Dehydration-rehydration mechanism of vegetables at the cell-wall and cell-membrane levels and future research challenges.

The quality of dehydrated vegetables is affected by the degree to which they are returned to their original state during rehydration (restorability). At present, whether this mechanism occurs at the cell-wall or cell-membrane level is unclear. This paper reviews the important factors affecting the mechanism of dehydration-rehydration, focusing on the analysis of the composition and structure of the cell wall and cell membrane, and summarizes the related detection and analytical techniques that can be used to explore the mechanisms of dehydration-rehydration at the cell-wall and cell-membrane levels. The integrity and permeability of the cell membrane affect water transport during the dehydration-rehydration process. The cell wall and cell membrane are supporting materials for tissue morphology. The arabinan side chains of the primary structure and fibers are important for water retention. Water transport may be classified as symplastic and apoplastic. Cell membrane disruption occurs with symbiotic transport but increases the drying rate. An in-depth analysis of the dehydration-rehydration mechanism of vegetables will help develop and improve their processing methods and inspire new applications.

Cordycepin alleviates hepatic lipid accumulation by inducing protective autophagy via PKA/mTOR pathway.

As the major active ingredient of Cordyceps militaris, cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) has been well documented to possess lipid-lowering and anti-oxidative activities, making it a promising candidate for treatment of NAFLD. Autophagy was recently identified as a critical protective mechanism during NAFLD development. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the mechanism of cordycepin regulating autophagy and lipid metabolism. Here, we found that cordycepin decreased palmitate-induced lipid accumulation by Oil Red O staining, Nile Red staining assays, triglyceride and total cholesterol measurements. Based on Western blot assay and immunocytochemistry, we found that cordycepin induced autophagy in PA-induced steatotic HepG2 cells. Whereas pretreatment with CQ, an autophagy inhibitor, substantially deteriorated the mitigative effects of cordycepin on PA-induced hepatic lipid accumulation. These data taken together indicate that cordycepin protects against PA-induced hepatic lipid accumulation via autophagy induction. Further, cordycepin remarkably increased the expression of P-PKA and decreased P-mTOR, whereas pretreatment with H89, a PKA inhibitor, abolished the ability of cordycepin to activate autophagy via mTOR activation. These data suggested that cordycepin protects against PA-induced hepatic lipid accumulation through the promotion of autophagy. The underlying mechanism might be associated with the PKA/mTOR pathway.

Biotransformation of anthocyanins from Vitis amurensis Rupr of "Beibinghong" extract by human intestinal microbiota.

1. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are a subclass of polyphenolic pigments belonging to the flavonoids and constitute an important group of human diets. There is accumulated evidence that consumption of ACN-rich diets such as Vitis amurensis Rupr of "Beibinghong" exerts protective activities against some human diseases. These beneficial properties may be due to the biotransformation by intestinal microbiota and its related bacterial dependent metabolism of ACNs. However, despite the compositional characterization of ACNs in extracts from V. amurensis Rupr, the biotransformation pathways of these compounds in the human intestinal tract have not been investigated so far. 2. In this study, the biotransformation of ACNs by the human intestinal microbiota and the derived metabolites were analyzed and characterized by RRLC-Q-TOF-MS and MS/MS methods. Eight kinds of ACNs were identified and could be bio-transformed under the action of human intestinal microbiota. The biotransformation pathway analysis showed that the microbiota acted by removing all glucosides to produce the corresponding aglycones, which were subsequently converted to phenolic acid and aldehydes. 3. These findings shed light on the mechanisms of ACNs degradation by the human intestinal microbiota and will lay a foundation for the industrial and pharmacological applications of the ACNs.

Strengthening health system to improve immunization for migrants in China.

BACKGROUND: Immunization is the most cost-effective method to prevent and control vaccine-preventable diseases. Migrant population in China has been rising rapidly, and their immunization status is poor. China has tried various strategies to strengthen its health system, which has significantly improved immunization for migrants. METHODS: This study applied a qualitative retrospective review method aiming to collect, analyze and synthesize health system strengthening experiences and practices about improving immunizations for migrants in China. A conceptual framework of Theory of Change was used to extract the searched literatures. 11 searched literatures and 4 national laws and policies related to immunizations for migrant children were carefully studied. RESULTS: China mainly employed 3 health system strengthening strategies to significantly improve immunization for migrant population: stop charging immunization fees or immunization insurance, manage immunization certificates well, and pay extra attentions on immunization for special children including migrant children. These health system strengthening strategies were very effective, and searched literatures show that up-to-date and age-appropriate immunization rates were significantly improved for migrant children. CONCLUSIONS: Economic development led to higher migrant population in China, but immunization for migrants, particularly migrant children, were poor. Fortunately various health system strengthening strategies were employed to improve immunization for migrants in China and they were rather successful. The experiences and lessons of immunization for migrant population in China might be helpful for other developing countries with a large number of migrant population.

Financing strategies to improve essential public health equalization and its effects in China.

BACKGROUND: In 2009, China launched a health reform to promote the equalization of national essential public health services package (NEPHSP). The present study aimed to describe the financing strategies and mechanisms to improve access to public health for all, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches, and showed evidence on equity improvement among different regions. METHODS: We reviewed the relevant literatures and identified 208 articles after screening and quality assessment and conducted six key informants' interviews. Secondary data on national and local government health expenditures, NEPHSP coverage and health indicators in 2003-2014 were collected, descriptive and equity analyses were used. RESULTS: Before 2009, the government subsidy to primary care institutions (PCIs) were mainly used for basic construction and a small part of personnel expenses. Since 2009, the new funds for NEPHSP have significantly expanded service coverage and population coverage. These funds have been allocated by central, provincial, municipal and county governments at different proportions in China's tax distribution system. Due to the fiscal transfer payment, the Central Government allocated more subsides to less-developed western regions and all the funds were managed in a specific account. Several types of payment methods have been adopted including capitation, pay for performance (P4P), pay for service items, global budget and public health voucher, to address issues from both the supply and demand sides. The equalization of NEPHSP did well through the establishment of health records, systematic care of children and maternal women, etc. Our data showed that the gap between the eastern, central and western regions narrowed. However the coverage for migrants was still low and performance was needed improving in effectiveness of managing patients with chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The delivery of essential public health services was highly influenced by public fiscal policy, and the implementation of health reform since 2009 has led the public health development towards the right direction. However China still needs to increase the fiscal investments to expand service coverage as well as promote the quality of public health services and equality among regions. Independent scientific monitoring and evaluation are also needed.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of a low molecular weight polysaccharide from Nostoc commune Vaucher and its structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity.

In the current study, a novel crude polysaccharide (cNCEP) was extracted from N. commune Vaucher utilizing ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) with 60 % ethanol, employing response surface methodology. The optimal yield of cNCEP was determined to be 8.07 ± 0.08 mg/g, achieved through ultrasonic-assisted extraction under the conditions of a material-to-liquid ratio of 1:22, temperature of 56 °C, power of 570 W, and duration of 147 min. Subsequent purification of NCEP via Sephadex G75 resulted in a novel polysaccharide with a molecular weight of 20.466 kDa. NCEP exhibited significant scavenging activites against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals, as well as notable in vitro immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory effects of NCEP, involving enhancement of immunity, were investigated, revealing potential regulation of MAPK and TLR4-IRF7-NF-κB signaling pathways through RNA-Seq and Western blot analyses. These findings highlight the promising potential of NCEP as an organic immunomodulatory agent and functional food ingredient.

Research progress of wine aroma components: A critical review.

As an important sensory indicator, aroma affects the quality of wine and consumer preference. In this review, the following aspects are comprehensively analyzed: (1) Varietal aroma, fermentation aroma and aging aroma formation mechanism include metabolic pathways etc. (2) The main factors affecting the aroma formation include environment, raw and auxiliary materials and brewing process. (3) In the process of winemaking, environmental factors can be controlled by regulating deficit irrigation, leaf removal and reflective mulch; the quality of raw and auxiliary materials can also be controlled through the varieties breeding of grape and yeast; flash evaporation, ultrasonic aging and other advanced brewing technologies can be used to synergistically control aroma formation. In the future, the wine brewing process can be controlled from the following aspects to ensure the precise regulation of aroma. This research will provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of wine production technology and quality.

Determination on Tree Species Selection for Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes) Cultivation by Fourier Transform Infrared and Two-Dimensional Infrared Correlation Spectroscopy.

As a wood-degrading Agaricomycetes mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum can be cultivated on broad-leaf hardwoods. Generally, producers care about the yield, but not the quality of G. lucidum cultivated by different tree species. In this study, five broad-leaf hardwood tree species-Quercus variabilis Bl. (Qv), Castanea mollissima Bl. (Cm), Liquidambar formosana Hance (Lf), Dalbergia hupeana Hance (Dh), and Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc. (Ps)-were selected for cultivating of G. lucidum. The chemical compositions of G. lucidum fruiting bodies produced by these tree species were determined by Fourier transform infrared and two-dimensional infrared correlation spectroscopy in order to select the most suitable tree species for cultivation. The overall spectra showed less discrimination of each peak variation detected and properly kept most of the primary metabolites. The second derivative unfolded the stagnation of the first spectrum and more base peaks were detected especially in the range of the first two sections. The protein content contained in G. lucidum cultivated on Ps was 92%, like that on Dh. On the other hand, only 27% similarity was determined in G. lucidum cultivated on Ps and Qv. Therefore, the correlation of this range for the protein content can help in tree species selection. The active sequence of 2DIR spectral could be determined by the active bonding of the component reacted to the perturbation. The result could provide a scientific basis for the selection of tree species and the comprehensive utilization of broad-leaf tree resources on G. lucidum cultivation.

Pesticides as a risk factor for cognitive impairment: Natural substances are expected to become alternative measures to prevent and improve cognitive impairment.

Pesticides are the most effective way to control diseases, insects, weeds, and fungi. The central nervous system (CNS) is damaged by pesticide residues in various ways. By consulting relevant databases, the systemic relationships between the possible mechanisms of pesticides damage to the CNS causing cognitive impairment and related learning and memory pathways networks, as well as the structure-activity relationships between some natural substances (such as polyphenols and vitamins) and the improvement were summarized in this article. The mechanisms of cognitive impairment caused by pesticides are closely related. For example, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation can constitute three feedback loops that interact and restrict each other. The mechanisms of neurotransmitter abnormalities and intestinal dysfunction also play an important role. The connection between pathways is complex. NMDAR, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, Keap1/Nrf2/ARE, and NF-κB pathways can be connected into a pathway network by targets such as Ras, Akt, and IKK. The reasons for the improvement of natural substances are related to their specific structure, such as polyphenols with different hydroxyl groups. This review's purpose is to lay a foundation for exploring and developing more natural substances that can effectively improve the cognitive impairment caused by pesticides.

Dehydration-rehydration vegetables: Evaluation and future challenges.

In this review, the rehydration kinetics model, the quality factors affecting of vegetables during rehydration process, the future challenges and development direction of rehydration process were comprehensively analyzed. Based on the fitting equation for the change in moisture content during rehydration, a suitable rehydration model can be selected to describe the rehydration process of vegetables. Optimal pre-treatment, drying and rehydration methods were selected by considering quality, energy consumption and environmental aspects, and new technologies were developed to improve the quality characteristics of rehydrated vegetables. It is necessary to classify vegetables according to their shape and type to establish the criteria of rehydration processing through mathematical modeling. Industrial production from pre-treatment to product packaging will be precisely adjusted through process parameters. Furthermore, improvements the quality of rehydrated vegetables can be considered in terms of the structural and compositional aspects of the cell wall and cell membrane.

Study on the relationship between flavor components and quality of ice wine during freezing and brewing of 'beibinghong' grapes.

Ice wine has prominent fruity sweetness and unique, rich aroma compared to wine. The sweetness was accumulating, the acidity and astringency tended to soften of grape berry during the freezing period. The process gave the ice wine balanced taste, with prominent honey sweetness, accompanied by refreshing alcoholic taste, soft acidity and astringency. Eleven key aroma compounds were identified in ice wine through GC-MS and ROAV values. The key aroma compounds were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficient and fragrance mechanism were speculated. Ethyl acetate and 1-octen-3-ol derived from the aroma of grape, are produced by anaerobic metabolism and lipoxygenase pathways of pyruvate and linoleic acid, respectively. Ester aromas, 2-phenylethanol and 2-methylbutanal were derived from the brewing process, were produced by octanoic acid, caproic acid, phenylalanine and isoleucine through lipid metabolism, Ehrlich pathway and Strecker pathway, respectively. Proposed corresponding control methods based on factors that affect the formation of ice wine aromas.

Analysis of Key Chemical Components in Aqueous Extract Sediments of Panax Ginseng at Different Ages.

Panax ginseng beverages have been some of the most popular plant drinks among consumers in recent years, but they become turbid and sediment are easily formed during production and marketing, these are some of the key issues that affect the quality of the beverages. In this study, we analysed the physicochemical properties of sediments in aqueous extracts of 3- to 6-year-old ginseng, and by tracing the sediment formation process from 0-40 days, we observed that the sediment was gradually beginning on day 10. The solid content of ginseng aged 5 and 6 years was significantly higher than that of ginseng aged 3 and 4 years. There was no significant difference in the sediment amount sediment in the extracts of ginseng of different ages. The light transmittance of the extracts after centrifugation was significantly higher than before centrifugation. Colour-difference analysis found that there was a significant positive correlation between ginseng age and colour-difference value (ΔE). Chemical composition analysis showed that total sugar and proteins were the main components of the sediment. In addition, ginsenosides, amino acids and minerals were also involved in sediment formation to different degrees. A stepwise regression model was established through principal component analysis (PCA), and the regression equation for predicting the sediment amount was obtained as follows: sediment amount (mg/mL) = 2.906 - 0.126 × CTotal saponins - 0.131 × CFree amino acids.

Protective Effect and Mechanism of Soybean Insoluble Dietary Fiber on the Color Stability of Malvidin-3-O-glucoside.

Anthocyanins have great health benefits, especially malvidin. Vitis amurensis Rupr are rich in malvidin, and malvidin-3-O-glucoside (Mv3G) monomer is the most abundant. However, natural anthocyanins are unstable, which limits their wide application in the food field. Soybean insoluble dietary fiber (SIDF) has high stability, and it can be used as an inert substrate to construct a stable system, which may improve the stability of anthocyanins. The optimal condition to construct a stable system of SIDF and Mv3G at pH 3.0 was determined by an orthogonal experiment. The results indicated that SIDF effectively improved the stability of Mv3G under different pH values (1.0~7.0), high temperature (100 °C for 100 min), and sunlight (20 ± 2 °C for 30 d) conditions. The absorption peak intensity of the UV-VIS spectrum of SIDF-Mv3G was enhanced, which indicated that there was interaction between SIDF and Mv3G. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed that the -OH stretching vibration peak of SIDF-Mv3G was changed, which indicated that the interaction between SIDF and Mv3G was due to hydrogen bonding. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystalline morphology of SIDF was opened, which was combined with Mv3G, and SIDF made Mv3G change to a more stable state. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed that SIDF and Mv3G were closely combined to form an inclusion complex. Overall, this study provides valuable information for enhancing the color stability of anthocyanins, which will further expand the application of anthocyanins in the food field.

Effect of Soybean Protein Isolate-7s on Delphinidin-3-O-Glucoside from Purple Corn Stability and Their Interactional Characterization.

Anthocyanins are abundant in purple corn and beneficial to human health. Soybean protein isolate-7s (SPI-7s) could enhance the stability of anthocyanins. The stable system of soybean protein isolate-7s and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside complex (SPI-7s-D3G) was optimized using the Box-Behnken design at pH 2.8 and pH 6.8. Under the condition of pH 2.8, SPI-7s effectively improved the sunlight-thermal stabilities of delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (D3G). The thermal degradation of D3G conformed to the first order kinetics within 100 min, the negative enthalpy value and positive entropy value indicated that interaction was caused by electrostatic interaction, and the negative Gibbs free energy value reflected a spontaneous interaction between SPI-7s and D3G. The interaction of SPI-7s-D3G was evaluated by ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the maximum absorption peak was redshifted with increasing the α-helix content and decreasing the ß-sheet contents, and D3G quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of SPI-7s by static quenching. There was one binding site in the SPI-7s and D3G stable system. The secondary structure of SPI-7s had changed and the complex was more stable. The stabilized SPI-7s-D3G will have broad application prospects in functional foods.

Sediment formation and analysis of the main chemical components of aqueous extracts from different parts of ginseng roots.

Sediment is a key issue in the production and marketing of plant beverages, as is ginseng beverages. The formation of sediment in ginseng beverages is a gradual process. This work describes the formation of sediment from different parts of ginseng and describes the color and clarity of the liquid and the amount and morphology of the sediment. The results showed there are significant differences in the sediment formation speed, morphology and transmittance for the aqueous extracts prepared from different parts of ginseng. The amounts of sediment generated from the different parts of ginseng is as follows: main root > rhizome > fibrous root. Free amino acids, Ba, Ca, Ni, and Sr concentrations are significantly and positively correlated with the transmittance. The total saponins, Al, Fe, and Mn concentrations are significantly and negatively correlated with the transmittance. There are obvious crystals and more Ca in the fibrous root sediment. We analyzed and compared the chemical components in the sediment and extract. The results show that the main components of the sediment are carbohydrates and protein. According to the partition coefficient the contents of protein, ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rf) and some ions (Al, Fe, Ca, and Na) contribute more to the formation of the sediment than the other investigated components.

Ultrahigh Pressure Facilitates the Acylation of Malvidin and Chlorogenic Acid to Increase the Stability and Protective Effect of Malvidin Derivatives on H2O2-Induced ARPE-19 Cells.

We explored the effects of ultrahigh-pressure technology and chlorogenic acid on the color stability and structure-activity relationship of malvidin (MV). Experimental conditions were optimized through single-factor experiments and response surface analysis at a pressure of 300 MPa, mass ratio of MV to chlorogenic acid of 1:3.64 (w/w), and time of 5 min. Compared with MV, MV derivatives showed higher stability and in vitro antioxidant activity. X-ray diffraction analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry were conducted to determine the structures of MV derivatives for the first time. Ultrahigh pressure facilitated acylation of chlorogenic acid and MV and produced four new MV derivatives. Analysis of the effect of malvidin-3-O-6-(acrylic acid-(2-hydroxy, 4-carboxy-cyclohexanol) ester)-guaiacol (Mv3ACEC) on ARPE-19 cells exposed to H2O2 by RNA transcriptome sequencing showed that Mv3ACEC simultaneously inhibited various inflammatory and apoptotic signal transduction pathways, exerted a synergistic effect, and partly inhibited cell apoptosis through the MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, the results show that ultrahigh pressure will cause acylation of chlorogenic acid and MV to produce four new MV derivatives, and MV derivatives protect ARPE-19 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative stress.

Malvidin and its derivatives exhibit antioxidant properties by inhibiting MAPK signaling pathways to reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress in ARPE-19 cells.

Malvidin (MV) and its derivatives, such as malvidin-3-O-guaiacol (Mv3C) and malvidin-3-O-6-(acrylic acid-(2-hydroxy,4-carboxy-cyclohexanol)ester)-guaiacol (Mv3ACEC), are natural compounds with antioxidant properties. However, the basic mechanisms underlying their functional activities are unclear. In this study, we show that MV, Mv3C, and Mv3ACEC inhibit reactive oxygen species production and malondialdehyde content, promote glutathione peroxidase activity, and increase superoxide dismutase levels in ARPE-19 cells treated with H2O2. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis revealed that MV, Mv3C, and Mv3ACEC regulate mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathways related to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Interestingly, Mv3C and Mv3ACEC showed greater beneficial properties than MV. Our results show that MV and its derivatives have potential as therapeutic compounds for ocular diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as age-related macular degeneration.

Formation and Characterization of Irreversible Sediment of Ginseng Extract.

Sediment is a key issue in the beverage industry. This study confirmed that reversible and irreversible sediments were formed during low-temperature storage of ginseng extract. The first 30 days of storage are the critical period for sediment formation. As the time of storage extends, the chemical composition changes. The composition interaction model verified that the cross-linking of protein-pectin, protein-oxalic acid and Ca2+-pectin was the main cause of the turbidity of ginseng extract. Based on the characterization of irreversible sediment (IRS), there are typical structures of proteins, polysaccharides and calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) crystals. Glucose, galacturonic acid, aspartate, glutamic acid, leucine, Ca, K, Al, Mg, Na and Fe are the main monomer components. Effective regulation of these ingredients will greatly help the quality of ginseng beverages.

A review of the interaction between anthocyanins and proteins.

Anthocyanins have good physiological functions, but they are unstable. The interaction between anthocyanins and proteins can improve the stability, nutritional and functional properties of the complex. This paper reviews the structural changes of complex of anthocyanins interacting with proteins from different sources. By circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, it was found that the contents of α-helix (from 15.90%-42.40% to 17.60%-52.80%) or ß-sheet (from 29.00%-50.00% to 29.40%-57.00%) of the anthocyanins-proteins complex increased. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the regions of amide I (from 1627.87-1641.41 cm-1 to 1643.34-1651.02 cm-1) and amide II (from 1537.00-1540.25 cm-1 to 1539.00-1543.75 cm-1) of anthocyanins-proteins complex were shifted. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the fluorescence intensity of the complex decreased from 150-5100 to 40-3900 a.u. The thermodynamic analysis showed that there were hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between anthocyanins and proteins. The kinetic analysis showed that the half-life and activation energy of the complex increased. The stability, antioxidant, digestion, absorption, and emulsification of the complex were improved. This provides a reference for the study and application of anthocyanins and proteins interactions.

Effect of soybean insoluble dietary fiber on prevention of obesity in high-fat diet fed mice via regulation of the gut microbiota.

Increasing evidence has shown that the gut microbiota plays an important role in preventing obesity; however, the mechanism by which insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) prevents high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SIDF on obesity in HFD mice and determine the mechanism by which it prevents obesity through regulating the gut microbiota. Soybean insoluble dietary fiber (SIDF) was used as an intervention in HFD mice for 20 weeks. The results showed that SIDF significantly reduced the body weight (BW), fat index, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol while increasing the content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in HFD mice. SIDF intervention was also beneficial for the reduction of liver lipid content and fatty droplets in mice. Furthermore, SIDF intervention improved the gut microbiota composition by increasing the relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria (such as Lactobacillales [order], Lactobacillus [genus], Lachnospirace_Nk4A136_group [genus]), and reduced the relative abundance of potentially harmful bacteria (such as Lachnospiraceae [family] and Bacteroides_acidifaciens [species]), which correlated with obesity (at least p < 0.05 in all instances). Finally, SIDF was fermented by related beneficial bacteria, which increased the content of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and promoted the secretion of satiety hormones. In conclusion, SIDF intervention could prevent obesity in HFD mice by modulating the gut microbiota composition. Hence, SIDF may be used as a potential ingredient in functional foods.