A Metabolic Pathway for Activation of Dietary Glucosinolates by a Human Gut Symbiont.

Consumption of glucosinolates, pro-drug-like metabolites abundant in Brassica vegetables, has been associated with decreased risk of certain cancers. Gut microbiota have the ability to metabolize glucosinolates, generating chemopreventive isothiocyanates. Here, we identify a genetic and biochemical basis for activation of glucosinolates to isothiocyanates by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a prominent gut commensal species. Using a genome-wide transposon insertion screen, we identified an operon required for glucosinolate metabolism in B. thetaiotaomicron. Expression of BT2159-BT2156 in a non-metabolizing relative, Bacteroides fragilis, resulted in gain of glucosinolate metabolism. We show that isothiocyanate formation requires the action of BT2158 and either BT2156 or BT2157 in vitro. Monocolonization of mice with mutant BtΔ2157 showed reduced isothiocyanate production in the gastrointestinal tract. These data provide insight into the mechanisms by which a common gut bacterium processes an important dietary nutrient.

Lactational performance and hematological effects of capsaicin supplementation in dairy cows: A meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was performed to investigate the effects of capsaicin (CAP) on lactational performance and blood chemistry and cell counts in dairy cattle. The database comprised 11 peer-reviewed studies published between 2011 and 2024. The overall effect of CAP, challenge (e.g., ketosis, glucose tolerance, LPS), and dose were considered explanatory variables in the analysis. Lactation performance response variables included DMI, milk yield (MY), ECM yield, feed efficiency (FE), milk components, and BW. Hematological response variables included red and white blood cell counts and blood BHB, total fatty acids, insulin, and glucose concentrations. Data were analyzed using random- and mixed-effect models in the "robumeta" package in RStudio. Milk yield was increased by 2.9% by CAP when compared with control. Capsaicin supplementation increased FE by 3.4% compared with control. Milk fat concentration and yield were also increased by CAP compared with control by 2.6% and 4.0%, respectively. Blood glucose concentrations were decreased 2.5% by CAP supplementation, whereas insulin levels were unaffected. Cows fed CAP during a challenge had higher MY and FE and tended to have lower blood glucose than their control counterparts. Overall, this analysis suggests that CAP supplementation may be directly affecting host physiology by altering glucose metabolism, but further research to define the mechanism is warranted.

Effects of phytonutrients and yeast culture supplementation on lactational performance and nutrient use efficiency in dairy cows.

Yeast culture and phytonutrients are dietary supplements with distinct modes of action, and they may have additive effects on the performance of dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a preparation of phytonutrients and a yeast culture from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on lactational performance, total-tract digestibility of nutrients, urinary nitrogen losses, energy metabolism markers, and blood cells in dairy cows. Thirty-six mid-lactation Holstein cows (10 primiparous and 26 multiparous) were used in an 8-wk randomized complete block design experiment with a 2-wk covariate period, 2 wk for adaptation to the diets, and a 4-wk experimental period for data and samples collection. Following a 2-wk covariate period, cows were blocked by days in milk, parity, and milk yield and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (12 cows per treatment): basal diet supplemented with 14 g/cow per day yeast culture (YC; S. cerevisiae), basal diet supplemented with 1.0 g/cow per day phytonutrients (PN; 5.5% cinnamaldehyde, 9.5% eugenol, and 3.5% capsicum oleoresin), or basal diet supplemented with a combination of YC and PN (YCPN). Treatments were top-dressed once daily on the total mixed ration at time of feeding. Dry matter intake, milk yield, and feed efficiency were not affected by treatments. Milk composition and energy-corrected milk yield were also not affected by supplementation of YC, PN, and YCPN. There were no differences in intake or total-tract digestibility of dietary nutrients among treatments. Compared with YC, the PN and YCPN treatments tended to decrease the proportion of short-chain fatty acids in milk fat. There was an additive effect of YC and PN supplementation on urinary urea nitrogen (UUN) excretion relative to total nitrogen intake. Cows fed a diet supplemented with YCPN had lower UUN excretion than cows in YC and tended to have lower UUN excretion compared with PN. Blood monocytes count and percentage were decreased in cows fed PN and YCPN diets compared with YC. Treatments did not affect concentrations of blood ß-hydroxybutyrate and total fatty acids. Overall, lactational performance, digestibility of nutrients, energy metabolism markers, and blood cells were not affected by YC, PN, or YCPN supplementation. A combination of PN and YC had an additive effect on nitrogen excretion in dairy cows.

Feeding encapsulated pepper to dairy cows during the hot season improves performance without affecting core and skin temperature.

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) contain capsaicin, an organic compound with a group of alkaloids that has shown thermoregulation properties in humans and mice, and may influence glucose and lipid metabolism in ruminants. An experiment was conducted to evaluate different doses of a feed additive containing encapsulated pepper on milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, feed sorting index, total-tract apparent digestibility of nutrients, purine derivatives excretion, and serum concentrations of urea-N and glucose, N excretion, respiration rate, rectal temperature, and skin temperature in different regions (forehead, face, and rumen). Thirty-six Holstein cows (150 ± 102.1 d in milk and 29.3 ± 5.81 kg/d milk yield) were used in a 9-wk randomized complete block (n = 12) design experiment. Following a 2-wk covariate period, cows were blocked according to parity, days in milk, and milk yield and were randomly assigned to the following treatments: 0 (CAP0), 0.75 (CAP75), or 1.5 (CAP150) g/d of a feed additive containing encapsulated pepper (1 g/kg, Capcin; NutriQuest) added to the concentrate along with minerals. Treatment differences were evaluated through orthogonal contrasts (CAP0 vs. CAP75 + CAP150 or CAP75 vs. CAP150). The average temperature-humidity index during the experiment was 72.0 ± 2.07. Dry matter intake was greater in cows fed a feed additive containing encapsulated pepper (CAP) treatments (CAP75 and CAP150) compared with CAP0. Cows fed CAP150 tended to have greater dry matter intake than those in CAP75 group. Feeding CAP decreased sorting for feed particles with size between 8 and 4 mm. An interaction effect between treatment and week was observed for crude protein digestibility whereas cows fed CAP150 had the greatest digestibility on the third week of experiment. Orthogonal contrasts did not detect differences in serum concentrations of glucose and urea-N, or purine derivatives excretion. Nitrogen excretion (as % of N intake) in milk, urine, and feces was not altered by treatments. Feeding CAP increased yields of 3.5% fat-corrected milk, fat, protein, and lactose. A tendency toward greater milk protein content was observed for cows fed CAP150 than CAP75. No differences were detected on respiration rate, rectal temperature, and skin temperature of cows. A feed additive containing encapsulated pepper fed at 0.75 or 1.5 g/d can improve yield of fat-corrected milk and milk solids by increasing feed intake without affecting nutrient digestibility and body temperature of lactating cows during the hot season.

Nutraceuticals Synergistically Promote Osteogenesis in Cultured 7F2 Osteoblasts and Mitigate Inhibition of Differentiation and Maturation in Simulated Microgravity.

Microgravity is known to impact bone health, similar to mechanical unloading on Earth. In the absence of countermeasures, bone formation and mineral deposition are strongly inhibited in Space. There is an unmet need to identify nutritional countermeasures. Curcumin and carnosic acid are phytonutrients with anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative effects and may exhibit osteogenic properties. Zinc is a trace element essential for bone formation. We hypothesized that these nutraceuticals could counteract the microgravity-induced inhibition of osteogenic differentiation and function. To test this hypothesis, we cultured 7F2 murine osteoblasts in simulated microgravity (SMG) in a Random Positioning Machine in the presence and absence of curcumin, carnosic acid, and zinc and evaluated cell proliferation, function, and differentiation. SMG enhanced cell proliferation in osteogenic medium. The nutraceuticals partially reversed the inhibitory effects of SMG on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and did not alter the SMG-induced reduction in the expression of osteogenic marker genes in osteogenic medium, while they promoted osteoblast proliferation and ALP activity in the absence of traditional osteogenic media. We further observed a synergistic effect of the intermix of the phytonutrients on ALP activity. Intermixes of phytonutrients may serve as convenient and effective nutritional countermeasures against bone loss in space.

Phytoestrogen isoflavone intervention to engage the neuroprotective effect of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase against stroke.

In the pathophysiologic setting of cerebral ischemia, excitotoxic levels of glutamate contribute to neuronal cell death. Our previous work demonstrated the ability of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) to metabolize neurotoxic glutamate in the stroke-affected brain. Here, we seek to identify small-molecule inducers of GOT expression to mitigate ischemic stroke injury. From a panel of phytoestrogen isoflavones, biochanin A (BCA) was identified as the most potent inducer of GOT gene expression in neural cells. BCA significantly increased GOT mRNA and protein expression at 24 h and protected against glutamate-induced cell death. Of note, this protection was lost when GOT was knocked down. To validate outcomes in vivo, C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with BCA (5 and 10 mg/kg) for 4 wk and subjected to ischemic stroke. BCA levels were significantly increased in plasma and brain of mice. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated increased GOT protein expression in the brain. BCA attenuated stroke lesion volume as measured by 9.4T MRI and improved sensorimotor function-this protection was lost with GOT knockdown. BCA increased luciferase activity in cells that were transfected with the pERRE3tk-LUC plasmid, which demonstrated transactivation of GOT. This increase was lost when estrogen-related receptor response element sites were mutated. Taken together, BCA represents a natural phytoestrogen that mitigates stroke-induced injury by inducing GOT expression.-Khanna, S., Stewart, R., Gnyawali, S., Harris, H., Balch, M., Spieldenner, J., Sen, C. K., Rink, C. Phytoestrogen isoflavone intervention to engage the neuroprotective effect of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase against stroke.

Effects of phytonutrients alone or in combination with monensin on productivity in lactating dairy cows.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of phytonutrients, compared with monensin as a positive control, on productivity, milk fatty acids, fat mobilization, and blood cells in lactating dairy cows. Thirty-six Holstein cows were used in a 9-wk randomized complete block design study. Following a 2-wk covariate period, cows were blocked by days in milk, parity, and milk yield and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (12 cows/treatment): 450 mg/cow per day of monensin (MO), 250 mg/cow per day of capsicum plus 450 mg/cow per day of MO (MOCAP), and 1,000 mg/cow per day of a mixture of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum (CEC). Dry matter intake and milk yield were not affected by treatment. Supplementation of CEC increased feed efficiency compared with MO, but did not affect feed efficiency on an energy-corrected milk basis. Milk composition (fat, protein, and lactose), milk fatty acid profile, and blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and ß-hydroxybutyrate were also not affected by treatment. The expression of hormone-sensitive lipase in adipose tissues tended to increase for MOCAP compared with MO. Counts of total white blood cell, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils were not affected by treatment, although monocytes count tended to be decreased by CEC. Treatments had no effect on red blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets. Results indicate that dietary supplementation of CEC and capsicum had no production or other effects in dairy cows, compared with MO, except CEC increased feed efficiency and tended to decrease blood monocytes count.

Effect of environmental variables on phytonutrients of Origanum vulgare L. in the sub-humid region of the northwestern Himalayas.

Ecological and soil physiochemical parameters impact the crop quality and development. In spite of the huge commercial prospective, the phytonutrient and chemometric profiles of Himalayan oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) have not been evaluated, and their relationships with ecological parameters are still lacking. The objective of this research study was to evaluate the disparity in the phytonutrient profiles of different ecotypes of O. vulgare in wild and cultivated populations and determine whether such variation was related to the diverse climatic and edaphic conditions prevailing in the northwestern Himalayas. Micrometeorological, atomic absorption spectroscopy for micro-elemental analysis was determined for soil. HPLC was used to determine the disparity in phytonutrient (quercetin, betacarotene, ascorbic acid, and catechin) and phytochemical (arbutin) levels. Cultivated populations had lower phytonutrient levels than wild populations. The habitat exhibiting pH values ranging from 6 to 7 elevated organic carbon (2.42%), nitrogen (97.41 kg ha-1), and manganese (10-12 µg g-1) and zinc contents (0.39-0.50%) show luxirant growth of Origanum vulgarel. The phytonutrient (quercetin, betacarotene, ascorbic acid, arbutin, and catechin) levels had a direct relationship with UV-B flux (r2 = 0.82) and potassium (r2 = 0.97). Wild accessions predominantly contained catechin and ascorbic acid, with maximum values of 163.8 and 46.88 µg g-1, respectively, while the cultivated accessions had the highest level of arbutin (53.42 µg g-1). Maximum variation was observed in quercetin (114.61%) followed by ß-carotene (87.53%). Cultivated accessions had less quercetin (0.04-1.25 µg g-1) than wild accessions (1.25-2.87 µg g-1). Wild accessions had higher phytonutrient values for catechin, ß-carotene, and ascorbic acid while cultivated accessions had maximum values for arbutin. The correlation of environmental variables with phytonutrient levels paves the way for metabolomic-guided enhancement of agricultural practices for better herb quality.

Host-mediated effects of phytonutrients in ruminants: A review.

Plants produce an extensive array of organic compounds derived from secondary metabolism that may be useful in animal nutrition because of their chemical makeup. These plant-derived bioactive compounds, also referred to as phytonutrients (PN) or phytobiotics, have been shown to express antimicrobial activities against a wide range of bacteria, yeast, and fungi and have been investigated as rumen modifiers in ruminant nutrition. Studies have reported that PN may inhibit deamination of AA and methanogenesis in the rumen and shift fermentation toward propionate and butyrate. Most of the experiments, however, have been conducted in vitro, and responses have been highly variable and inconsistent in animal experiments. In addition, some studies have reported that PN had positive effects on productivity, although rumen fermentation was not affected. Other than antimicrobial effects in the gut, PN are known to bind specific receptors expressed in neurons, intestines, and other cells and exhibit related physiological effects in nonruminants. The receptor-mediated effects include immune responses, oxidative stress, and insulin secretion and activity. Some PN, due to their phenolic nature, are likely less susceptible to microbial degradation in the rumen and may exhibit activities postruminally, similar to their mode of action in nonruminant species. This opens a new area of research in ruminants, including effects of PN on the animal's immune system, postruminal nutrient use, and animal physiology. Although limited, studies with ruminants provide first evidence of PN's regulatory effects on the host responses. For example, PN were reported to regulate immune cells related to adaptive and innate immunity in challenged or nonchallenged dairy cows. Supplementation of PN reduced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing endogenous antioxidants in ruminants. Additionally, insulin secretion and sensitivity were reportedly regulated by PN in dairy cows. The regulatory effects of PN on immunity may be beneficial for immune suppression and inflammation in dairy cows. In addition, PN could positively affect energy partitioning for milk production through their effects on insulin secretion and sensitivity. Further research is needed to elucidate the effect and mode of action of PN on immune function and animal energetics.

Interplay between Oxidative Stress and Nutrient Sensing Signaling in the Developmental Origins of Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) presents a global health burden, despite recent advances in management. CVD can originate from early life by so-called "developmental origins of health and disease" (DOHaD). Epidemiological and experimental evidence supports that early-life insults can induce programming of later CVD. Underlying the DOHaD concept, early intervention may offset programming process to prevent the development of CVD, namely reprogramming. Oxidative stress and nutrient sensing signals have been considered to be major mechanisms of cardiovascular programming, while the interplay between these two mechanisms have not been examined in detail. This review summarizes current evidence that supports the link between oxidative stress and nutrient sensing signaling to cardiovascular programming, with an emphasis on the l-arginine-asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)-nitric oxide (NO) pathway. This review provides an overview of evidence from human studies supporting fetal programming of CVD, insight from animal models of cardiovascular programming and oxidative stress, impact of the l-arginine-ADMA-NO pathway in cardiovascular programming, the crosstalk between l-arginine metabolism and nutrient sensing signals, and application of reprogramming interventions to prevent the programming of CVD. A greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular programming is essential to developing early reprogramming interventions to combat the globally growing epidemic of CVD.

The effects of supplementation with a blend of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol on feed intake and milk production of dairy cows.

Plant extracts (PE) are naturally occurring chemicals in plants, and many of these molecules have been reported to influence production efficiency of dairy and beef animals. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of a PE additive (CE; an encapsulated blend of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol) on the milk production performance of lactating dairy cows across a range of doses. In experiment 1, 32 Holstein multi- and primiparous dairy cows in mid-lactation were assigned to no additive or supplementation with CE (350mg/d; n=16 cows/treatment) for 6 wk. In experiment 2, 48 Holstein multi- and primiparous dairy cows were assigned to no additive or supplementation with CE (200, 400, or 600mg/d; n=12 animals/treatment) for 8 wk. A 1-wk covariate period was included in both experiments. In both experiments, individual dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, milk composition, and somatic cell count were recorded daily. In experiment 1, CE was associated with an increase in DMI in both parity groups but an increase in milk production of multiparous cows only. In experiment 2, milk yield of multiparous cows was decreased at the 2 highest doses, whereas milk yield of primiparous cows was increased at the low and high doses of CE. These responses were accompanied by similar changes in DMI; therefore, CE did not affect feed efficiency. We observed no effect of CE on SCC or milk composition; however, treatment by parity interactions were detected for each of these variables that have not been described previously. Based on the results of these experiments, we conclude that a blend of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol can increase DMI and milk production in lactating dairy cows. In addition, environmental factors appear to influence the response to CE, including dose and parity, and these should be explored further.

Fructus mori: An Updated Review on Botany, Phytonutrient, Detection, Bioactivity, Quality Marker, and Application.

BACKGROUND: Fructus mori (mulberry) is not only a delicious fruit with rich phytonutrients and health functions but also a medicinal plant with many clinical therapeutic values for tonifying kidneys and consolidating essence, making hair black and eyes bright. METHODS: The related references about F. mori in this review from 1996 to 2022 had been collected from both online and offline databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, SciFinder, Willy, SciHub, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, Baidu Scholar, ACS publications, and CNKI. The other information was acquired from ancient books and classical works about F. mori. RESULTS: An updated summary of phytonutrients from F. mori was listed as fellows: flavonoids (1-20) (23.5%), phenolic acids (21-34) 16.5%), alkaloids (35-75) (48.2%), polysaccharides (76- 78) (3.5%), other compounds (79-85) (8.3%). The above chemical components were detected by TLC, UV-Vis, HPLC, GC-MS, and AAS methods for their quality standards. The various bioactivities (hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-cancer, and other activities) of mulberry are summarized and discussed in this review, which laid an important basis for analyzing their mechanisms and quality markers. This review summarized its applications for vinegar, wine, yogurt, drink, jelly, and sweetmeat in food fields, and the existing problems and future development directions are also discussed in this review. CONCLUSIONS: This review made a comprehensive description of F. mori, including botany, phytonutrient, detection, bioactivity, quality marker, and application. It will not only provide some important clues for further studying F. mori, but also provide some valuable suggestions for indepth research and development of F. mori.

In silico identification of compounds from Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract inhibit interleukin-6 to prevent rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Medicinal herbs with a phytonutrient background has been applied globally as major alternatives to ameliorate the continuous increase in rheumatoid arthritis cases worldwide. We herein aimed to critically examine the bioactive components of the medicinal herb Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract for its potential to inhibit the influx of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The Schrödinger platform was employed as the main computational acumen for the screening of bioactive compounds identified and reference compounds subjected to molecular simulation (MDS) for analyzing the stability of docked complexes to assess fluctuations and conformational changes during protein-ligand interactions. Results: The values of the simulatory properties and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the good stability of these phytochemicals in the active pocket of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Discussion: Our findings reveal new strategies in which these phytochemicals are potential inhibitory agents that can be modified and further evaluated to develop more effective agents for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, thereby providing a better understanding and useful model for the reproduction and/or discovery of new drugs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and its complications.

An Evidence Base for Heart Disease Prevention using a Mediterranean Diet Comprised Primarily of Vegetarian Food.

Dietary patterns, nutrition, physical activity, air pollution, tobacco smoke, ethnicity and genetics affect heart disease. Vegetarian food diets are one of the important factors in its prevention and control. People living in the five blue zones, mostly consuming the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), have the highest longevity in the world and the least incidence of heart disease. There are several forms of heart pathology, e.g., the most common coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, heart valve disease and abnormal heart rhythms. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world and varies by race, where indigenous and people of color have a higher risk for its complications than the white population. The morbidity of cardiovascular pathology in the Afro-American community persists high and is a primary source of disparities in life expectancy between Afro-Americans and whites in the United States. Adherence to healthy diets higher in vegetable foods and lower in animal foods is correlated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, morbidity and mortality in the general population. A detailed literature review was performed of the Medline, EMBASE, and Ebsco databases to synthesize and compare evidence on this topic to produce a review of the importance of a Mediterranean diet in the prevention of heart disease. Consumption of a MedDiet consisting of fruits and vegetables (including berries due to their high fibre and antioxidant content), nuts, whole grains, leafy greens, beans like chickpeas, eggplants, Greek yogurt and extra virgin olive oil are associated with longer life and lower incidence of heart disease. The latter diet is superior to consuming large quantities of meat and refined carbohydrates, such as sucrose, high fructose corn syrup and grains that have had the fibrous and nutritious parts removed.

Bioactive compounds for human and planetary health.

Bioactive compounds found in edible plants and foods are vital for human and planetary health, yet their significance remains underappreciated. These natural bioactives, as part of whole diets, ingredients, or supplements, can modulate multiple aspects of human health and wellness. Recent advancements in omic sciences and computational biology, combined with the development of Precision Nutrition, have contributed to the convergence of nutrition and medicine, as well as more efficient and affordable healthcare solutions that harness the power of food for prevention and therapy. Innovation in this field is crucial to feed a growing global population sustainably and healthily. This requires significant changes in our food system, spanning agriculture, production, distribution and consumption. As we are facing pressing planetary health challenges, investing in bioactive-based solutions is an opportunity to protect biodiversity and the health of our soils, waters, and the atmosphere, while also creating value for consumers, patients, communities, and stakeholders. Such research and innovation targets include alternative proteins, such as cellular agriculture and plant-derived protein; natural extracts that improve shelf-life as natural preservatives; upcycling of agricultural by-products to reduce food waste; and the development of natural alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Translational research and innovation in the field of natural bioactives are currently being developed at two levels, using a systems-oriented approach. First, at the biological level, the interplay between these compounds and the human host and microbiome is being elucidated through omics research, big data and artificial intelligence, to accelerate both discovery and validation. Second, at the ecosystem level, efforts are focused on producing diverse nutrient-rich, flavorful, and resilient, yet high-yield agricultural crops, and educating consumers to make informed choices that benefit both their health and the planet. Adopting a system-oriented perspective helps: unravel the intricate and dynamic relationships between bioactives, nutrition, and sustainability outcomes, harnessing the power of nature to promote human health and wellbeing; foster sustainable agriculture and protect the ecosystem. Interdisciplinary collaboration in this field is needed for a new era of research and development of practical food-based solutions for some of the most pressing challenges humanity and our planet are facing today.

Metabolic Signatures from Genebank Collections: An Underexploited Resource for Human Health?

Despite the almost universal acceptance of the phrase "you are what you eat," investment in understanding diet-based nutrition to address human health has been dwarfed compared to that for medicine-based interventions. Moreover, traditional breeding has focused on yield to the detriment of nutritional quality, meaning that although caloric content has remained high, the incidence of nutritional deficiencies and accompanying diseases (so-called hidden hunger) has risen dramatically. We review how genome sequencing coupled with metabolomics can facilitate the screening of genebank collections in the search for superior alleles related to the nutritional quality of crops. We argue that the first examples are very promising, suggesting that this approach could benefit broader ranges of crops and compounds with known relevance for human health. We argue that this represents anapproach complementary to metabolic engineering by transgenesis or gene editing that could be used to reverse some of the losses incurred through a recent focus on breeding for yield, although we caution that ensuring such approaches are not (re)introducing antinutrients is also necessary.

Spectral Light Treatment Influenced Morpho-Physiological Properties and Carvacrol Accumulation in Indian Borage.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) as an alternative light source for plants had shown to enhance the plant material quality. Indian borage or Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng, a medicinal herb produces carvacrol as the major volatile organic compound (VOC). Histolocalization of VOCs and expression pattern of the terpenoid biosynthesis genes after spectral light treatment is not yet reported in P. amboinicus. This work investigated the morpho-physiological, biochemical and transcriptional responses towards red, green, blue, warm white and red-blue (RB, 1:1) LEDs treatment at 40 ± 5 µmol m-2 s-1 light intensity after 40 days. Maximal growth index (GI), leaf fresh weight and dry weight were obtained in RB (1:1) treated plants. There was one-fold increase in phenolics content and 2.5-fold increase in antioxidant activity in comparison to warm white. High quantity of terpenes and phenolics deposition were observed in the glandular trichomes of RB (1:1). Maximum carvacrol accumulation (14.45 µmol g-1 FW) was also detected in RB (1:1). The transcript levels of early terpene biosynthesis genes PaDXS, PaDXR, PaHMGR and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes, PaCYP1 and PaCYP9 were highly upregulated in RB (1:1) and green. The overall results suggest RB (1:1) as the better lighting option amongst the studied spectral lights for obtaining maximum phytochemicals in P. amboinicus. Work is being continued with different spectral ratios of red and blue LED lights to maximize phytochemical accumulation, the outcome of which will be reported elsewhere in near future. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00344-023-11028-6.

Phytosome Supplements for Delivering Gymnema inodorum Phytonutrients to Prevent Inflammation in Macrophages and Insulin Resistance in Adipocytes.

Gymnema inodorum (GI) is a leafy green vegetable found in the northern region of Thailand. A GI leaf extract has been developed as a dietary supplement for metabolic diabetic control. However, the active compounds in the GI leaf extract are relatively nonpolar. This study aimed to develop phytosome formulations of the GI extract to improve the efficiencies of their phytonutrients in terms of anti-inflammatory and anti-insulin-resistant activities in macrophages and adipocytes, respectively. Our results showed that the phytosomes assisted the GI extract's dispersion in an aqueous solution. The GI phytocompounds were assembled into a phospholipid bilayer membrane as spherical nanoparticles about 160-180 nm in diameter. The structure of the phytosomes allowed phenolic acids, flavonoids and triterpene derivatives to be embedded in the phospholipid membrane. The existence of GI phytochemicals in phytosomes significantly changed the particle's surface charge from neutral to negative within the range of -35 mV to -45 mV. The phytosome delivery system significantly exhibited the anti-inflammatory activity of the GI extract, indicated by the lower production of nitric oxide from inflamed macrophages compared to the non-encapsulated extract. However, the phospholipid component of phytosomes slightly interfered with the anti-insulin-resistant effects of the GI extract by decreasing the glucose uptake activity and increasing the lipid degradation of adipocytes. Altogether, the nano-phytosome is a potent carrier for transporting GI phytochemicals to prevent an early stage of T2DM.

Digestibility, Blood Parameters, Rumen Fermentation, Hematology, and Nitrogen Balance of Goats after Receiving Supplemental Coffee Cherry Pulp as a Source of Phytochemical Nutrients.

This research examines the impact of adding dried coffee cherry pulp (CoCP) to goat feed on the digestibility of the feed, rumen fermentation, hematological, and nitrogen balance. A goat feeding experiment employed four male crossbreds (Thai Native × Anglo Nubian) aged 12 months and weighing 21.0 ± 0.2 kg each. The treatment was conceived as a 4 × 4 Latin square with four specific CoCP levels at 0, 100, 200, and 300 g/day. Dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), and crude protein intake (CPI) were unaffected by the addition of CoCP. However, across treatment groups, there was a linear increase in ether extract intake (EEI) (p < 0.01), neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI) (p = 0.06), and acid detergent fiber intake (ADFI) (p = 0.04), as well as a quadratic effect on DMI% BW (p = 0.04). The findings showed that rumen temperature, pH, ammonia-nitrogen, or pack cell volume did not change with CoCP supplementation. Total volatile fatty acid showed linear effects on acetate (p = 0.03) and was quadratically affected by propionate concentration (p = 0.02), acetate to propionate ratio (p = 0.01), acetic plus butyric to propionic acid ratio (p = 0.01), and methane estimation (p = 0.01). With increased CoCP supplementation, there was a linear decrease in protozoa count by about 20.2% as the amount of CoCP supplemented increased (p = 0.06). CoCP supplementation in animal feed resulted in a linear decrease in urinary nitrogen (p = 0.02) and a quadratic effect on absorbed nitrogen (p = 0.08) among treatment groups, with greater N utilization values found in goats fed 200 g/d CoCP. In light of this, supplementing CoCP into animal feed may improve animal digestion and rumen fermentation effectiveness while having no effect on feed intake, rumen microbes, or blood metabolites.

Narrative Review on the Effects of Oat and Sprouted Oat Components on Blood Pressure.

Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cognitive decline. Elevations in blood pressure (BP) leading to HTN can be found in young adults with increased prevalence as people age. Oats are known to decrease CVD risk via an established effect of ß-glucan on the attenuation of blood cholesterol. Many past studies on CVD and oats have also reported a decrease in BP; however, a thorough assessment of oats and BP has not been conducted. Moreover, oats deliver several beneficial dietary components with putative beneficial effects on BP or endothelial function, such as ß-glucan, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), and phytochemicals such as avenanthramides. We conducted a comprehensive search for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical intervention studies on oats and BP and identified 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three meta-analyses that supported the role of oats in decreasing BP. Emerging data also suggest oat consumption may reduce the use of anti-hypertensive medications. The majority of these studies utilized whole oats or oat bran, which include a vast array of oat bioactives. Therefore, we also extensively reviewed the literature on these bioactives and their putative effect on BP-relevant mechanisms. The data suggest several oat components, such as GABA, as well as the delivery of high-quality plant protein and fermentable prebiotic fiber, may contribute to the anti-HTN effect of oats. In particular, GABA is enhanced in oat sprouts, which suggests this food may be particularly beneficial for healthy BP management.