PubMed

Front Pharmacol. 2025 Feb 26;16:1551411. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1551411. eCollection 2025.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a prevalent malignancy in certain regions, with radiotherapy as the standard treatment. However, resistance to radiotherapy remains a critical challenge, necessitating the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The tumor-associated microbiota and metabolites have emerged as potential modulators of radiotherapy outcomes.METHODS: This study included 22 NPC patients stratified into radiotherapy-responsive (R, n = 12) and radiotherapy-non-responsive (NR, n = 10) groups. Tumor tissue and fecal samples were subjected to 16S rRNA sequencing to profile microbiota composition and targeted metabolomics to quantify short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The XGBoost algorithm was applied to identify microbial taxa associated with radiotherapy response, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to validate key findings. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess differences in microbial diversity, relative abundance, and metabolite levels between the groups.RESULTS: Significant differences in alpha diversity at the species level were observed between the R and NR groups. Bacteroides acidifaciens was enriched in the NR group, while Propionibacterium acnes and Clostridium magna were more abundant in the R group. Machine learning identified Acidosoma, Propionibacterium acnes, and Clostridium magna as key predictors of radiotherapy response. Metabolomic profiling revealed elevated acetate levels in the NR group, implicating its role in tumor growth and immune evasion. Validation via qPCR confirmed the differential abundance of these microbial taxa in both tumor tissue and fecal samples.DISCUSSION: Our findings highlight the interplay between microbiota and metabolite profiles in influencing radiotherapy outcomes in NPC. These results suggest that targeting the microbiota-metabolite axis may enhance radiotherapy efficacy in NPC.PMID:40078290 | PMC:PMC11897916 | DOI:10.3389/fphar.2025.1551411

Front Vet Sci. 2025 Feb 26;12:1520678. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1520678. eCollection 2025.ABSTRACTColitis is a complicated disease caused by multiple factors, seriously threatening the host health and the development of animal husbandry. Probiotics have been demonstrate to participate in the active regulation of multiple gastrointestinal disease, gut microbiota and metabolism, but research on the efficacy of Pediococcus acidilactici isolated from dogs in alleviating colitis remains scarce. Here, we aimed to investigate the ameliorative effects of Pediococcus acidilactici isolated from dogs on colitis induced by LPS and its underlying molecular mechanisms. For this purpose, we collected colon contents from 15 mice for amplicon sequencing and metabolic analysis. Results showed that Pediococcus acidilactici could relieve the colon damage and cytokine disorder caused by colitis. Microbiome analysis showed that colitis could cause a significant decrease in the gut microbial diversity and abundance, but Pediococcus acidilactici administration could restore the microbial index to the control level. Metabolomics analysis showed that 8 metabolic pathways and 5 (spermine, L-Arginine, 15-Deoxy-Delta12,14-PGJ2, prostaglandin J2, and 15(S)-HETE) metabolites may be involved in the alleviation of colitis by Pediococcus acidilactici. In summary, these findings demonstrated that the positive regulation effect of Pediococcus acidilactici on gut microbiota and metabolism may be one of its underlying mechanisms to alleviate colitis. Additionally, this study also conveyed a vital message that Pediococcus acidilactici isolated from dogs may serve as a promising candidate to ameliorate Pediococcus acidilactici.PMID:40078208 | PMC:PMC11897304 | DOI:10.3389/fvets.2025.1520678

J Agric Food Chem. 2025 Mar 12. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c10406. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThymol (THY) is a phenolic monoterpene compound that has garnered attention due to its various biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-regulatory effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic and protective effects of THY in colitic mice, with a particular focus on the mechanisms involving gut microbiota. The results showed that early intervention with THY (40 and 80 mg/kg) not only alleviated the clinical symptoms and colonic damage in mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis but also suppressed the colonic production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18) and enhanced the expression of mucins (MUC1 and MUC2) and trefoil factor family 3 (TFF3), thereby improving the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. In addition, THY altered the composition of the gut microbiota in colitis mice by increasing the abundance of Bacteroides and reducing the abundance of Proteobacteria. Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) results demonstrated that FM from THY donor mice significantly improved symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), confirming the crucial role of the gut microbiota. Metagenomic and untargeted metabolomic studies found that the characteristic microbiota of THY is Prevotellaceae, and THY significantly upregulated the amino acid metabolic pathways related to arginine and proline metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. In summary, THY holds significant potential as a functional additive to enhance host intestinal activity.PMID:40077957 | DOI:10.1021/acs.jafc.4c10406

Nutrients. 2025 Feb 28;17(5):885. doi: 10.3390/nu17050885.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the effects of cocoa shell extract (CSE) supplementation on the plasma metabolome of female rats.METHODS: Female rats were supplemented with CSE (250 mg/kg/day) over seven days, and plasma samples were collected at baseline, day 4, and day 7 for untargeted metabolomic profiling using LC-ESI-QTOF.RESULTS: A total of 244 plasma metabolites were identified, while 180 were detected in the CSE. Among these, only 21 compounds were consistently detected in both the CSE and the plasma at baseline and day 7. Notably, just three compounds, caffeine, theobromine, and N-isovaleroylglycine, were bioavailable, detected only in plasma after supplementation on day 7, confirming their absorption and systemic distribution. Pathways related to caffeine metabolism, glycerophospholipid biosynthesis, nicotinate, and nicotinamide metabolism were significantly upregulated, indicating enhanced lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. Conversely, reductions were observed in pathways involving tryptophan, glutathione, arginine, and proline, pointing to shifts in amino acid metabolism and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Network analysis revealed significant changes in the cholinergic synapse, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, and glutamatergic synapse pathways, which are crucial for cellular communication and neurotransmission.CONCLUSIONS: The observed metabolic reconfiguration demonstrates CSE's rapid modulation of the metabolome, highlighting the bioavailability of its key components. These findings suggest potential mechanisms for CSE as a functional food ingredient with health-promoting effects, potentially supporting cognitive function and metabolic health through energy metabolism, neurotransmission, and lipid signaling pathways.PMID:40077756 | DOI:10.3390/nu17050885

Nutrients. 2025 Feb 27;17(5):827. doi: 10.3390/nu17050827.ABSTRACTMilk is the principal nutrient of newborn humans and a diagnostic feature of the order Mammalia. Its release is elicited as a reflex by infant sucking under the control of the hormone oxytocin. While it is recognized that breast milk optimally promotes infant longitudinal growth and development, this review explores facts and controversies regarding the extent to which the milks of several dairy animals and infant formula milk (IF) approximate special properties and bioactivities of breast milk. It also provides evidence that early exposure to undernutrition during the very rapid fetal and early infancy growth predominantly and permanently stunts longitudinal growth trajectory in both animals and humans and is often followed in later life by obesity and metabolic dysfunction, and sometimes also by precocious timing of sexual maturation. There is a knowledge gap as to whether there may be additional critical periods of nutritional vulnerability in human development, which is characterized by a relatively prolonged period of slow childhood growth bracketed by the rapid fetal-neonatal and pubertal growth spurts. It is also unclear whether any quantitative differences in caloric intake and supply during neonatal period may influence developmental fatness programming. A further knowledge gap exists regarding the role of infant microbiome composition and development in the possible epigenetic programming of longitudinal growth or fatness in later life. Extending the research of early developmental programming to the entire period of human growth from conception to the end of puberty, examining infant caloric intake and supply as possible factors modulating the epigenetic programming in favor of obesity, and examining the role of infant gut microbiome in developing infant's capacity to process nutrients may provide a better understanding of the interaction between critical nutritional influences in the control of human longitudinal growth and later-life obesity.PMID:40077697 | DOI:10.3390/nu17050827

Nutrients. 2025 Feb 26;17(5):801. doi: 10.3390/nu17050801.ABSTRACTBackground/Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder. Emerging evidence implicates gut microbiota dysbiosis in IBS pathogenesis, and probiotic interventions targeting microbial modulation hold therapeutic promise. Methods: this study used fecal microbiota transplantation to establish a mouse model of IBS before evaluating the effects of the complex probiotic by using metagenomics and targeted metabolomics to explore the potential mechanism. Results: After 14 days, the probiotic relieved constipation, reduced inflammation and intestinal permeability, lowered 5-HT levels and increased serotonin transporter (SERT) expression in tissues. Metagenomic analysis showed a reduced inflammation-related species abundance. It also decreased fecal butyric acid, acetic acid and tryptophan levels in IBS mice. Conclusions: The probiotic complex effectively alleviated IBS symptoms in mice by modulating gut microbiota and fecal metabolites, providing insights for future IBS research and treatment.PMID:40077671 | DOI:10.3390/nu17050801

Nutrients. 2025 Feb 26;17(5):800. doi: 10.3390/nu17050800.ABSTRACTDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, dietary habits in the population changed and sometimes deviated from healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet. Based on reports on the quality of the diet of respondents to studies conducted at the beginning of the pandemic, it could be concluded that these new dietary habits are unfavorable for a good prognosis and the course of any disease and its severity of symptoms. This study decided to confront these assumptions with the results of people who had COVID-19. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess the associations between dietary patterns and the occurrence of hospitalization and gastrointestinal disorders among patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: This study included 550 respondents who completed a survey up to 8 months after being diagnosed with COVID-19. The survey included 62 items from the FFQ-6®, GSRS, PAC-SYM and FACT-G7 standardized questionnaires. Results: Two dietary patterns (DPs) were identified: 'Processed high fat/sugar/salt/meat/dairy/potatoes' and 'Semi-vegetarian'. Higher adherence to the 'Processed' DP was associated with higher odds of hospitalization due to COVID-19, a more severe course of the disease, and the highest intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms. Higher adherence to the 'Semi-vegetarian' DP was associated with lower odds of hospitalization due to COVID-19, a less severe course of the disease, and the lowest intensity of gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions: This study showed a strong harmful effect of high adherence to a processed dietary pattern on an increased incidence of hospitalization and gastrointestinal disorders among northwestern Polish adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of a healthy diet.PMID:40077670 | DOI:10.3390/nu17050800

Foods. 2025 Mar 6;14(5):900. doi: 10.3390/foods14050900.ABSTRACTFunctional constipation ranks among the most common disorders impacting human health, which is manifested by difficulty in defecation and a complex etiology. L-Arabinose, a pentose found naturally in fruit rinds and cereal husks, has been reported to regulate glycolipid metabolism, improve glucose homeostasis, and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect and precise mechanism of L-Arabinose on functional constipation remain unclear. In this study, the effect of L-Arabinose in alleviating functional constipation induced by diphenoxylate was evaluated. The model group consisted of functional constipation mice that did not receive any intervention. The positive drug group was treated with 2.0 g/kg lactulose, while the intervention group was given 0.5 g/kg, 0.75 g/kg, 1.0 g/kg, and 2.0 g/kg L-Arabinose, respectively. The data suggested that 20 days of L-Arabinose intervention could shorten the first black stool defecation time, increase fecal water content, and enhance the rate of small intestinal propulsion in mice with functional constipation induced by diphenoxylate. Additionally, L-Arabinose reversed the protein expression of functional constipation-related intestinal factors in the colon, characterized by a decrease in the expression of water channel proteins AQP3 and AQP4, as well as an increase in the expression of tight-junction proteins ZO-1, Claudin-1 and Occludin. Furthermore, L-Arabinose modulated the levels of hormones (MTL, Gas) and neurotransmitters (5-HT, VIP) related to the digestive systems of mice with constipation, resulting in elevated levels of 5-HT, MTL, and Gas and decreasing levels of VIP. Histopathological analysis also revealed that L-Arabinose intervention improved the intestinal inflammatory response. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics of the intestinal microbiota demonstrated that L-Arabinose treatment improved both the intestinal microbiota composition and the metabolite levels. This study suggests that L-Arabinose can serve as a potential functional ingredient to promote intestinal health, enhance gastrointestinal motility and barrier function, regulate osmotic pressure, restore neurotransmitter levels, and effectively relieve functional constipation.PMID:40077603 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050900

Foods. 2025 Mar 4;14(5):878. doi: 10.3390/foods14050878.ABSTRACTThe present study investigated the dynamics changes in physicochemical properties and non-volatile metabolites during Bulang pickled tea fermentation. A combination of artificial sensory evaluation, chemical-physical analysis, ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS), and multivariate statistical analysis were employed to examine the differences among four fermentation stages of Bulang pickled tea. The bitterness, astringency, sweetness after taste, sourness and fermentation taste tended to increase with fermentation. The highest lactic acid bacteria, aerobic bacteria, total titratable acidity, total soluble sugar, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids were recorded at the second month of fermentation, while fungi, total free amino acids, total antioxidant capacity and hydroxyl free radical scavenging capacity increased with fermentation. Mantel test demonstrated significant associations between lactic acid bacteria /fungal communities and taste characteristics. UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis led to the identification of 35 differential non-volatile metabolites, predominantly comprising heterocyclic compounds, organic acids with their derivatives, and flavonoids. Nine non-volatile metabolites are related to antioxidant activity, and morin, malvidin and 7-methylxanthine exhibit relatively strong antioxidant activity. This study provides comprehensive insights into the non-volatile metabolites and antioxidant function of Bulang pickled tea.PMID:40077581 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050878

Foods. 2025 Mar 4;14(5):874. doi: 10.3390/foods14050874.ABSTRACTGlycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. is a medicinal herb that can be added to food to provide therapeutic effects and reduce the burden of medications. Herein, the immunomodulatory effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides (GPs) were verified and illustrated by intervening immunocompromised rats treated with different doses of GPs, which were reflected for adjusting the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota and altering the metabolic profile. The immunomodulatory effects of GPs were exerted by regulating the intestinal microenvironment. In particular, GPs could promote the growth of probiotic bacteria Allobaculum, norank__o_Clostridia_UCG-014, Dubosiella, and g__norank_o___RF39 and curb the growth of harmful bacteria Enterococcus. The results showed that GPs had a prebiotic effect, which contributed to improving the intestinal environment and maintaining intestinal health. In addition, the content of beneficial differential metabolites was up-regulated, especially short-chain fatty acids, with alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism being the most enriched pathways. These metabolic pathways imply the metabolic process of GPs, and the metabolic pathways and differential effector metabolites of it are focused. Overall, the purpose of this article lies in providing support for the application of GPs for regulating immune function.PMID:40077577 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050874

Foods. 2025 Mar 3;14(5):870. doi: 10.3390/foods14050870.ABSTRACTIn this study, the impact of lentil hull soluble dietary fibers (SDFs) on colitis and behavioral deficits in mice was assessed. Structural characterizations of SDFs confirmed that cellulase-modified soluble dietary fiber exhibited better physicochemical properties: more porous microstructure; similar polysaccharide structure; more stable particle size distribution; higher crystallinity; better adsorption capacity; and lower viscosity. Additionally, we explored its potential cognitive benefits via the gut-brain axis by behavioral tests, histopathology, 16S rRNA sequencing, gas chromatography and metabolomics analysis. The results showed that SDFs significantly improved inflammatory symptoms in colon and brain and cognitive behaviors. LSDF had better efficacy than HSDF. LSDF intervention decreased the harmful bacteria abundance (Bacteroides, Flexispira and Escherichia, etc.) and increased beneficial bacteria abundance (Aggregatibacter and Helicobacter, etc.). LSDF also affected brain metabolites through the sphingolipid metabolism. Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between harmful bacteria with inflammatory factors (LPS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, etc.) and sphingolipid metabolites, while beneficial bacteria were positively correlated with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), IL-10, and cognitive behavior. This study highlights the value of SDFs in future diet-based therapeutic strategies targeting gut-brain interactions.PMID:40077572 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050870

Foods. 2025 Feb 28;14(5):843. doi: 10.3390/foods14050843.ABSTRACTTo develop and utilize Folium Artemisia argyi (FAA) tea resources, UPLC-MS/MS, HS-GC-IMS, and HS-SPME/GC×GC-TOFMS were adopted to analyze its volatile and non-volatile compounds, when harvested from March to June, in combination with its antioxidant activity. Here, 1742 volatile compounds and 8726 non-volatile compounds were identified, with 75 differential volatile metabolites and 36 key flavor compounds screened. Notably, 1-octen-3-one, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-undecenal, and heptanal were identified as major contributors to the sweet, fruity, green, and herbal aromas, and the concentration of them was highest in June-harvest FAA tea. Furthermore, metabolomics revealed that there were 154 non-volatile differential metabolites in FAA tea at four harvest times, which were mainly related to amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Samples harvested in June also showed the strongest antioxidant capacity, which was positively correlated with D-xylitol, L-glutamic acid, honokiol, and costunolide. These findings highlight June as the optimal harvest time, providing FAA tea with superior flavor and enhanced antioxidant properties, underscoring its potential as a valuable resource for functional food development.PMID:40077546 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050843

Foods. 2025 Feb 27;14(5):828. doi: 10.3390/foods14050828.ABSTRACTZiziphi Spinosae Semen (ZSS), a homology of medicine and a type of seed, has been widely used to improve sleep quality. The present study aimed to assess the effects of ZSS flavonoid (ZSSF) extracted and isolated from ZSS on gut microbiota and hypothalamus metabolomic profiles in a chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced anxiety mouse model. ZSSF was prepared using microporous resin chromatography, and seven compounds were determined by UPLC-MS. ZSSF treatment dramatically reduced anxiety-like behaviors, exerted sedative-hypnotic effects, increased hippocampal 5-HT and 5-HTP, and enhanced intestinal barrier function through inhibiting colon ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin expression and reducing TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels. Compared with the CRS group, the diversity of gut microbiota in ZSSF-group mice was increased, with an increase in Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Firmicutes, and it was accompanied by an increase in fecal SCFAs. Hypothalamus metabolomics and lipidomics were performed to achieve 25 differential metabolites and 44 lipids, respectively. Serum metabolomics showed a total of 13 metabolites associated with anxiety were remarkably regulated by ZSSF. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed that glycerophospholipids (GPs) as well as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and L-tryptophan in peripheral and central parts were significant metabolites, which contributed to the pharmacological action of ZSSF. The mRNA expression of TPH2 and DDC key enzymes associated with tryptophan metabolism were upregulated, and PLA2G12A, LACT, and PLA2G6 key enzymes associated with GP metabolism were downregulated in ZSSF compared with CRS. Briefly, ZSSF improved tryptophan and GP metabolism and regulated the gut microbiome. This study may lay a theoretical basis for potentially developing ZSSF as a natural functional food ingredient for the improvement of anxiety and sleep disorders.PMID:40077533 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050828

Foods. 2025 Feb 27;14(5):822. doi: 10.3390/foods14050822.ABSTRACTThis study critically examines the limitations of the official Italian methodology used for detecting bovine adulteration milk in Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Mozzarella di Bufala Campana (MdBC). This method focuses on the whey fraction of cheese samples, which comprises about 1% of total MdBC proteins, and is based on a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantification of the bovine β-lactoglobulin A (β-Lg A) as a marker. Here, we have demonstrated that this official methodology suffers from measurement inconsistencies due to its reliance on raw bovine whey standards, which fail to account for β-Lg genetic polymorphisms in real MdBC samples and protein thermal modifications during cheesemaking. To overcome these limitations, we propose a dual proteomics-based approach using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) and nano-HPLC-electrospray (ESI)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of MdBC extracted whey. MALDI-TOF-MS focused on identifying proteotypic peptides specific to bovine and buffalo β-Lg and α-lactalbumin (α-La), enabling high specificity for distinguishing the two animal species at adulteration levels as low as 1%. Complementing this, nano-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS provided a comprehensive profile by identifying over 100 bovine-specific peptide markers from β-Lg, α-La, albumin, lactoferrin, and osteopontin. Both methods ensured precise detection and quantification of bovine milk adulteration in complex matrices like pasta filata cheeses, achieving high sensitivity even at minimal adulteration levels. Accordingly, the proposed dual proteomics-based approach overcomes challenges associated with whey protein polymorphism, heat treatment, and processing variability, and complements casein-based methodologies already validated under European standards. This integrated framework of analyses focused on whey and casein fraction enhances the reliability of adulteration detection and safeguards the authenticity of PDO buffalo mozzarella, upholding its unique quality and integrity.PMID:40077525 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050822

Foods. 2025 Feb 26;14(5):797. doi: 10.3390/foods14050797.ABSTRACTConsumers prefer mung beans for their low allergenicity and nutritional benefits. However, flavour development in mung bean foods has been problematic, with beany flavour being a limiting factor. Hot processing is crucial in forming mung bean flavours, and storage-induced changes in flavour precursors directly impact the taste post-processing. This study used metabolomics to analyse the effects of hot processing (baking and cooking) on mung bean flavour and differences after storage. A total of 131 flavour precursors and 45 volatile substances were identified across six sample groups. The results showed that baking and cooking upregulated 22 and 18 volatile substances (ketones, aldehydes, esters, pyridine, pyrazines, etc.), respectively. The Maillard reaction during baking notably increased compounds like 2-hydroxypyridine, 2-methoxy-3-isobutyl pyrazine, 1,2-hexanedione, and 2,3-butanedione. Both methods inhibited linoleic acid oxidation, significantly reducing hexanal content, a key "bean" odour substance. However, storage accelerated linoleic acid conversion to C13 peroxides, increasing hexanal content and bean odour. This process decreased precursor substances like glucose-1-phosphate and caused the accumulation of pyruvic acid intermediates in pentose phosphate and pyruvate metabolism/amino acid metabolism pathways, leading to reduced mung bean taste richness.PMID:40077502 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050797

Foods. 2025 Feb 26;14(5):794. doi: 10.3390/foods14050794.ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to investigate the effects and mechanisms of all-trans lycopene on intestinal health by establishing lipopolysaccharide-induced (LPS-induced) jejunal inflammation model. Dietary lycopene supplementation enhanced serum and jejunum antioxidant capacity. Lycopene significantly reduced LPS-induced upregulation of toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), suggesting that lycopene reduced the activation of TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway induced by LPS challenge, and further protected mice from LPS induced jejunal inflammation. Furthermore, lycopene increased jejunal zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) protein expression that was reduced by LPS challenge, and increased abundance of Rikenella, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Mucispirillum potentially associated with reducing gut inflammation. Overall, these results showed that pretreatment with lycopene can improve jejunal inflammation and ensure intestinal health in mice by improving antioxidant capacity, intestinal barrier function, microorganisms potentially associated with anti-inflammatory effects and reducing the activation of TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway by LPS. We provided a new insight into lycopene prevented LPS-induced jejunal inflammation by corresponding alterations in serum metabolites and gut microbiota, improving antioxidant capacity and regulating the TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway in mice.PMID:40077496 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050794

Foods. 2025 Feb 26;14(5):793. doi: 10.3390/foods14050793.ABSTRACTRed dragon fruit juice (RDFJ) is a common fruit processing product on the market, and different processing methods can affect its quality. This study selected traditional thermal processing methods such as pasteurization and novel non-thermal processing methods like ultrasonication and cold plasma to treat red dragon fruit juice. The effects of different processing methods on the quality of red dragon fruit juice were comprehensively evaluated through physicochemical properties, in vitro activity, metabolomics and flavoromics. The results indicate that the cloud stability of cold plasma (CP) treatment increased by 16.64%, the total polyphenol content increased by 13.76%, and its antioxidant capacity was higher than that of other treatments. Cold plasma significantly increased the content of L-tyrosine and affected the amino acid metabolic pathways of RDFJ, which can contribute to the total phenolic content of RDFJ and antioxidant activity. CP treatment effectively preserved the aroma components of RDFJ and decreased the content of harmful furan volatile compounds. The results suggest that cold plasma is a promising innovative non-thermal processing technique in RDFJ.PMID:40077495 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050793

Foods. 2025 Feb 24;14(5):772. doi: 10.3390/foods14050772.ABSTRACTThe effects of different shaping methods and loading treatments on the photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, fruit yield and quality, and volatile compound composition of the 'Beibinghong' grape were studied. In the experiment, 6-year-old 'Beibinghong' grapes were selected as the material, and two kinds of shaping methods were adopted: the double main vine upright tree (control) and the inclined horizontal dragon tree. The inclined horizontal dragon tree was treated with different loads. The volatile components in grapes were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The changes in quality and volatile components of 'Beibinghong' grape under different treatments were analyzed by multivariate statistics. The results showed that the inclined horizontal dragon tree significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content of leaves, and increased the soluble sugar content and sugar-acid ratio of fruits. The quality of grapes was better than that of the upright tree with double main vine. The results of loading showed that the plants with nine fruit branches had higher net photosynthetic rate and yield, and the best performance in reducing sugar content, titrable acid content and sugar-acid ratio, which was the most suitable loading treatment. The results of metabolomics study showed that 291 volatile metabolites were identified, of which 25 were considered to be the key differential metabolites affecting the flavor of 'Beibing red' fruit under different treatments. Further analysis showed that the inclined horizontal draconite tree was superior to the double main draconite tree in improving fruit quality and accumulation of volatile compounds in fruit. This study revealed the regulation mechanism of different shaping methods and loading loads on the growth and fruit quality of 'Beibinghong' grapes, which provided theoretical support for optimizing the viticulture management of 'Beibinghong' and improving the fruit quality and market competitiveness.PMID:40077475 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050772

Foods. 2025 Feb 24;14(5):770. doi: 10.3390/foods14050770.ABSTRACTHyperlipidemia is characterized by a high level of blood lipid which poses a serious threat to human health. Coix seed is a traditional crop of medicine and food homology with a wide range of pharmacological actions. To make clear the attenuation effect of coix seed against hyperlipidemia, low and high doses of coix seed extract (CSE) were orally administered to hyperlipidemia model mice developed by high-fat diet (HFD). Our results showed that CSE notably improved liver pathological injury, and oxidative stress, and declined the levels of glucose and lipid in hyperlipidemia mice. Liver metabolomics showed that lipid-related metabolites notably decreased, and pathways of glycolipid metabolism were seriously affected by CSE intervention. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that CSE treatment notably increased the diversity of gut microbiota. Meanwhile, the microbiota with the function of regulating intestinal balance as well as relieving obesity and nervous diseases significantly enhanced while harmful flora notably decreased after CSE intervention. The results of network pharmacology and molecular docking indicated that the PPAR signaling pathway may be the core path of anti-hyperlipidemia for coix seeds. RT-qPCR further verified that the expression levels of genes from the PPAR pathway notably changed by CSE treatment with fat synthesis genes significantly decreased while lipolysis genes notably enhanced. Therefore, coix seed might be a potential candidate for the treatment of hyperlipidemia.PMID:40077474 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050770

Foods. 2025 Feb 21;14(5):733. doi: 10.3390/foods14050733.ABSTRACTPumpkin is rich in nutritional value, and it can be eaten as a vegetable or as a staple food, making it popular among modern consumers. However, after fresh cutting, pumpkins are susceptible to moisture loss, softening, microbial contamination, and browning, all of which significantly compromise their quality during storage. Therefore, it is essential to develop effective preservation techniques for maintaining the quality of fresh-cut pumpkins. Nisin, a safe natural preservative, has not yet been studied for use on fresh-cut pumpkins. This study examines the effects of nisin treatment on the quality of fresh-cut pumpkins and then explores preservation mechanisms based on physiological and metabolomic analysis. Results show that 0.4 g/L nisin treatment effectively delays surface browning without impacting odor and maintains microbial safety throughout storage. Additionally, nisin significantly enhances the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, thereby promoting the accumulation of total phenols and carotenoids. The result of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment of differential metabolites between control and nisin-treated groups reveals that the most significant pathways affected by nisin treatment are amino acid metabolism and phenylpropanoid metabolism, which suggests that nisin enhances preservation by modulating phenylpropanoid metabolism and alleviating amino acid metabolism. This study provides a theoretical basis and offers new insights into improving the storage quality of fresh-cut pumpkins.PMID:40077438 | DOI:10.3390/foods14050733