Investigation of interactions between Jiuzao glutelin with resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, and azelaic and potential improvement on physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities

The interactions among small molecular functional components (FCTs) within a food matrix have become a focal point for enhancing their stability and bioactivities. Jiuzao glutelin (JG) is a mixed plant protein within Jiuzao (a protein-rich baijiu distillation by-product). This study aimed to explore the interactions between JG and selected FCTs, including resveratrol (RES), quercetin (QUE), curcumin (CUR), and azelaic acid (AZA), and the consequential impact on stability and antioxidant activity of the complexes. The findings conclusively demonstrated that the interactions between JG and the FCTs significantly enhanced the storage stability of the complexes. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the complexes exhibited improvement compared to their individual counterparts. This study underscores the notion that JG and FCTs mutually reinforce, exerting positive effects on stability and antioxidant activity. This symbiotic relationship can be strategically employed to augment the quality of proteins and enhance the functional properties of bioactive components through these interactions.

Current situation, trend, and prospects of research on functional components from by-products of baijiu production: A review

In the present scenario marked by energy source shortages and escalating concerns regarding carbon dioxide emissions, there is a growing emphasis on the optimal utilization of biomass resources. Baijiu, as the Chinese national spirit, boasts remarkably high sales volumes annually. However, the production of baijiu yields various by-products, including solid residues (Jiuzao), liquid wastewater (Huangshui and waste alcohol), and gaseous waste. Recent years have witnessed dedicated research aimed at exploring the composition and potential applications of these by-products, seeking sustainable development and comprehensive resource utilization. This review systematically summarizes recent research, shedding light on both the baijiu brewing process and the bioactive compounds present baijiu production by-products (BPBPs). The primary focus lies in elucidating the potential extraction methods and applications of BPBPs, offering a practical approach to comprehensive utilization of by-products in functional food, medicine, cosmetic, and packaging fields. These applications not only contribute to enhancing production efficiency and mitigating environmental pollution, but also introduce innovative concepts for the sustainable advancement of associated industries. Future research avenues may include more in-depth compositional analysis, the development of utilization technologies, and the promotion of potential industrialization.

Geographic differences and variation of functional components of brown rice in 690 mini-core collections from global germplasms

Objective

To understand the geographic differences and variations in the functional components of brown rice cores collected from global rice germplasms.

Methods

Four functional components, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resistant starch (RS), total flavonoids, and alkaloids, in brown rice from 690 mini-core collections from 31 countries from five continents and the International Rice Research Institute, were analyzed using a spectrophotometry colorimetric method, and the results were statistically validated.

Conclusion

The highest average amounts of functional components were obtained in Asian germplasms, except for GABA, and total flavonoids were highest in brown rice from Europe and Oceania, followed by Asia. The highest coefficient of variation for GABA was observed in Asia; that for RS and total flavonoids was observed in Africa, followed by Asia; and that for alkaloids was observed in America, followed by Asia. Overall, Asian countries were the most prominent and representative zones with the highest genotypic potential for functional components of brown rice. Forty-one rice accessions with enriched functional components originated mostly from biodiversity-rich areas in China, followed by those in the Philippines. Late sowing favored the enrichment of these components in brown rice. The current study provides a reference for rice breeding with enriched functional constituents, and guidelines for screening functional rice that could be used for human chronic disease research.

Untargeted phytochemical profiling and biological activity of small yellow onion (Allium flavum L.) from different regions of Romania

This study examined the phytochemical profiles (mainly phenolics, carotenoids, and organosulfur compounds) and biological effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Allium flavum (AF), a species of the Allium genus commonly known as small yellow onion. Unsupervised and supervised statistical approaches revealed clear differences between extracts prepared with samples collected from different areas of Romania. Overall, the AFFF (AF flowers collected from Făget) extract was the best source of polyphenols, also showing the highest antioxidant capacity evaluated through both in vitro DPPH, FRAP, and TEAC anti-radical scavenging assays and cell-based OxHLIA and TBARS assays. All the tested extracts exhibited α-glucosidase inhibition potential, while only the AFFF extract exhibited anti-lipase inhibitory activity. The phenolic subclasses annotated were positively correlated with the assessed antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. Our findings suggested that A. flavum has bioactive properties worth exploring further, being a potential edible flower with health-promoting implications.

Recent advances in physiochemical changes, nutritional value, bioactivities, and food applications of germinated quinoa: A comprehensive review

The production and consumption of functional foods has become an essential food industry trend. Due to its high nutritional content, quinoa is regarded as a super pseudocereal for the development of nutritious foods. However, the presence of antinutritional factors and quinoa's distinctive grassy flavor limit its food applications. Due to its benefits in enhancing the nutritional bioavailability and organoleptic quality of quinoa, germination has garnered significant interest. To date, there is no systematic review of quinoa germination and the health benefits of germinated quinoa. This review details the nutritional components and bioactivities of germinated quinoa, as well as the potential mechanisms for the accumulation of bioactive compounds during the germination process. Additionally, evidence supporting the health benefits of germinated quinoa, the current status of related product development, and perspectives for future research are presented. Thus, our research is likely to provide theoretical support for the use of germinated quinoa resources.

Temporal changes in muscle characteristics during growth in the goat

This study aimed to explore the temporal accumulative process of functional components and take insight into their dynamic regulatory metabolic pathways in the longissimus during growth in goats. Results showed that the intermuscular fat content, cross-sectional area and fast- to slow-switch fiber ratio of the longissimus were synchronously increased from d1 to d90. The dynamic profiles of functional components and transcriptomic pathways of the longissimus both exhibited two distinct phases during animal development. Expression of genes involved in de novo lipogenesis was increased from birth to weaning, leading to the accumulation of palmitic acid in the first phase. Accumulation of functional oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid in the second phase was dominatingly driven by enhancement in expression of genes related to fatty acid elongation and desaturation after weaning. A shift from serine to glycine production was observed after weaning, which was linked to the expression profile of genes involved in their interconversion. Our findings systematically reported the key window and pivotal targets of the functional components' accumulation process in the chevon.

Comparison of the nutritional value of mysore thorn borer (Anoplophora chinensis) and mealworm larva (Tenebrio molitor): Amino acid, fatty acid, and element profiles

There is increasing interest in using insects as an alternative nutrient source and Mysore thorn borer (MTB) (Anoplophora chinensis) might have nutritional and functional relevance for humans. The nutritional composition of MTB (amino acids, fatty acids, and elements profiles) was examined and compared with mealworm larva (MWL) (Tenebrio molitor). MTB was found to contain 19 amino acids, including all essential amino acids. A total of 16 fatty acids were detected including polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid). Moreover, MTB had a low n - 6/n - 3 ratio and contained some essential elements, such as iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. These results demonstrated that MTB might be a potential source of nutritional compounds for human consumption.

Effects of elevated CO2 on foliar soluble nutrients and functional components of tea, and population dynamics of tea aphid, Toxoptera aurantii

The rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration has shown to affect plant physiology and chemistry by altering plant primary and secondary metabolisms. Nevertheless, the impacts of elevated CO₂ on plant nutrients and functional components of tea remain largely unknown, which will likely affect tea quality and taste under climate change scenario. Being sources of nutrients and secondary chemicals/metabolites for herbivorous insects, the variation in foliar soluble nutrients and functional components of tea plants resulting from CO₂ enrichment will further affect the herbivorous insects' occurrence and feeding ecology. In this study, the tea aphid, Toxoptera aurantii was selected as the phloem-feeding herbivore to study the effects of elevated CO₂ on foliar soluble nutrients and functional components of tea seedlings, and the population dynamics of T. aurantii. The results indicated that elevated CO₂ enhanced the photosynthetic ability and improved the plant growth of tea seedlings compared with ambient CO₂, with significant increases in net photosynthetic rate (+20%), intercellular CO₂ concentration (+15.74%), leaf biomass (+15.04%) and root-to-shoot ratio (+8.08%), and significant decreases in stomatal conductance (-5.52%) and transpiration rate (-9.40%) of tea seedlings. Moreover, elevated CO₂ significantly increased the foliar content of soluble sugars (+4.74%), theanine (+3.66%) and polyphenols (+12.01%) and reduced the foliar content of free amino acids (-9.09%) and caffeine (-3.38%) of tea seedlings compared with ambient CO₂. Furthermore, the relative transcript levels of the genes of theanine synthetase (+18.64%), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (+49.50%), s'-adenosine methionine synthetase (+143.03%) and chalcone synthase (+61.86%) were up-regulated, and that of caffeine synthase (-56.91%) was down-regulated for the tea seedlings grown under elevated CO₂ relative to ambient CO₂. In addition, the foliar contents of jasmonic acid (+98.6%) and salicylic acid (+155.6%) also increased for the tea seedlings grown under elevated CO₂ in contrast to ambient CO₂. Also, significant increases in the population abundance of T. aurantii (+4.24%-41.17%) were observed when they fed on tea seedlings grown under elevated CO₂ compared to ambient CO₂. It is presumed that the tea quality and taste will be improved owing to the enhanced foliar soluble nutrients and functional components of tea seedlings under the climate change scenario, especially on account of the rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration, while the climate change may exacerbate the occurrence of tea aphid, T. aurantii, despite the enhanced secondary defensive chemicals manifested by the CO₂ enrichment.

Response of biofilms-leaves of two submerged macrophytes to high ammonium

Submerged macrophytes can provide attached surface for biofilms (known as periphyton) growth. In the present study, the alterations in biofilms formation, and chemical compositions and physiological responses were investigated on leaves of Vallisneria asiatica and Hydrilla verticillata exposed to 0.1 mg L^-1 (control) or with 10 mg L^-1 NH₄⁺-N for 13 days. Results from physiological and biochemical indices (content of H₂O₂, malondialdehyde, total chlorophyll and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) showed that high ammonium caused oxidative damage to leaves of two species of plant. Multifractal analysis (based on scanning electron microscope images) showed that for the same plant, the values of width △α (△α = α_max-α_min) of the f(α) and Δf (Δf = f(α_min)-f(α_max)) were smaller on leaves surface of two species of plant treated with 10 mg L^-1 NH₄⁺-N for 13 days than their controls, suggesting high ammonium treatments reduced morphological heterogeneity of leaf surface and enhanced area of the colony-like biofilms. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that C, O, N and P were dominant elements on leaves surface of two species of plant and ammonium application increased the percentage of C but decreased that of O. High ammonium increased C1 (C-C or C-H) percentage but decreased C2 (C-O) and C3 (O-C-O or C=O) percentage on leaves surface of two species of plant, indicating that ammonium stress changed the surface chemical states and thus might reduce the capacity of leaves to adsorb nutrients from water column. Our results provided useful information to understand ammonium induced toxicity to submerged macrophytes.

Quantitative assessment of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of 15 jujube cultivars

Fifteen jujube cultivars late in their maturation were analysed in the red stage for bioactive compounds; including total phenolics (bound/free), total flavonoids, total polysaccharides, ascorbic acid, total triterpenes, proanthocyanidins and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydracyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS(+)) scavenging methods and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution method (TOPSIS) was employed to evaluate the nutrition of different jujube cultivars based on their bioactive compounds. The results indicated that the contents of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities vary between different jujube cultivars. Correlation analysis revealed that ascorbic acid, polyphenols and proanthocyanidins were the 3 main components responsible for the antioxidant activity of jujubes. TOPSIS analysis indicated that Zyzyphus jujube cv. Nanjingyazao ranks the highest of the 15 jujube fruits with regards to nutritional value.