Abstract:Marine bioresources, owing to their unique metabolic adaptation mechanisms, contain an abundance of bioactive constituents that may aid in the prevention and intervention of obesity and its metabolic complications. This study systematically elucidates the chemical structural characteristics and sources of four major categories of marine-derived anti-obesity bioactive substances, namely, marine polysaccharides, lipids, protein-derived peptides, and polyphenols and natural pigments. Using structure–function relationships as the guiding framework, the intrinsic links between key structural elements and anti-obesity effects were outlined. Based on this, existing research evidence has been consolidated to provide an overview of the synergistic action of these substances, achieved through multiple pathways. These include influencing adipocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis, promoting fatty acid oxidation and energy expenditure, alleviating chronic inflammation and oxidative stress through the regulation of lipid digestion, absorption, and transport, and participating in the regulation of host energy homeostasis via the gut microbiota and their metabolites. Lastly, focusing on translational applications, this study summarizes the status of development of marine-derived antiobesity functional foods and dietary supplements and proposes that food-grade processing and delivery strategies can be adopted to improve the reproducibility and practical feasibility of the observed effects. The findings of this review can serve as a reference for the high-value utilization of marine resources and development of anti-obesity products.

Abstract:Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases. Although chemoprevention targeting key signaling pathways has become an important strategy for reducing cancer risk, the clinical application of conventional anticancer drugs is limited by issues such as drug resistance, adverse effects, and poor responsiveness to immunotherapy. Natural plantderived compounds, characterized by low toxicity, multi-target effects, and potent biological activity, have gradually emerged as a new focus of anticancer research. In the present study, based on literature reviewed from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, anticancer mechanisms of the marine carotenoid fucoxanthin were comprehensively and systematically elucidated. These mechanisms include the promotion of programmed cell death (apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis) through the induction of cancer cell cycle arrest,; regulation of pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JAK2/STAT3/Bcl-xL; inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor metastasis via modulation of pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β; remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment and gut microbiota, and systemic attenuation of the activation of key signaling pathways such as NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways. These findings indicate that fucoxanthin may potentially serve as a pharmacotherapeutic agent with low toxicity and high antitumor activity.

Abstract:Hyperuricemia is a metabolic disease related to uric acid metabolism disorder and closely associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and kidney complications. With the improvement of people’s living standards and dietary habit change, hyperuricemia has become a globally prevalent metabolic disease. The "blue" active substances refer to marine organism-derived natural active compounds with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-hyperuricemia, anti-cancer, and anti-coagulant properties. Compared with clinical drugs, the "blue" active substances with anti-hyperuricemia activity have received widespread attention, owing to their advantages such as excellent activity, high safety, and few adverse effects. As various "blue" active substances, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, peptides and saponins, show anti-hyperuricemia activity. This article reviews the metabolic pathways of uric acid, functional models for screening and evaluation of uric acidlowering substances, and the structure, function and mechanism of "blue" substances with anti-hyperuricemia activity, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for development of anti-hyperuricemia functional foods.

Abstract:Astaxanthin is a natural carotenoid with remarkable antioxidant activity; however, its hydrophobicity, poor stability, and low bioavailability strongly limit its practical applications. Various delivery systems have been developed for the efficient delivery of astaxanthin, including lipid-based, natural polymer-based, and smart responsive delivery systems, which enhance astaxanthin stability, solubility, bioavailability, and targeting. Optimized delivery systems enable astaxanthin to more effectively exert its biological activities, including protecting eye and skin health, alleviating intestinal inflammation, combating diabetes and its complications, fighting cancer, preventing cardiovascular diseases, and ameliorating metabolic liver diseases. However, the application of astaxanthin in functional foods continues to encounter significant challenges. To systematically summarize the research progress and limitations in the application of astaxanthin delivery systems, this review discusses emerging astaxanthin delivery systems, the nutritional functions they enhance, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Further, it outlines the developmental and application prospects of astaxanthin in functional foods, providing a theoretical foundation for future research and application.

Abstract:To further investigate the antioxidant and whitening activities of pearl shell peptides, their antioxidant capacity was assessed in this study using HepG2 cell line and D-galactose-induced Drosophila melanogaster model. Subsequently, their whitening activity was examined using mouse melanoma cells (B16F10) and a zebrafish whitening model. Significant intracellular antioxidant activity was demonstrated (EC50=0.163 mg•mL-1), with 0.2 mg•mL-1 peptides increased the viability of oxidative-damaged cells from 80.99% to 96.55% (P<0.05). Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities significantly increased in D-galactose-treated D. melanogaster (P<0.05), accompanied by reduced malondialdehyde content. For whitening effects, melanin content was significantly decreased by 26.47% in B16F10 cells and 32.33% in zebrafish, with corresponding tyrosinase activity reduction of 29.79% and 56.72%, respectively. The peptide profile was characterized by mass spectrometry, with identified sequences exhibiting strong correlation with bioactivity assessments. These findings collectively establish that pearl shell peptides possess dual antioxidant whitening functionalities, providing a scientific foundation for their development as skin-health promoting nutraceutical ingredients.

Abstract:To achieve the high-value utilization of byproducts from the testes of Takifugu flavidus, we used testes of these fish as raw material and adopted enzymatic hydrolysis technology to prepare protamine peptides (TFPPs). Process parameters were optimized based on single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology, and antioxidant activity and potential anti-fatigue mechanisms were systematically investigated. Papain was selected for enzymatic hydrolysis, for which the established optimal conditions were as follows: hydrolysis time, 4 h; temperature, 55 ℃; enzyme dosage, 10 000 U•g-1; and liquid-to-solid ratio, 15:1 (mL•g-1). Under these conditions, a 42.31% hydrolysis was achieved. Ultrafiltration membranes with different molecular weight cutoffs were used for fractionation and purification, resulting in three ultrafiltration fractions. In vitro antioxidant experiments revealed that the TFPP-1 fraction (<1 kDa) was characterized by the strongest antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 8.94, 12.15, and 7.58 mg•mL-1 for the rates of DPPH, hydroxyl, and superoxide anion radical scavenging, respectively. Further identification of TFPP-1 using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry yielded 2,085 peptide sequences. Key proteins associated with antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities, such as kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK), were selected as targets. Computer-aided virtual screening and molecular docking techniques were employed to examine the anti-fatigue peptides, with the results indicating that four peptides (DD6, DK6, FR6, and FD7) were characterized by strong binding to target proteins via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions; binding energies ranged from –9.5 to –6.7 kcal•mol-1, which are all less than –5 kcal•mol-1. It was hypothesized that these peptides have anti-fatigue effects by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, inhibiting LDH activity to reduce lactate accumulation, and modulating CK activity to optimize energy metabolism. In conclusion, the findings of this study will provide technical support and a theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of pufferfish testes and the development of testis-derived anti-fatigue peptides.

Abstract:The disposal of carrageenan industrial waste residues at landfill sites not only causes environmental pollution but also wastes valuable resources, such as the carrageenan oligosaccharides and perlite contained within the waste. To realize the recovery of carrageenan oligosaccharides and perlite from carrageenan industrial waste residues, response surface methodology was used to optimize the conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis of 2 g of industrial waste residues using κ-carrageenase. The optimal conditions were determined to be as follows: liquid-to-solid ratio, 57 mL•g-1; stirring speed, 500 r•min-1; κ-carrageenase amount, 20 U; reaction temperature, 41 ℃; pH, 8.0; and reaction time, 30 min. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the recovered enzymatic products were identified as carrageenan disaccharides and tetrasaccharides. Additionally, single-factor experiments were performed to ascertain the optimal conditions for the cellulase hydrolysis of 4 g of industrial waste residues. These conditions were determined to be as follows: liquid-to-solid ratio, 40 mL•g-1; stirring speed, 500 r•min-1; cellulase amount, 200 U; reaction temperature, 50 ℃; pH, 4.0; and reaction time, 2 h. On the basis of these findings, additional single-factor experiments were performed to determine the optimal process conditions for recovering perlite through hydrochloric acid treatment. These conditions were determined to be as follows: reaction temperature, 90 ℃; hydrochloric acid concentration, 0.2 mol•L-1; and reaction time, 2 h. Under these conditions, the recovered perlite exhibited a permeability of 7.36 Darcy and a bulk density of 0.207 g•cm-3, meeting the national standard for perlite filter aids. In conclusion, the successful recovery of perlite via stepwise enzymatic hydrolysis combined with acid treatment demonstrates the potential for the recycling of carrageenan industrial waste. These findings provide theoretical support and a technical reference for realizing the comprehensive utilization of seaweed industrial waste residues by leveraging enzymatic technology.

Abstract:The effects of palm kernel oil-2 monounsaturated fatty acid (OPO) on short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in different segments of mouse intestine and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control, low-dose OPO (LOPO, mass fraction 2.25%), and high-dose OPO (HOPO, mass fraction 9.00%) groups. After 4 weeks of feeding, SCFA levels in different intestinal segments were measured, and metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of OPO intervention on intestinal metabolic networks and gene expression. The results showed that OPO intervention significantly increased SCFA levels, particularly acetate, propionate, and butyrate, and mass fractions in the jejunum and colon, up to 115.59%, 273.71%, and 188.74%, respectively, under HOPO intervention. However, in the ileum, the acetate and butyrate mass fractions in the high-dose OPO group were significantly reduced to 39.26% and 44.79%, respectively. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that OPO intervention significantly affected pathways related to lipid metabolism, digestion and absorption, and signal transduction, with the "fat digestion and absorption" pathway being highly enriched. This study demonstrated that OPO intervention optimizes intestinal digestion and absorption processes, dose-dependently increases SCFA levels in different mouse intestinal regions (particularly the jejunum and colon), thereby providing a theoretical basis for intervention strategies promoting host metabolic health.

Abstract:The effects of the black rice anthocyanidin monomer cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and its lauric acid enzymatic acylation product cyanidin-3-(6″-lauroyl) glucose (C3G-C12) on cholesterol absorption and transport in Caco-2 cells and its possible mechanism of action were investigated. In this study, C3G was extracted from black rice anthocyanidins using semi-preparative–high performance liquid chromatography (semi-HPLC), and the monomer was identified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). C3G was used as raw material and enzymatically acylated with lauric acid and Novozymes 435. The acylated products were further separated via semi-HPLC, and the monomer was verified via LC-MS/MS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A 21-day Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cell model was established. The cells were incubated with 50, 100, and 150 μg•mL-1 C3G and C3G-C12 and 20 μmol•L-1 cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe to perform transport experiments. HPLC was used to detect the cellular cholesterol absorption, and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect NPC1L1 mRNA expression. The results showed that both inhibits cholesterol transport of Caco-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Specifically, 150 μg•mL-1 C3G and C3G-C12 reduced cholesterol absorption by 46.21% and 56.36%, respectively, and NPC1L1 mRNA expression by 56.93% and 59.76%, respectively. In summary, C3G-C12 more effectively inhibited cholesterol absorption than C3G, which might be related to its inhibition of NPC1L1 mRNA expression. This study provides a theoretical basis for the enzymatic acylation modification of black rice anthocyanins and their role in regulating intestinal cholesterol metabolism.

Abstract:In-vitro experiments to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of oxyresveratrol (OXY) through evaluation of the antioxidant activity of OXY and characterization of the mechanisms underlying its inhibitory effects on key digestive enzymes. For pharmacological validation, a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model was established through high-fat/high-sucrose diet feeding combined with streptozotocin injection. Rats were orally administered OXY daily for 28 consecutive days, during which body weight and various physiological and biochemical parameters were monitored and recorded. Histopathological examinations were performed on hepatic and renal tissues to assess organ-specific therapeutic effects. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of OXY for DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging were 7.139 and 16.59 μg•mL–1, respectively. OXY inhibited α-amylase in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 1.41 mg•mL–1. α-Glucosidase was inhibited by OXY in a non-competitive manner, with an IC50 of 66.59 μg•mL–1 and a Ki value of 60.82 μg•mL–1. In animal experiments, high-dose OXY intervention reduced the levels of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, advanced glycation end products, malondialdehyde, area under the curve, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and GSK-3β by 32.1%, 19.52%, 25.13%, 21.29%, 32.71%, 21.39%, 28.9%, 10.13%, 31.37%, 17.52%, 39.32%, and 13.16%, respectively, compared with the model group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and GYS2 expression were increased by 40.2%, 26.24%, and 18.37%, respectively (P<0.05). Histopathological examination revealed that OXY improved hepatic steatosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and vacuolation in renal tubular epithelial cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that OXY exerts hypoglycemic effects and the potential to mitigate T2DM-related pathological manifestations, providing a theoretical foundation for its development and application in natural product-derived therapeutics.

Abstract:Osteopontin (OPN) and 2,-fucosyllactose (2,-FL) in human milk are important bioactive components that regulate intestinal immunity and barrier function in infants. To investigate the synergistic effects and mechanisms of OPN and 2,-FL combinations on intestinal barrier function, a soybean meal-induced zebrafish larval enteritis model was established. The study intervened with OPN and 2,-FL monomers and combinations at different ratios (1:18~1:1, m/m) and measured the number of intestinal neutrophils and goblet cells, expression levels of inflammation- and barrier-related genes, and protein expression levels of key cytokines. The results demonstrated that 1:9~1:3 (m/m) OPN:2,-FL ratio significantly reduced the number of neutrophils to 13.4 and 13.2 per larva and increased the number of goblet cells to a level close to that in the normal group (95.5 per larva). Meanwhile, the gene expression levels of claudin-1/3, zonula occludens-1, and mucin 5.1 were upregulated by 3~4 fold. Additionally, the gene expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB were reduced by 47.33% and 57.12%, respectively. The immune homeostasis of the organism was improved by regulating the inflammatory cytokine protein expression levels. In summary, the combination of OPN and 2,-FL significantly synergistically improve intestinal barrier function in zebrafish larvae with enteritis, providing a theoretical basis for the optimization of infant formula design.

Abstract:To investigate the regulatory effects of Sanghuangporus vaninii polysaccharides (SVP) and Sanghuangporus sanghuang polysaccharides (SSP) on the intestinal microbiota in normal organisms (including human beings), a systematic analysis of the intestinal flora of healthy mice was conducted through animal feeding experiments combined with high-throughput sequencing of microorganisms. Thirty mice were randomly divided into control, SVP, and SSP groups, with the SVP and SSP groups being further subdivided into low-dose and high-dose subgroups (administered 200 and 400 mg•kg-1•d via gavage, respectively). SVP and SSP did not significantly affect the growth status, body weight, and thymus coefficient of mice; however they significantly reduced the spleen coefficient (P<0.05). The results from high-throughput sequencing analysis on microorganisms in mice feces revealed that both SSP and SVP significantly reduced the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in the intestinal tract (both decreased by more than 55% compared with CK14). The abundance of the Alistipes was significantly increased by SSP (compared with CK14, increased by 59.25% and 65.62% in SL14 and SH14, respectively). The abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Muribaculum was enhanced in both SVP- and SSP-treated groups, suggesting the potential resistance to SVP- and SSP-mediated metabolic diseases. Heatmap and hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrated that the primary factor influencing the intestinal microbiota of mice was the dosage rather than the type of Sanghuangporus spp. polysaccharides, concluding that both SVP and SSP could have beneficial effects on the intestinal flora, and thereby provide a theoretical foundation for the application of Sanghuangporus spp. in functional foods and health-care products.

Abstract:To investigate whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supernatant (LGGs) improved the alcohol-induced barrier damage in Caco-2 cells, Caco-2 cells were used to establish intestinal epithelial cell barrier damage model and detect the integrity and permeability of the intestinal epithelial barrier and bacterial translocation. The effects of LGGs on the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1 were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) and western blot. The contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected. The changes of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were analyzed using qRT-PCR. The results showed that LGGs can prevent alcohol-induced intestinal epithelial cell barrier damage and bacterial translocation. The ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1 mRNA expression levels increased by 42.02%, 45.18%, and 29.84%, respectively, after LGGs intervention. The ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1 protein expression levels increased by 72.52%, 38.72%, and 31.69% respectively. The ROS and MDA contents decreased by 24.92% and 30.19%, respectively. Moreover, the TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 mRNA expression levels were reduced, whereas IL-10 mRNA expression level was elevated. In conclusion, LGGs can attenuate the intestinal barrier damage by enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins, improving oxidative stress damage, and alleviating the inflammatory response. This can provide a theoretical basis for developing functional products against alcoholic liver injury.

Abstract:Ginsenoside Rb2 (Rb2) exerts various physiological effects, including anti-aging, anti-photoaging, and anti-inflammatory effects. To elucidate the mechanisms by which Rb2 regulates skin barrier and hydration functions, a systematic investigation was conducted using network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental methods such as western blotting. At concentrations up to 40 μmol•L–1, Rb2 exhibited no significant cytotoxicity and effectively upregulated the mRNA levels of hyaluronan synthases 1 and 2, claudin, and occludin. Predictive analysis using multiple databases identified 11 potential Rb2 targets related to skin protection, including vascular endothelial growth factor A and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3. Pathway enrichment analysis suggested that Rb2 may exert its effects via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, Janus kinase/STAT, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Western blotting results demonstrated that Rb2 promotes the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and CREB, as well as the nuclear translocation of c-Jun and c-Fos. This study elucidates the mechanism underlying the skin-protective effects of Rb2, providing a theoretical foundation for the development and application of cosmetics.

Abstract:The fermentation process of Platycodon grandiflorus was optimized to enhance polysaccharide yield and the protective effect of the fermentation products on LPS-induced pneumonia-related cardiac injury in mice was investigated. Lactobacillus plantarum xdx-6801 and Pediococcus pentosaceus ZY-23 were cocultured in a 1:1 ratio. The appropriate ranges of fermentation parameters were determined using single-factor experiments, and the fermentation conditions were optimized using an orthogonal experiment. The protective effect of optimized P. grandiflorus fermentation liquid (FPG) on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and cardiac damage in C57BL/6J mice was verified through in-vivo experiments. The optimal fermentation conditions were 4% inoculum, temperature of 38 ℃, and duration of 60 h. Under these conditions, the polysaccharide content in FPG reached 237.48 μg•mL–1, and the total saponin content was 222.39 μg•mL–1. These values were 2.54 times and 1.02 times higher, respectively, than those in unfermented samples. FPG effectively alleviated lung and cardiac injury in LPS-induced ALI model mice, reduced the expression of the inflammatory factors interleukin 6 (72.30%), interleukin 1β (54.66%), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (53.44%), increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione (28.01%) and superoxide dismutase (44.35%), as well as total antioxidant capacity (37.81%), and suppressed the accumulation of oxidative damage marker malondialdehyde (53.25%). Furthermore, FPG significantly improved cardiac pumping function in ALI mice, increasing the ejection fraction (44.50%) and fractional shortening (79.48%), while markedly reducing the level of the cardiac injury marker cardiac troponin I (65.95%). In conclusion, the optimized fermentation process significantly increases the polysaccharide content of P. grandiflorus, and the fermentation product exerts a marked protective effect against pneumonia-related cardiac injury, providing a theoretical basis for the application of P. grandiflorus in the prevention and treatment of pneumonia and its complications.

Abstract:β-Casein phosphopeptides (β-CPP), a class of bioactive peptides derived from β-casein, possess excellent calciumbinding capacity and have potential applications in promoting bone health. In this study, β-CPP was prepared through enzymatic hydrolysis to investigate its effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1), with its mechanism of action being analyzed through transcriptomics. MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation rate significantly increased to 128.43% after treating with 50 μg•mL−1 β-CPP for 72 h (P<0.05). The alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization rate of the β-CPPtreated cells were 2.17 and 2.15 times higher than that of the control cells after 7 and 21 days, respectively, demonstrating that β-CPP significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells (P<0.05). RNA-seq results revealed 476 differentially expressed genes in β-CPP-treated MC3T3-E1 cells, including 258 upregulated and 218 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology analysis indicated that the differentially expressed genes were primarily involved in the regulation of biological processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that signaling pathways such as TGF-β and PI3K-Akt were involved in MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation. This study revealed that β-CPP promotes MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization, providing a theoretical basis for β-CPP application in bone health and functional foods.

Abstract:The feasibility of using lumbrokinase as a protease in the development of bioactive peptides was investigated, together with the assessment of antihypertensive activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides derived from porcine blood proteins and clarification of their underlying mechanisms of action. Lumbrokinase was extracted from earthworms and purified, yielding an enzyme preparation exhibiting an activity of 43 125.87 U•mg–1 protein. The enzyme was used to prepare ACE-inhibitory peptides from porcine blood proteins. After separation and purification, an ACE-inhibitory peptide with an ACE inhibition rate of 91.30% was obtained and designated PBEP-M. An angiotensin (Ang) II-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) damage model was established. The toxicity of PBEP-M towards HUVECs was determined using the CCK-8 assay; the secretion levels of endothelin 1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using ELISA kits; and the expression of ACE-Ang II-Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1-R) pathway-related proteins was analyzed using western blotting. PBEP-M significantly promoted cell proliferation at concentrations of 62.5~1 000 μg•mL–1 (P<0.05). At 500 μg•mL–1, PBEP-M significantly increased NO secretion by 84.00% compared with the level in the Ang II group (P<0.05). In addition, PBEP-M significantly reduced the secretion of ET-1 and ROS by 53.66% and 36.94% respectively (P<0.05 vs. Ang II group). Furthermore, PBEP-M significantly reduced the expression of ACE, renin, and AT1-R by 76.76%, 83.96%, and 89.05%, respectively (P<0.05 vs. Ang II group). Moreover, PBEP-M enhanced eNOS expression by 8.77 times (P<0.05 vs. Ang II group). This study provides a theoretical foundation for the application of lumbrokinase as a protease in the development of bioactive peptides and offers new insights for advancing the deep processing of livestock and poultry blood.

Abstract:To enhance the catalytic activity and thermal stability of D-allulose 3-epimerase (DAEase) for industrial applications, high-performance mutants were engineered through integrating gene mining with semi-rational design. In this study, the DAEase gene from Microbacterium luteolum (MlDAEase) was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli with soluble production, exhibiting optimal activity at 60 ℃ and pH 8.0. To address the poor thermal stability of MlDAEase that limits industrial applications, semi-rational design was performed guided by three-dimensional structural modeling and high-throughput screening, which identified the key mutants G65M, G65E, and M110W. The combinatorial mutant G65E/M110W, constructed via the CAST strategy, exhibited a 2.41-fold increase in relative activity and a 5.09-fold enhancement in catalytic efficiency compared to the wildtype. In industrial biocatalytic processes, the engineered mutant converted 500 g•L−1 D-fructose to 153 g•L−1 D-allulose, achieving a conversion rate of 30.60%, which represented a 2.09-fold improvement over the wild-type enzyme. The results demonstrated MlDAEase as a novel D-allulose 3-epimerase with great potential for engineering. Its catalytic performance and thermal stability were significantly improved through structure-guided semi-rational design. This study provides both a theoretical basis and a candidate biocatalyst for the efficient enzymatic production of D-allulose, offering promising prospects for industrial application.

Abstract:To promote the efficient preparation and utilization of Chinese yam polysaccharides, an extraction process of Chinese yam polysaccharides with ultrahigh pressure combined with microbial fermentation was established, and the enzyme inhibitory activity of Chinese yam polysaccharide was investigated in this study. With fresh yam as raw material, from nine different strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum were selected as the subsequent fermentation strains. Based on the single factor experiment, the L18(37) orthogonal table design was used to optimize the ultrahigh pressure and lactic acid bacteria fermentation collaborative extraction process of yam polysaccharide to determine the optimal extraction conditions: inoculation concentration 5%, fermentation time 2 days, solid-liquid ratio 1:5 (m/V), extraction pressure 500 MPa, holding time 10 min. With these conditions, the extraction yield of polysaccharides was 9.23% and the obtained polysaccharides exhibited significant α-amylase inhibitory activities (7.48 mg•mL−1) and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities (7.07 mg•mL−1). The results showed that ultrahigh pressure combined with lactic acid bacteria had the potential to produce Chinese yam polysaccharide with high yield and enzyme inhibitory activity. This study can provide a way for the development and utilization of Chinese yam.

Abstract:The aim of the present study was to analyze a method for identifying the aging time of raw Pu-erh tea. Based on the contents of multiple quality components of 21 tea samples aged for 1~32 years, functional models with a high degree of correlation were established. The developed models were subsequently applied to the identification and verification of aging time in 23 samples from different sources. According to the results, eight indicator components, namely, color difference values (L*, a*, and b*), theabrownin, gallic acid, caffeine, ester-type catechin, and total catechin contents, of raw Pu-erh tea infusions were strongly correlated with aging time. All correlation coefficients of the univariate quadratic regression equations exceeded 0.9, whereas those of the linear equations exceeded 0.8. Therefore, the aging time of unknown samples could be calculated based on the indicator contents. Sample verification revealed that, for samples aged less than 24 years, the average value calculated using two equations for eight indicators provided a better estimate. Among 13 samples, the calculated aging time of 11 samples differed from the actual value by 0.1~3.4 years, whereas that of the remaining two samples differed by 5.3~6 years. For samples aged 28~100 years, the linear equations based on four indicator components, namely, L*, a*, b*, and theabrownin content, provided better estimates, with the calculated aging time of six out of 10 samples being relatively close to the actual storage duration (years). In conclusion, functional models were established by exploring the correlations between the contents of multiple quality components and aging time of raw Pu-erh tea. These models could serve as a convenient, feasible, and practical new method for identifying the aging time of raw Pu-erh tea.

Abstract:Laoxianghuang, a medicinal and edible specialty from the Chaoshan region, contains polysaccharides with potential pharmacological activities; yet their structural characteristics remain unclear. To investigate the structural features and antioxidant capacity of Laoxianghuang polysaccharides, crude polysaccharides (LXHP) were extracted via water extraction and alcohol precipitation, followed by purification to obtain two fractions (LXHP-3 and LXHP-4). The composition, structure, morphology, and thermal stability of these polysaccharides were systematically characterized by high-performance gel permeation chromatography, ion chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated based on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities. The results demonstrated that both fractions were acidic polysaccharides primarily composed of galacturonic acid. LXHP-3 exhibited a bimodal molecular weight distribution (75.3 and 20.8 kDa), whereas LXHP-4 showed a monodisperse structure (75.6 kDa, polymer dispersity index=1.011). FT-IR analysis revealed no significant changes in functional groups after purification; however, the degree of esterification in LXHP-3 was notably reduced. SEM imaging indicated that both crude and purified polysaccharides consisted of sheet-like and fibrous structures. XRD analysis suggested that LXHP-3 displayed a semi-crystalline structure, whereas LXHP and LXHP-4 were amorphous. TGA revealed excellent thermal stability in LXHP-3, with the highest residual mass (42.51%) at 600 ℃. Additionally, LXHP exhibited strong DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging effects. This study enhances the understanding of the structural properties of Laoxianghuang polysaccharides and provides a theoretical foundation for their functional exploitation and structure–activity relationship research.

Abstract:The effects of different pH values (3, 5, 7, and 9) on the stability, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant capacity of Astragalus polysaccharide and soybean oil body (APS-SOB) composite emulsions during 28-day storage were investigated. Composite emulsions were prepared from soybean and APS and characterized through indicators such as particle size distribution, zeta potential, and emulsion stability. pH significantly influenced the emulsifying performance and stability of APS composite emulsions. At pH 9, the composite emulsion had the smallest particle size (804.29 nm), and no significant phase separation was observed after 14 days of storage. When the storage period was extended to 28 days, the composite emulsion maintained the lowest levels of hydroperoxides (8.83 mmol•kg-1), Tbars (4.99 μmol•kg-1), and acid value (3.90 mg•g-1) at pH 9, concluding that alkaline conditions were more favorable for APS-SOB composite emulsion stability, providing theoretical support and technical parameters for developing high-stability, antioxidant functional emulsion-based foods.

Abstract:To screen the proteolytic enzymes that can efficiently degrade collagen, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to virtually screen proteases for hydrolyzing tilapia collagen powder. The degree of hydrolysis (DH), molecular weight distribution, kinetic constants, and molecular interaction mechanisms were subsequently determined. Results revealed that the binding energies for the three proteases exhibiting favorable collagen hydrolysis-alkaline protease, bovine trypsin, and neutral protease-were -7.09, -6.74, and -6.62 kcal•mol-1, respectively. Enzymatic hydrolysis assays demonstrated that the alkaline protease exhibited excellent hydrolytic activity toward tilapia collagen powder under optimal conditions (pH value 9, 50 ℃), achieving a DH of 30.22%. The hydrolysates had an average molecular weight of 548.23 Da, with collagen tripeptides accounting for 51.34% of the total. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum reaction velocity (Vmax) were 4.26 mg•mL-1 and 1.16 μg•(min•mL)-1, respectively. Thus, alkaline protease outperformed both the neutral protease and trypsin. MD simulations over 50 ns indicated that the complex 1AH2-GPH (alkaline protease) reached equilibrium after 15 ns, with the root mean square deviation fluctuating around 0.175 Å. This complex maintained an average of four hydrogen bonds and a stable radius of gyration (Rg) of approximately 1.67 nm. In contrast, complexes 1NPC-GPH and 3MFJ-GPH exhibited less stability. These findings indicate that the alkaline protease identified through virtual screening exhibits high affinity and specificity for tilapia-derived protein, providing important reference for collagen tripeptide production.

Abstract:To extend the shelf life of chilled chicken, this study optimized the parameters for the synergistic effect of highpressure treatment and composite biological preservatives, developing an efficient preservation method. A four-factor interaction model was constructed using response surface methodology, with factors including Nisin concentration (0.4~0.5 g•L-1), lysozyme concentration (0.2~0.3 g•L-1), pressure (300~400 MPa), and holding time (10~20 min). The colony count and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content were used as indicators to optimize the parameters. The optimal process conditions were determined as follows: Nisin concentration, 0.45 g•L-1; lysozyme concentration, 0.25 g•L-1; pressure, 350 MPa; and holding time, 15 min. Under these conditions, the colony count was 2.415 lg CFU/g and the TVB-N value was 7.845 mg/100 g, with ≤5% deviation between the predicted and experimental values. Storage experiments showed that the shelf life of chilled chicken could be extended to approximately 20 days. The results indicate that high-pressure treatment and biological preservatives have a synergistic effect, providing theoretical support for developing efficient preservation technologies for chilled meat products, and technical support for optimizing process parameters in industrial applications.

Abstract:To investigate the effects of irradiation on the degradation of sodium benzoate in aqueous solution and the underlying mechanisms, sodium benzoate solutions at different concentrations (0.5, 1, 3, 5, and 7 mmol•L-1) were subjected to irradiation at doses of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 kGy. Sodium benzoate degradation was monitored by gas chromatography (GC), and the degradation kinetics were analyzed. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to elucidate the irradiation-induced degradation mechanism. In addition, the effects of irradiation on the antibacterial capacity of sodium benzoate were evaluated experimentally using pathogenic bacteria. At the tested concentrations, the degradation rate of sodium benzoate increased with increasing irradiation dose, reaching nearly 100% at lower concentrations. Sodium benzoate degradation under irradiation followed first-order kinetics. Trace amounts of phenol were detected after irradiation of high-concentration sodium benzoate solutions. Mechanistic analysis indicated that sodium benzoate reacted with hydroxyl radicals under irradiation to form degradation products, with a freeenergy activation barrier of 11.3 kcal•mol-1 and an exothermic energy release of 17.2 kcal•mol-1. The antibacterial capacity of sodium benzoate decreased progressively with increasing irradiation dose. Overall, both irradiation dose and initial concentration significantly influenced the degradation rate of sodium benzoate, the formation of phenol, and antimicrobial activity. To maintain effectiveness, sodium benzoate should be used at an appropriate concentration within the permissible limit (6.94 mmol•L-1), and the irradiation dose should be selected according to the applied concentration. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the behavior and mechanisms of sodium benzoate degradation under irradiation.

Abstract:To extend the industrial chain of Auricularia auricula and increase its added value, this study used A. auricular as the raw material to optimize the A. auricula polysaccharide extraction process; evaluate the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering activities; and develop A. auricula polysaccharides jelly using orthogonal test, texture characteristics, physicochemical indexes and microbiological indexes as evaluation indicators. The result showed that when the extraction was performed with 1:70 (m/V) solid/liquid ratio at 80 ℃ for 3 h, the polysaccharide yield was 17.93%. The DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging rates of 2 mg•mL-1 polysaccharide were 60.34% and 54.19%, respectively. Moreover, the inhibition rates of 10 mg•mL-1 polysaccharide against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase reached 68.71%, 63.99%, and 75.49%, respectively. Additionally, 5 mg•mL-1 polysaccharide demonstrated 30.09% and 32.66% fat adsorption rates in simulated gastric and intestinal environments, respectively. A. auricula polysaccharides also exhibited bile acid binding capacity. The optimized formulation for the jelly developed through orthogonal testing included: 15% (m/V) xylan, 0.5% (m/V) A. auricula polysaccharides, 0.5% (m/V) composite gel, 0.2% (m/V) potassium chloride, and 0.8% (m/V) potassium citrate. The texture characteristics of A. auricula polysaccharide jelly were close to those of commercial jelly, the content of soluble solids was 18.7%, and the microbiological indexes conformed to national standards. This research provides theoretical support for applying active ingredients in jelly formulations.

Abstract:To screen for water lily cultivars with high flavonoid content and excellent antioxidant performance and provide data support for the research and development of high value-added products of water lilies, the flower color, total flavonoid and phenol content, water content, and pH values of 10 water lily cultivars as well as antioxidant activity of their extracts were comprehensively analyzed. Petals of the Nymphaea “Eldorado” and Nymphaea “Purple Joy” contained the most total flavonoids (20.40 mg•g-1) and total phenols (31.22 mg•g-1), respectively. The total phenol contents of all individual cultivars were significantly higher than their total flavonoids. Significant positive correlations were observed between total flavonoid content and brightness L* (R=0.652) and color phase b* (R=0.645) (P<0.05), whereas a significant negative correlation with color phase a* (R=-0.733) (P<0.05) was identified. The total phenol content displayed no significant correlation with flower color parameters. Analysis using the DPPH method demonstrated that the Nymphaea “Red Flare” petals flavonoid extract exhibited the best scavenging ability, with an EC50 of 2.51 μg•mL-1, followed by the Nymphaea “Doris Holt” cultivars, which demonstrated an EC50 of 4.51 μg•mL-1, and then by Vc. Nymphaea “Zi Beike” petals flavonoid extract showed the highest scavenging ability in the ABTS method, with an EC50 of 24.31 μg•mL-1 and also exhibited outstanding performance in the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power method, where Vc displayed the strongest scavenging ability. These findings collectively demonstrate that water lily petals are typically rich in flavonoids and phenols and exhibit excellent antioxidant activity. Notably, the Nymphaea “Red Flare” and Nymphaea “Doris Holt” cultivars stand out in DPPH free radical scavenging, ultimately showing great potential as high-quality natural antioxidants. Furthermore, these findings provide crucial theoretical foundations and data support for targeted utilization of water lily resources in high-value-added products such as health supplements and cosmetics.

Abstract:To obtain better cooking quality of dried cucumber slices, processing and cooking technology were optimized. By optimizing the process of centrifugal dehydration, freeze-thaw dehydration, hot air drying dehydration, and microwave drying dehydration and combining different cooking methods, color and texture were used as the evaluation criteria for cooking quality, in addition, the mechanism of the influence of different combined cooking methods on dried cucumber slice quality were investigated based on the content, functional groups, and microstructure of cellulose and pectin. The optimal conditions were as follows: loading capacity of 1 kg•m-2, hot air temperature of 70 ℃, slice thickness of 4 mm, hot air drying combined with cold mixing treatment, the best quality of dried cucumber, the comprehensive score was 0.900; hot air drying combined with stir-frying treatment generated the best quality of dried cucumber slices, with the comprehensive score of 0.450. The chewability of dried cucumber slices were positively correlated with cellulose and raw pectin content, but negatively correlated with color difference and soluble pectin content. The color difference of dried cucumber slices were negatively correlated with the contents of cellulose, raw pectin, and soluble pectin. The cellulose content of hot-air dried cucumber slices was the highest owing to its high methylene content (HD-P and HD-F cellulose content (1.44±0.004 and 1.46±0.012 mg•g-1, respectively). Cold mixing and stir-frying had no obvious effect on cellulose structure of dried cucumber slices, but stir-frying significantly destroyed pectin molecular structure. To conclude, hot air drying and dehydration combined with cold mixing or stir-frying is the best way to obtain the optimal cooking quality of dried cucumber slices, and pectin and cellulose content is the main reason for affecting the texture quality of dried cucumber slices. It provides a theoretical basis for the production and processing of dried cucumber slices and lays a foundation for the study on the mechanism of texture influence of dried cucumber slices.

Abstract:Using pre-prepared twice-cooked pork as the raw material, the ingredients and optimal processing conditions for pre-prepared twice-cooked pork were investigated. To enhance the sensory quality of pre-prepared twice-cooked pork and achieve standardization in industrial production, this study systematically optimized its ingredients and process parameters using fuzzy mathematical evaluation and response surface methodology with stir-frying time, the amount of added side dishes, the amount of added oil, and the amount of added sauce as key variables. The appropriate ranges of each factor were determined through singlefactor experiments, and their interactions were analyzed using the response surface methodology. The results indicated that the optimal processing conditions were as follows: stir-frying time, 154 s; side dish addition amount, 54% (volume fraction); oil addition amount, 22%; and sauce addition amount, 24%. A weight analysis was conducted on the sensory quality of pre-prepared twice-cooked pork, with the weight set K=(color 0.19, aroma 0.22, taste 0.32, and texture 0.27). Under these conditions, the fuzzy mathematical sensory score was 89.72. The validation experiments confirmed model reliability. This study provides scientific process parameters and theoretical foundations for the industrial production of pre-prepared twice-cooked pork, holding significant importance for improving product quality and achieving standardized production.

Abstract:To develop functional instant noodle products with superior quality and health benefits, this study systematically investigated the nutritional enhancement and quality improvement effects of exogenous dietary fibers, using high-protein, nonfried chickpea instant noodles as the carrier. Three soluble dietary fibers-β-glucan, konjac flour, and inulin-were incorporated into the high-protein composite flour system and their impacts on processing characteristics, antioxidant capacity, and in vitro starch digestion were analyzed. The results showed that adding water-soluble dietary fibers significantly increased dough hardness and viscoelasticity. In particular, including 2 wt.% konjac flour increased the initial equilibrium elastic coefficient (E0) and decay elastic coefficient (E1) by 81.20% and 32.80%, respectively, and promoted the densification of the gluten network, raising the protein matrix value to 43.74%. The resulting instant noodles demonstrated a reduced rehydration time (283 s) and significantly improved texture properties, with hardness and chewiness enhanced by 1 490.48 g and 1 036.48 g, respectively. In terms of antioxidant performance, the maximum polyphenol content reached 4.19 mg GAE•g-1 and ABTS radical scavenging rate increased to 56.51%. In conclusion, the comprehensive quality of the product was optimized by adding 2 wt.% konjac flour, achieving a sensory score of 78.62 and a predicted glycemic index (GI) of 49.67 based on in vitro digestion-meeting the criteria for low-GI foods. This study provides the theoretical support for developing functional instant noodles with excellent quality, antioxidant activity, and low glycemic response.

Abstract:The effects of different freezing methods, including refrigerator freezing (RF), snap freezing (SF), and liquid nitrogen immersion freezing (LF), on the quality of fried oyster frozen products were examined. The thawed products were evaluated for water-holding capacity, texture properties, sensory characteristics, and flavor profiles. The results indicated significant differences among the freezing methods. LF exhibited the fastest freezing rate, requiring only 0.2 min to pass the maximum ice crystal formation zone. The water-holding capacity of LF-treated samples (70.23%) was significantly higher than that of RF-treated samples (66.90%, P<0.05). Sensory evaluation showed that LF maintained crispness and elasticity most similar to fresh fried oysters. All freezing methods significantly increased the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) (P<0.05). The lowest TBA increment (53.69%) was recorded in LF-treated samples, followed by those in SF- (49.75%) and RF-treated samples (67.49%). Principal component analysis of electronic nose, electronic tongue, and GC-IMS data revealed that LF-treated samples were the most closely clustered with fresh controls in PC1 space. The results demonstrated that, compared to RF and SF, LF was associated with less quality deterioration in fried oysters, with characteristics more closely resembling those of freshly fried oysters, resulting in higher consumer preference. Fundamental data and a theoretical basis for the processing and storage of fried oysters were provided by this study.

Abstract:To identify suitable potato varieties for two fresh-cut potato products, the study investigated six potato varieties: Holland 15, Xisen 6, Cooperation 88, Experimental No. 1, Youjin 885, and V7, which were processed into shredded potato strips and fresh-cut potato slices. The juice yield rate, dry matter content, total phenolic content, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, sensory quality, color, and browning index, were determined, and sensory evaluation was conducted. The results indicated that the juice yield rate of V7 (10.21 mg•cm-2), Youjin 885 (10.29 mg•cm-2), and Cooperation 88 (10.34 mg•cm-2) was significantly lower than that of the other three varieties (12.35~14.66 mg•cm-2; P<0.05). The dry matter, starch, and total phenolic content of V7 (17.77%, 13.34%, 43.57 mg/100 g), Youjin 885 (18.24%, 13.78%, 50.88 mg/100 g), and Experimental No.1 (17.33%, 12.98%, 50.69 mg/100 g) were significantly lower than the respective values of the other three varieties (P<0.05). The PPO activity of V7 (27.89 U•g-1) and Holland 15 (27.81 U•g-1) was significantly lower than that of the other four varieties (31.09~37.94 U•g-1) (P<0.05). At 2.0~4.0 ℃, the color degradation and browning index of fresh-cut V7 and Youjin 885 slices were significantly lower than those of the other four varieties (P<0.05). The fresh life of shredded potato strips processed from the six varieties was 1, 2, 2, 6, 18, 24 days, respectively, whereas the shelf life of fresh-cut potato slices was 2, 1, 1, 5, 21, 29 days, respectively. Thus, V7, Youjin 885, and Experimental No. 1 were suitable for shredded potato strip processing, whereas V7 and Youjin 885 were suitable for fresh-cut potato slice processing. The results will help in the selection of specialized varieties for fresh-cut potato processing and offer valuable insights for producers to address quality deterioration during processing and marketing through strategic raw material selection.

Abstract:Aquatic prefabricated dishes are widely favored for their convenience; however, they are susceptible to contamination by foodborne pathogens during processing and storage, posing a threat to food safety. To rapidly and accurately screen such risks, a multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction detection system was developed in this study. Specific primers and TaqMan probes were designed based on the unique target sequences of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. In pure culture tests, the minimum detection limits for V. parahaemolyticus, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. were 8.67×101, 3.47×102, and 6.56×103 CFU/mL, respectively. A strong linear relationship was observed between the logarithmic bacterial concentrations and Cq values, with correlation coefficients (R2) exceeding 0.98. Within the concentration range of 108~101 CFU/mL, the coefficient of variation from three replicate amplifications was within 5.08%. In artificially spiked samples, after 12 h of enrichment, the detection limits improved to 6.30×100, 6.13×102, and 2.44×101 CFU/mL for the three pathogens, respectively. The accuracy of the system was validated by testing 60 real aquatic prefabricated dish samples, achieving a 100% concordance with traditional culture methods. This detection system was highly specific, sensitive, stable, and resistant to interference, enabling rapid and precise identification of the three foodborne pathogens in aquatic prefabricated dishes. An efficient tool was thus provided for monitoring foodborne pathogens in aquatic prefabricated dishes, contributing significantly to consumer health protection.

Abstract:Owing to the complexity of the lipid composition of microalgae and the large difference in polarity, a method to determine its multiple functional lipids without relying on mass spectrometry remains lacking. To tackle this challenge, this study developed a green and eco-friendly supercritical fluid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) method. The separation was conducted using a Diol column through gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of supercritical carbon dioxide-methanol. The flow rate was 0.5 mL•min-1. Detection was performed using an ELSD, and the compounds were quantified using an external standard method. The results indicated that this method could separate and determine eight functional lipids within 35 minutes. Compared with traditional liquid phase methods, which require approximately 40 mL of organic reagents, our method requires only 12.28 mL. Good linearity was obtained within the range of 0.01~1.0 mg•mL-1 (R2 ≥ 0.990 2), with limits of detection ≤ 0.74 μg•mL-1, relative standard deviation ≤ 1.19%, and spiked recovery rates ranging from 92.12% to 105.78%. Significant differences were observed in the contents of functional lipids in six different microalgae samples. Specifically, Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis sp. demonstrated higher contents of glycerides (approx. 53.08 and 57.91 mg•g-1, respectively), glycerolipids, (approximately 39.90 and 32.76 mg•g-1, respectively), and phospholipids (approx. 19.40 and 29.54 mg•g-1, respectively) than the other samples, thus exhibiting potential for serving as dietary supplement sources of glycerolipids and phospholipids The established method is highly sensitive, accurate, and environmentally friendly and enables the separation and quantification of lipids spanning a wide polarity range, from low- to high-polarity, within a single injection. Furthermore, the method fulfills the need for rapid and precise lipid analysis of microalgae samples and is applicable for lipid profiling in diverse food matrices containing specific lipid components.

Abstract:To clarify the microbial community structure characteristics, distribution of potential pathogenic microorganisms, and key influencing factors in drinking water plants in Guangzhou, this study analyzed the microbial community and risk in drinking water plants in Guangzhou by combining high-throughput sequencing technology with culturable methods. Significant differences in microbial communities between Water Plants A and B were revealed using high-throughput sequencing results. The dominant genera in Water Plant A were hgcI_clade (0~30.54%) and Phreatobacter (0~46.36%), whereas the dominant genera in Water Plant B were hgcI_clade (0~46.33%) and Stenotrophomonas (0~46.68%). Potential pathogenic bacteria were further analyzed, and Phreatobacter (46.36%) and Sphingomonas (32.98%) proportions were found to be high in Water Plant A after disinfection. In contrast, Stenotrophomonas (46.70%) and Rhodococcus (41.40%) were the dominant pathogenic bacteria in Water Plant B. Results from culture methods indicated higher microbial diversity and more pathogenic microorganisms in Water Plant B than in Water Plant A. Pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from the filter media, suggesting that disinfection, cleaning, or replacement of the filter media should be strengthened in the future. Canonical correlation analysis indicated that temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, and total carbon were the main factors affecting the microbial community structure of the drinking water treatment system. In conclusion, both drinking water plants A and B have varying degrees of pathogenic microbial contamination. The key contamination points in the drinking water treatment system should be further controlled in the future. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the efficient control of microorganisms in drinking water plants and optimization of treatment processes, and have significant practical significance for ensuring the microbial safety of drinking water.

Abstract:The prevalence, genetic diversity, and potential virulence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were analyzed in Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) aquaculture systems. In 2024, 354 samples were collected from L. vannamei aquaculture farms in Jiangmen and Zhongshan cities, Guangdong Province. The prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus was 41.53% (147/354). Six serogroups were identified via multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including O1, O3/O13, O5, O7, O11, and O12 serogroup. O1 (44.21%, 65/147) and O11 (31.97%, 47/147) were the dominant strains. PCR analysis showed that the presence of both tlh and toxR genes were 100%, whereas pirAB was detected in 24.49% (36/147) isolates; tdh and trh gene was not detected. A total of 26 different sequence types (STs) were identified using multilocus sequence typing, seven (26.92%) STs were identified as novel STs. ST2408 (17.69%, 26/147) was identified as the predominant ST. The antibiotic resistance of isolates was tested using minimum inhibitory concentration. Results showed that the resistance rate to polymyxin B was 11.56% (17/147), whereas the susceptibility to the other 21 antibiotics were all above 90%. A high prevalence of pirAB-carrying and polymyxin B-resistant V. parahaemolyticus isolates was identified in aquaculture farms, indicating a potential food safety risk. These results of this study provide fundamental data for the risk identification and molecular traceability of V. parahaemolyticus, which play an important role in healthy aquaculture practices and the prevention of potential risk of this pathogen.

Abstract:Adulteration of Wuchang Daoxiang rice in commercial markets has emerged as a serious issue. To efficiently and accurately identify adulterated rice, this study used Northeast Changxiang rice, which exhibits a high degree of visual similarity to adulterated samples. Concurrently, 2 100 images of ordinary rice were collected against hand-held and black backgrounds. Furthermore, a multiple structural unified transformer (UniFormer-MS) visual model is proposed that combines Transformer architectures with convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The UniFormer-MS model integrates the self-attention mechanism of the Transformer with CNN-based local feature extraction to construct an end-to-end deep learning framework. Specifically, the Transformer enhances recognition ability via global feature modeling and fusion employing an improved multi-head self-attention mechanism that improves the accuracy of rice authenticity classification. The squeeze-and-excitation (SE) module performs weighted optimization on channel features to further improve the accuracy and robustness of the model. Experimental results demonstrated the excellent performance of the model in identifying adulterated rice, achieving an accuracy of 87.00%, precision of 87.30%, recall of 86.67%, and F1 score of 86.52%. Compared with traditional UniFormer models, UniFormer-MS improved the recognition accuracy of rice surface features by 6.92%, precision by 5.76%, recall by 5.96%, and F1 score by 5.89%, thereby enabling efficient and accurate identification of adulterated rice. This study provides reliable technical support for food quality monitoring, intelligent agriculture, and production line automation, which significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of food safety testing.

Abstract:Mycotoxin contamination poses serious threats to agro-product safety and human health; therefore, exploring green and efficient detoxification strategies is imperative. Photocatalytic techniques, characterized by environmental friendliness, high efficiency, and sustainability, show considerable potential for mycotoxin degradation. This review systematically outlines the fundamental principles of photocatalytic reactions, key factors influencing reaction outcomes, and strategies for technique modification. In addition, advances in the photocatalytic degradation of mycotoxins-including aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and patulin-are examined, with emphasis on photocatalyst development, reaction efficiency enhancement, degradation mechanisms, and practical applications. Finally, current challenges and future prospects for photocatalytic mycotoxin degradation are discussed. This review provides theoretical guidance for advancing research on mycotoxin degradation in agro-products.

Abstract:Sclerotinia stem rot is a widespread soybean disease commonly found worldwide. In Northeast China, the incidence rate of soybean Sclerotinia stem rot exceeds 60%, severely affecting soybean yield and economic benefits. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the pathogenetic mechanisms of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the fungus that causes Sclerotinia stem rot, and to develop effective detection and identification methods. This article introduces the molecular-level pathogenic mechanisms of S. sclerotiorum and provides a comprehensive review of the existing detection methods for the fungus, including traditional, serological, and molecular biological detection methods. With a detailed account of the sensitivity, specificity, and applicability of existing detection methods, this review compares and evaluates the advantages and limitations of various methods and preliminarily explores the detection model for S. sclerotiorum. The aim of this study was to provide a reference for the identification and detection of Sclerotinia stem rot in soybeans, offering technical support for early disease detection and a theoretical basis for sustainable development of the soybean industry.

Abstract:颗粒状农产品是全球70%以上人口的主食来源，也是食品加工链的核心原料和国际贸易的重要经济杠杆。收获季节不及时干燥，易引发霉变、发芽或变质，直接导致粮食安全和经济损失。由于颗粒状农作物的多孔性和干燥过程中的应力裂变问题，日晒和热风干燥以及不能满足其干燥需求。本文首先介绍了微波，红外干燥在颗粒状农作物中的应用和优缺点接着引出了微波热风，红外热风，红外微波干燥相比于单一干燥技术的干燥速率和品质的提升，同时总结了微波真空，远红外真空，流化床干燥在该领域的应用成果和研究热点。文章最后论述了射频，欧姆，热泵干燥等新型干燥技术应用和发展展望。本文通过对比分析干燥速率、能耗与品质参数，为新型干燥装备研发与工艺优化提供理论支撑，助力实现“高效-低碳-高质”的干燥目标，对保障粮食安全与农业可持续发展具有重要意义。

Abstract:Foodborne pathogens are among the most significant contributors to food safety incidents, severely hindering the sustainable development of the food industry. Developing rapid detection methods with high sensitivity, low cost, and strong specificity is crucial for ensuring food safety and advancing the food industry. Conventional detection methods are limited by low sensitivity, prolonged analysis time, complex procedures, and inadequate specificity. This review summarizes the latest research advances in foodborne pathogen detection in recent years, focusing on immunoassay techniques, molecular biological detection technologies, and biosensor-based detection. It also discusses the integration of various technologies to develop novel rapid detection methods and their applications in foodborne pathogen detection. Advances in science and technology will enable future rapid detection methods to leverage multidisciplinary integration, facilitating convenient and intelligent pathogen monitoring. These advancements should yield effective detection tools and preventive strategies for food safety management and public health protection.