Metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of cold plasma promoting biosynthesis of active substances in broccoli sprouts.

INTRODUCTION: Broccoli sprouts have great health and commercial value because they are rich in sulforaphane, a special bioactive compound that helps to prevent chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to increase the levels of active substances in broccoli sprouts and understand their metabolic mechanisms. METHODOLOGY: Metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and transcriptome analysis were combined to analyse the enrichment of metabolites in broccoli sprouts treated with cold plasma. RESULTS: After 2 min of cold plasma treatment, the contents of sulforaphane, glucosinolates, total phenols, and flavonoids, as well as myrosinase activity, were greatly improved. Transcriptomics revealed 7460 differentially expressed genes in the untreated and treated sprouts. Metabolomics detected 6739 differential metabolites, including most amino acids, their derivatives, and organic acids. Enrichment analyses of metabolomics and transcriptomics identified the 20 most significantly differentially expressed metabolic pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, cold plasma treatment can induce changes in the expression and regulation of certain metabolites and genes encoding active substances in broccoli sprouts.

Encapsulation of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) leaf extract via an electrohydrodynamic method.

Polyphenols from the leaves of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) are nutritious and bioactive substances that can be used as nutritional supplements. To improve their stability and bioaccessibility in vivo, chemical extracts of sea buckthorn leaves were, for the first time, encapsulated using electrohydrodynamic technology. The microcapsules were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The extract and microcapsules were evaluated for total phenols and flavonoids, total antioxidant activity, and their inhibitory effects on metabolic syndrome-related enzymes (α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and pancreatic lipase) under in vitro simulated digestion. The results indicated that the extract was successfully encapsulated; encapsulation protected polyphenols and flavonoids from degradation and increase their bioaccessibility in the intestine. The antioxidant activity and the inhibition of metabolic syndrome-related enzymes were better reserved after encapsulation. Our findings will help in promoting the potential of sea buckthorn as a nutritional supplement and expanding its commercial use.

Interactive effects of carbohydrate, lipid, protein composition and carbon/nitrogen ratio on biogas production of different food wastes.

The anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of FWs produces variable methane yields, mainly due to variable carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and proportions of lipids (L), carbohydrates (C), and proteins (P) in different FW samples. In this study, a significant interaction between C/N ratio and LCP composition was found and contributed to the differing trends between special (SMP) and theoretical methane production. The highest SMP of 595 mL CH4 gVS-1 occurred at C/N of 25 and LCP of 63.25:22.62:14.13, followed by 592 mL CH4 gVS-1 at C/N of 30 and LCP of 48.94:39.74:11.32, which also reflected their interaction. Attributing to their interactive effect on obtaining optimal process parameters and microbial community, the inhibition threshold of lipid as well as the methane yield was increased. Understanding the interaction between C/N ratio and LCP composition is an effective and promising way to obtain suitable mixture ratios of organic wastes under AcoD.