC and TFC in IBP increased by 80.24% and 27.24%, respectively; in pine pollen, they increased by 22.66% and 10.61%, respectively; whereas they were unchanged in SP; and their antioxidant activity increased by 46.68%-58.06%. Both pretreatments had a little effect on the α-glucosidase-inhibiting activities of pine pollen. These results would be helpful in promoting the application of pine pollen in functional food.

Resina Draconis Reduces Acute Liver Injury and Promotes Liver Regeneration after 2/3 Partial Hepatectomy in Mice.

AIM: To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms of action of resina draconis (RD) on acute liver injury and liver regeneration after 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) in mice. METHODS: 2/3 PH was used to induce acute liver injury. Mice were divided into three groups: sham, vehicle + 2/3 PH, and RD + 2/3 PH. Resina draconis was administered intragastrically after 2/3 PH into the RD + 2/3 PH group, and the same volume of vehicle (1% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) was injected into the vehicle + 2/3 PH group and sham group mice. The index of liver to body weight (ILBW) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were assayed to evaluate liver regeneration. Blood and liver tissues were collected for serological and western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Resina draconis protected against 2/3 PH-induced acute severe liver injury and promoted liver regeneration as shown by significantly increased ILBW compared with that of controls. 2/3 PH increased serum AST and ALT levels, which were significantly decreased by RD treatment, while 2/3 PH decreased serum TP and ALB, which were increased by RD treatment. In the RD + 2/3 PH group, PCNA expression was significantly increased compared with the 2/3 PH group. Further, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), TNFα, and EGFR levels were increased in the RD group at postoperative days 2 and 4 compared with the those in the 2/3 PH group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that RD ameliorates acute hepatic injury and promotes liver cell proliferation, liver weight restoration, and liver function after 2/3 PH, probably via HGF, TNFα, and EGFR signaling.

Effects of preheat treatments on the composition, rheological properties, and physical stability of soybean oil bodies.

This study investigated the effects of preheat treatments on the composition, rheological properties, and the physical stability of soybean oil bodies and examined the stability of coffee containing those oil bodies. Three preheat treatment methods were compared, including heating (at 65, 75, and 85 °C for 30 min) of raw soymilk, high-pressure steam heating (at 110, 120, and 130 °C for 10 s, ultra high temperature [UHT] treated) of dry soybeans, and milling of soaked soybeans in boiling water. Three UHT samples showed the highest oil body yields (13.59 to 13.87%) and protein yield (2.47 to 3.03%), while oil content in extracts was the lowest (30.97 to 46.25%). Soymilk heated at 65 or 75 °C for 30 min showed high oil body extraction yields (13.38 and 11.46%) and the highest oil extraction yields (6.38 to 8.38%) among all the samples. Three UHT samples had a higher average particle size and higher apparent viscosity compared with those of all the other samples. The results from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and particle size distribution suggested heat treatment at 65 to 85 °C just lead to the partially denaturation and unfolding of storage protein instead of severe aggregation, while UHT (samples 5, 6, and 7) could lead to large amount soluble aggregates within oleosins and storage proteins via disulfide bonds. The diluted emulsion with 12% fat content remained stable during a 15-day storage period at 4 °C. The coffee stability of the diluted oil body emulsion indicated high oleosins and low storage protein content in the oil body was a benefit for the coffee stability. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Soybean oil bodies are natural sources of pre-emulsified oil derived from soybean and can be dispersed in an aqueous medium to form a stable emulsion system. This study provides the foundation for the preparation and application of soybean oil bodies with differing emulsion stabilities and extraction yields in the food industry.