Effect of GABA combined with ultrasound stress germination treatment on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of highland barley.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) combined with ultrasonic stress germination (AUG) treatment on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of highland barley (HB). Key variables, including germination times (ranging from 0 to 96 h), ultrasonic power (200-500 W), and GABA concentration (5-20 mmol/L), were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to enhance the enrichment of phenolic compounds. Furthermore, the study assessed the content, composition, and antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds in HB under various treatment conditions such as germination alone (G), ultrasonic stress germination (UG), and AUG treatment. RESULTS: The study identified optimal conditions for the phenolic enrichment of HB, which included a germination time of 60 h, an ultrasound power of 300 W, and a GABA concentration of 15 mmol L-1. Under these conditions, the total phenolic content (TPC) in HB was measured at 7.73 milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight (mg GAE/g DW), representing a 34.96% enhancement compared to untreated HB. Notably, all treatment modalities - G, UG, and AUG - significantly increased the phenolic content and antioxidant activity in HB, with the AUG treatment proving to be the most effective. CONCLUSION: These obtained results suggest that AUG treatment is a promising processing method for enriching phenolic compounds and improving antioxidant activity in HB. Subsequently, the AUG-treated HB can be used to develop phenolic-rich germinated functional foods to further broaden the application of HB. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mung bean protein as an emerging source of plant protein: a review on production methods, functional properties, modifications and its potential applications.

Plant protein is rapidly becoming more of a prime interest to consumers for its nutritional and functional properties, as well as the potential to replace animal protein. In the frame of alternative protein new sources, mung bean is becoming another legume crop that could provide high quality plant protein after soybean and pea. In particular, the 8S globulins in mung bean protein have high structural similarity and homology with soybean ß-conglycinin (7S globulin), with 68% sequence identity. Currently, mung bean protein has gained popularity in food industry because of its high nutritional value and peculiar functional properties. In that regard, various modification technologies have been applied to further broaden its application. Here, we provide a review of the composition, nutritional value, production methods, functional properties and modification technologies of mung bean protein. Furthermore, its potential applications in the new plant-based products, meat products, noodles, edible packaging films and bioactive compound carriers are highlighted to facilitate its utilization as an alternative plant protein, thus meeting consumer demands for high quality plant protein resources. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

An update on nutritional profile, phytochemical compounds, health benefits, and potential applications in the food industry of pulses seed coats: A comprehensive review.

Pulses, as a sustainable source of nutrients, are an important choice for human diets, but vast quantities of seed coats generated in pulses processing are usually discarded or used as low-value ruminant feed. It has been demonstrated that pulses seed coats are excellent sources of dietary nutrients and phytochemicals with potential health benefits. With growing interest in the sustainable use of resources and the circular economy, utilization of pulses seed coats to recover these valuable components is a core objective for their valorization and an important step toward agricultural sustainability. This review comprehensively provides a comprehensive insight on the nutritional and phytochemical profiles presented in pulses seed coats and their health benefits obtained from the findings of in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, in the food industry, pulses seed coats can be acted as potential food ingredients with nutritional, antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics or as the matrix or active components of films for food packaging and edible coatings. A better understanding of pulses seed coats may provide a reference for increasing the overall added value and realizing the pulses' sustainable diets.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): a comprehensive review of dietary sources, enrichment technologies, processing effects, health benefits, and its applications.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring potential bioactive compound present in plants, microorganisms, animals, and humans. Especially, as a main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, GABA possesses a broad spectrum of promising bioactivities. Thus, functional foods enriched with GABA have been widely sought after by consumers. However, the GABA levels in natural foods are usually low, which cannot meet people's demand for health effects. With the increasing public awareness on the food securities and naturally occurring processes, using enrichment technologies to elevate the GABA contents in foods instead of exogenous addition can enhance the acceptability of health-conscious consumers. Herein, this review provides a comprehensive insight on the dietary sources, enrichment technologies, processing effects of GABA, and its applications in food industry. Furthermore, the various health benefits of GABA-enriched foods, mainly including neuroprotection, anti-insomnia, anti-depression, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetes, and anti-inflammatory are also summarized. The main challenges for future research on GABA are related to exploring high GABA producing strains, enhancing the stability of GABA during storage, and developing emerging enrichment technologies without affecting food quality and other active ingredients. A better understanding of GABA may introduce new windows for its application in developing functional foods.

The effect of heat treatment on the lactosylation of milk proteins.

Protein lactosylation is a significant modification that occurs during the heat treatment of dairy products, causing changes in proteins' physical-chemical and nutritional properties. Knowledge of the detailed lactosylation information on milk proteins under various heat treatments is important for selecting appropriate thermo-processing and identifying markers to monitor heat load in dairy products. In the present study, we used proteomics techniques to investigate lactosylated proteins under different heating temperatures. We observed a total of 123 lactosylated lysines in 65 proteins, with lactosylation even occurring in raw milk. The number of lactosylated lysines and proteins increased moderately at 75°C to 130°C, but dramatically at 140°C. We found that 6 out of 10, 9 out of 16, 6 out of 12, and 5 out of 15 lysine residues in κ-casein, ß-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, and αS1-casein, respectively, were lactosylated under the applied heating treatment. Moreover, different lactosylation states of individual lysines and proteins can indicate the intensity of heating processes. Lactosylation of K14 in ß-lactoglobulin could distinguish pasteurized and UHT milk, while lactosylation of lactotransferrin can reflect moderate heat treatment of products.

TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis reveals defense mechanism of wheat against the crown rot pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum.

BACKGROUND: Fusarium crown rot is major disease in wheat. However, the wheat defense mechanisms against this disease remain poorly understood. RESULTS: Using tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics, we evaluated a disease-susceptible (UC1110) and a disease-tolerant (PI610750) wheat cultivar inoculated with Fusarium pseudograminearum WZ-8A. The morphological and physiological results showed that the average root diameter and malondialdehyde content in the roots of PI610750 decreased 3 days post-inoculation (dpi), while the average number of root tips increased. Root vigor was significantly increased in both cultivars, indicating that the morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of the roots to disease differed between the two cultivars. TMT analysis showed that 366 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment in the two comparison groups, UC1110_3dpi/UC1110_0dpi (163) and PI610750_3dpi/PI610750_0dpi (203). It may be concluded that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (8), secondary metabolite biosynthesis (12), linolenic acid metabolites (5), glutathione metabolism (8), plant hormone signal transduction (3), MAPK signaling pathway-plant (4), and photosynthesis (12) contributed to the defense mechanisms in wheat. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that the DEPs interacted in both sugar metabolism and photosynthesis pathways. Sixteen genes were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and were found to be consistent with the proteomics data. CONCLUSION: The results provided insight into the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between wheat and F. pseudograminearum.

Dietary Proteins Alter Fermentation Characteristics of Human Gut Microbiota In Vitro.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentation characteristics of proteins from diverse sources by human gut microbiota. Cereal proteins (rice and oat), red meat proteins (pork and beef), chicken protein and casein were selected as the substrates for simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID), and human faecal samples were collected from healthy donors as the inoculum of fermentation. In this study, we further analyzed the correlations of amino acids (AA) compositions, fermentation productions and gut microbiota. As the results, the animal protein groups had higher degree of hydrolysis (DH) after digestion and higher levels of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) after fermentation than cereal proteins. The pH value of fermentation liquid declined as proteins were added during fermentation. Cereal protein groups promoted the gut microbiota to produce more short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with the high proportion of acetate, propionate and butyrate by lowering the pH than red meat proteins. The abundance of Firmicutes at phylum level in cereal protein groups was lower than red meat proteins after fermentation. The cereal protein groups enhanced the growth of Bacteroides spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. while red meat proteins stimulated the growth of Peptoclostridium spp.. Taken together, our research implies that cereal proteins have better fermentation characters than red meat proteins.

Comparison of Structural and Functional Characterizations of Arabinoxylans from Different Wheat Processing Varieties.

Water-extracted arabinoxylans (WEAXs) of different varieties and structures have important effects on wheat end products. However, the functional performances of WEAXs, particularly relating to prebiotic potential, are not yet clear. The present study compared the structural features, physicochemical properties, and prebiotic potential of WEAXs from three wheat varieties, which were used as special wheat varieties to make steamed buns, bread flour, and noodles. The results showed that WEAX-1, WEAX-2, and WEAX-3, derived from Jinqiang wheat, American red hard spring wheat, and Australian white wheat, respectively, had different structural properties, gelation properties, and prebiotic potential. WEAX-3 had a low arabinose to xylose (A/X) ratio (0.49), high ferulic acid content (2300 µg/g), and excellent gelation capacity. WEAX-2 had a high A/X ratio (0.62), low ferulic acid content (1300 µg/g), and poor gelation capacity. When fermented with human feces, WEAX-3 significantly increased the numbers of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), while WEAX-2 had weaker effects on the number of beneficial bacteria and SCFAs production (P < 0.05). The physicochemical properties and prebiotic potential of WEAXs depended strongly on their structural properties. WEAX with a low A/X ratio and a high ferulic acid content showed excellent gelation property and a strong prebiotic potential.

The effect of pentosanase on the solubilisation and degradation of arabinoxylan extracted from whole and refined wheat flour.

BACKGROUND: The quality improvement capability of pentosanase (Pn) for whole-wheat Chinese steamed bread (CSB) is not as efficient as that for refined CSB. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this work, water-extractable arabinoxylan (WEAX) and water-unextractable solids (WUS) were extracted from whole and refined wheat flour, and then treated with Pn under the conditions similar to CSB-making. Solubilisation and degradation of arabinoxylan (AX) caused by Pn treatment were determined. RESULTS: WEAX from whole flour exhibited higher molecular weight than that from refined flour before and after the treatment with equivalent Pn. Compared with WUS from refined flour, WUS from whole flour had a much lower dissolution degree but the degradation of AX released from the WUS was more efficiently. Moreover, AX released from WUS for refined flour showed a higher Ara/Xyl ratio and the percentage of residual ferulic acid in WUS decreased more significantly. CONCLUSION: The difference in quality improvement degree for Pn in whole-wheat and refined CSB might be mainly explained by its effect on WUS. That is, Pn contributed much more to the solubilisation of WUS from refined flour but provoked degradation predominantly on AX solubilised from WUS isolated from whole flour. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

miR-27a regulates the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to cisplatin treatment via BAK-SMAC/DIABLO-XIAP axis.

MicroRNA-27a (miR-27a) has been reported to be an onco-microRNA in multiple cancers promoting tumor growth and metastasis, but the role of miR-27a in regulating the cancer sensitivity to chemotherapy remains unknown. In this study, upregulation of miR-27a was validated by real-time PCR analysis in breast cancer (BC) cell lines and samples of BC patients. A negative correlation between miR-27a and bak was also observed in normal breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A and BC cell lines, suggesting that the bak is the potential target of miR-27a. miR-27a could modulate the growth and metastasis of BC cells. More importantly, we found that knockdown of miR-27a by the specific inhibitors significantly increased the sensitivity of T-47D cells to cisplatin (CDDP) treatment. After further investigation, we indicated that the knockdown of miR-27a promoted the apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway in T-47D cells treated with CDDP, depending on the BAK-second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase/direct IAP binding protein with low pI (SMAC/DIABLO)-X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) axis. Interestingly, we found that the sensitivity of T-47D cells to some other chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) was also regulated by miR-27a. These findings improve our understanding of the role of miR-27a in breast cancer and might provide a novel strategy for cancer therapy.

Effect of steam explosion-assisted extraction on phenolic acid profiles and antioxidant properties of wheat bran.

BACKGROUND: The majority of phenolic acids in wheat bran are bound to the cell walls. Hence, a high proportion of phenolic acids cannot be extracted with conventional extraction methods. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of steam explosion pre-treatment in increasing the extractability of phenolic compounds from wheat bran. RESULTS: Bound phenolic acids (BPA) can be released by steam explosion-assisted extraction. Within the experimental range, soluble free phenolic acids (FPA) and soluble conjugated phenolic acids (CPA) increased gradually with residence time and temperature. After steam explosion at 215 °C for 120 s, the total FPA and CPA reached 6671.8 and 2578.6 µg GAE g(-1) bran, respectively, which was about 39-fold and seven-fold higher than that of the untreated sample. Ferulic acid, the major individual phenolic acids in bran, increased from 55.7 to 586.3 µg g(-1) for FPA, and from 44.9 to 1108.4 µg g(-1) for CPA. The antioxidant properties of FPA and CPA extracts were significantly improved after treated. Correlation analysis indicated that the antioxidant capacity was in close relationship with phenolic content in FPA and CPA. CONCLUSION: Steam explosion pre-treatment could be effectively used to release of BPA and enhance the antioxidant capacity of wheat bran. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Hypolipidaemic effects of oat flakes and ß-glucans derived from four Chinese naked oat (Avena nuda) cultivars in Wistar-Lewis rats.

BACKGROUND: ß-Glucan is widely considered to be the major ingredient responsible for the hypolipidaemic effects of oat. Determination of the ß-glucan content in naked oat cultivars in China has been largely performed for breeding and food processing. Since oat is generally consumed as oat flakes in China, evaluation of the bioactivity of oat flakes might be more direct and comprehensive than determination of the internal ß-glucan. However, the hypolipidaemic activity of oat flakes processed from Chinese oat cultivars has rarely been reported. RESULTS: The nutritional components of four naked oat cultivars were analysed before they were processed to oat flakes. The hypolipidaemic effects of oat flakes and the extracted ß-glucans were tested on rats fed a high-fat diet for 30 days. Oat flakes and ß-glucans of different origins showed different preventative effects on hyperlipidaemia. Among the four cultivars, ß-glucan of 'Bayou-1' showed the greatest hypolipidaemic effect. However, oat flake processed from 'Dingyou-7' showed the best bioactivity to mediate the increase of serum lipid. CONCLUSION: The hypolipidaemic effect of oat might not only depend on ß-glucan, but might also be related to other components. 'Dingyou-7' might be suitable for oat flake processing because of its superior bioactivity.

Effects of dietary oat proteins on cholesterol metabolism of hypercholesterolaemic hamsters.

BACKGROUND: The aim of present study was to investigate the hypocholesterolaemic effects of oat proteins (OP) in hamsters fed with a hypercholesterolaemic diet. The hamsters were divided into five groups and fed with the experimental diets containing oat, OP, oat ß-glucan (OG), or OP+OG for 30 days. RESULTS: OP and the OG significantly lowered the concentrations of plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and liver total cholesterol (TC), and increased the excretion of faecal bile acid and TC. Plasma and liver TC in the OP+OG group were significantly lower than those in the OP or OG groups. Both OP and OG increased the activity of liver cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), while its activity in the OP+OG group was strongly increased compared with the OP or OG groups. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that dietary OP could improve hypercholesterolaemia, while dietary OP and OG together would have better hypocholesterolaemic effects.

The cholesterol-lowering effects of oat varieties based on their difference in the composition of proteins and lipids.

BACKGROUND: The aim of present study is to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effects of the oat components other than the ß-glucan in rats fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet. METHODS: Four-week-old male Wister rats were divided into 6 groups of 7 rats each with similar mean body weights and serum cholesterol concentrations. Rats were fed with the experimental diets containing 10% oats flour for 30 days. Food intake was recorded and monitored everyday to ensure the similar contents of protein, starch, lipid and cellulose in all groups. The lipids levels in serum, liver, and faeces were determined. RESULTS: The plasma total cholesterol concentrations in different oat groups were significantly reduced compared with the control group, and the effects were different among oat groups. The decrease extent of plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations increased with the increase of the proteins and lipids contents. Moreover, liver total cholesterol and cholesterol ester contents were markedly decreased. The fecal bile acids concentrations in the oat groups were significantly increased. Oat proteins had lower Lysine/Arginin (0.59 ~ 0.66) and Methionin/Glycine (0.27 ~ 0.35) ratio than casein (Lysine/Arginin, 2.33; Methionin/Glycine, 1.51). Oat lipids contained higher contents of total Vitamin E and plant sterols than that in soybean oil. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that dietary oat improved hypercholesterolemia by increasing the excretions of fecal bile acids, and this improvement was not only related to ß-glucan, but also attributed to the lipids and proteins. Oat proteins decreased serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol contents due to their low Lysine/Arginin and Methionin/Glycine ratio. The co-existence of oleic acid, linoleic, vitamin E, or plant sterols accounted for the hypocholesterolemic properties of oat lipids.

Non-starch polysaccharides from kidney beans: comprehensive insight into their extraction, structure and physicochemical and nutritional properties.

Kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are an important legume source of carbohydrates, proteins, and bioactive molecules and thus have attracted increasing attention for their high nutritional value and sustainability. Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) in kidney beans account for a high proportion and have a significant impact on their biological functions. Herein, we critically update the information on kidney bean varieties and factors that influence the physicochemical properties of carbohydrates, proteins, and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, their extraction methods, structural characteristics, and health regulatory effects, such as the regulation of intestinal health and anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects, are also summarized. This review will provide suggestions for further investigation of the structure of kidney bean NSPs, their relationships with biological functions, and the development of NSPs as novel plant carbohydrate resources.

Enhancing the Thermal Stability of Zein Particle-Stabilized Aeratable Emulsions Through Genipin-Protein Cross-Linking and Its Possible Mechanism of Action.

Protein particle-stabilized emulsions often lack thermal stability, impacting their industrial use. This study investigated the effects of genipin (GP)-zein cross-linked particles with varying GP-to-protein weight ratios (0/0.02/0.1:1) on emulsion thermal stability. Enhanced stability was observed at the GP level of 0.1. Heat treatment increased the covalent cross-linking in raw particles and emulsions. Isolated particles from heated emulsions grew in size (micrometer scale) with higher GP levels, unlike heated raw particles (nanoscale). GP-protein cross-linking reduced the droplet-droplet and particle-emulsifier interactions in the heated emulsion. Spectroscopic analysis and electrophoresis revealed that GP-zein cross-linking increased protein structural stability and inhibited nondisulfide and non-GP cross-linking reactions in heated emulsions. The GP-zein bridges between particles at the oil-water interface create strong connections in the particle layer (shell), referred to as "particle-shell locking", enhancing the thermal stability of emulsion significantly. This insight aids the future design of protein-particle-based emulsions, preserving properties like aeratability during thermal processing.

Pulse Proteins and Their Hydrolysates: A Comprehensive Review of Their Beneficial Effects on Metabolic Syndrome and the Gut Microbiome.

Pulses, as an important part of the human diet, can act as a source of high-quality plant proteins. Pulse proteins and their hydrolysates have shown promising results in alleviating metabolic syndrome and modulating the gut microbiome. Their bioactivities have become a focus of research, with many new findings added in recent studies. This paper comprehensively reviews the anti-hypertension, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-dyslipidemia and anti-obesity bioactivities of pulse proteins and their hydrolysates in recent in vitro and in vivo studies, which show great potential for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. In addition, pulse proteins and their hydrolysates can regulate the gut microbiome, which in turn can have a positive impact on the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of some pulse proteins and their hydrolysates on metabolic syndrome have been supported by clinical studies. This review might provide a reference for the application of pulse proteins and their hydrolysates in functional foods or nutritional supplements for people with metabolic syndrome.

A Comparative Analysis between Whole Chinese Yam and Peeled Chinese Yam: Their Hypolipidemic Effects via Modulation of Gut Microbiome in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Chinese yam is a "medicine food homology" food with medical properties, but little is known about its health benefits on hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, the effect of peeling processing on the efficacy of Chinese yam is still unclear. In this study, the improvement effects of whole Chinese yam (WY) and peeled Chinese yam (PY) on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic mice were explored by evaluating the changes in physiological, biochemical, and histological parameters, and their modulatory effects on gut microbiota were further illustrated. The results show that both WY and PY could significantly attenuate the HFD-induced obesity phenotype, accompanied by the mitigative effect on epididymis adipose damage and hepatic tissue injury. Except for the ameliorative effect on TG, PY retained the beneficial effects of WY on hyperlipemia. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that WY and PY reshaped the gut microbiota composition, especially the bloom of several beneficial bacterial strains (Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibaculum) and the reduction in some HFD-dependent taxa (Mucispirillum, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, and Candidatus_Saccharimonas). PICRUSt analysis showed that WY and PY could significantly regulate lipid transport and metabolism-related pathways. These findings suggest that Chinese yam can alleviate hyperlipidemia via the modulation of the gut microbiome, and peeling treatment had less of an effect on the lipid-lowering efficacy of yam.

Establishment of a risk prediction model for olfactory disorders in patients with transnasal pituitary tumors by machine learning.

To construct a prediction model of olfactory dysfunction after transnasal sellar pituitary tumor resection based on machine learning algorithms. A cross-sectional study was conducted. From January to December 2022, 158 patients underwent transnasal sellar pituitary tumor resection in three tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province were selected as the research objects. The olfactory status was evaluated one week after surgery. They were randomly divided into a training set and a test set according to the ratio of 8:2. The training set was used to construct the prediction model, and the test set was used to evaluate the effect of the model. Based on different machine learning algorithms, BP neural network, logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, LightGBM, XGBoost, and AdaBoost were established to construct olfactory dysfunction risk prediction models. The accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the model's prediction performance, the optimal prediction model algorithm was selected, and the model was verified in the test set of patients. Of the 158 patients, 116 (73.42%) had postoperative olfactory dysfunction. After missing value processing and feature screening, an essential order of influencing factors of olfactory dysfunction was obtained. Among them, the duration of operation, gender, type of pituitary tumor, pituitary tumor apoplexy, nasal adhesion, age, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, blood scar formation, and smoking history became the risk factors of olfactory dysfunction, which were the key indicators of the construction of the model. Among them, the random forest model had the highest AUC of 0.846, and the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score were 0.750, 0.870, 0.947, and 0.833, respectively. Compared with the BP neural network, logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine, LightGBM, XGBoost, and AdaBoost, the random forest model has more advantages in predicting olfactory dysfunction in patients after transnasal sellar pituitary tumor resection, which is helpful for early identification and intervention of high-risk clinical population, and has good clinical application prospects.