Themed collection Food & Function HOT Articles 2022

The scientific community and lay press are participating in a heated debate over the usefulness of food bioactives when used as dietary supplements.

A novel acidic polysaccharide named AeP-P-1 was prepared from Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench (okra).

Yellowtail milt hydrolysates have considerable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacies to maintain gut health.

Dietary supplements could modulate the abundance of BSH-producing bacteria to regulate the BSH enzyme activity, thereby change the BAs composition to regulate FXR signaling, which then regulate human health.

Surface molecules of the Lactobacillus strains are related to the adhesion property and this property are enhanced upon the external environmental stress, such as temperature, pH, sub-strength and ion concentration through the Quorum sensing effect.

Circadian rhythm is essential to human physiological homeostasis and health.

The rate of starch hydrolysis by salivary α-amylase during oro-gastric digestion was influenced by bread density and was well correlated with the glycemic index.

In this study, Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide decreased blood uric acid in potassium oxonate induced hyperuricemic mice and exerted renal protective effect.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of disabilities in old age and a rapidly growing condition in the elderly population.

Prenylated phenolics are antimicrobials found in liquorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.).

CLA improves the lipo-nutritional quality in muscle and these changes are associated with the production and functions of differential bacteria and SCFAs in the gut of Heigai pigs.

Galangin inhibits neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, phenotypic switching and promoting autophagy.

Resveratrol (RES) has many beneficial effects on the human body, but it is always unstable, resulting in low oral bioavailability, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.

An increased soy protein hydrolysate (SPH) level promoted hypothalamic acetylcholine, dopamine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis.

L-carnitine ameliorates the major components of metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-induced obese mice partially through attenuating gut microbiota dysbiosis and independent of the intestinal microbial production of TMAO.

This study explored the neuroprotective effect of the peptide LYLKPR derived from fermented yak milk by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JLAU103 on H₂O₂-injured HT-22 cells.

Derivatives of Scylla paramamosain heat-stable allergens TM and MLC could alleviate food allergy symptoms in mice, also ability to induce blocking IgG antibodies, which offer a promising new strategy in immunotherapy for crab-allergic subjects.

The main focus of this study was on the protection mechanism of Jerusalem artichoke inulin (DI) against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) associated with abnormal hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota dysfunction in T2DM mice.

In this study, gastric digestion of isocaloric and iso-macronutrient cow milk, almond milk and oat milk were compared in rats euthanized at different post-feeding times.

The ameliorative effect of barley intake on glucose intolerance is attenuated when Gpr43 is deficient.

Purified recombinant enzymes are efficient at hydrolyzing microbial (poly)phenol metabolite phase II conjugates, and hence, can be used to accurately quantify them using unconjugated analytical standards.

In the present study, mice with high-fat-diet-induced obesity were used in investigating the anti-obesity effects of an aqueous extract and isoquercitrin from Apocynum venetum L.

Citrate, a major component of processed foods, reduces weight gain without resolving insulin resistance.

Mechanism of roasting pretreatment of walnut kernels to improve the flavor and sensory properties of walnut oil.

Anthocyanin nanoliposomes (ANLs) were produced by a thin film ultrasonic dispersion method to improve the stability and bioavailability of anthocyanins (ACNs) obtained from grape skin extracts.

It is technologically viable to partially transpose the predominant saturated fatty acid profile of milk fat to a more balanced lipid profile. Functional yogurts were capable to modulated lipid accumulation.

Pretreatment of rats with rutin attenuated KA-induced seizures and neuronal loss by decreasing glutamatergic hyperactivity and IL-1R1/TLR4-related neuroinflammatory casade. Our findings provide clues to understand the mechanism of rutin in epilepsy intervention.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a mounting public health problem with significant medical, economic and social burdens. Tartary buckwheat extract could prevent ALD by modulating hepatic glycerophospholipid metabolism.

The concept of coil overlap can explain the postprandial blood insulin lowering effect of guar galactomannan in overweight adults when it is eaten as an ingredient in bread.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the oral administration of sea cucumber protein (SCP) on wound healing.

Sen A decreases caspase-1 activity and P2X7 function, which further leads to NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasome disassembly and the reduced secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 via pyroptosis restraining and NF-κB-involved NLRP3 priming.

The role of diet in the development of childhood metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been clearly elucidated.

Sesaminol may lower the risk of ethanol-related colorectal cancer by suppressing ethanol-induced oxidative stress in the colon as well as gut leakiness.

Two new catechins, zijuanin E (1) and zijuanin F (2), were isolated from Zijuan green tea. 1 and 2 (100 μM) prolonged the lifespan of C. elegans by 67.2% and 56.0%, respectively, delaying the age-related decline of phenotypes, enhancing stress resistances, and reducing ROS and lipid accumulation.

The ameliorative effects on ulcerative colitis (UC) as well as the related mechanisms of the essential oil derived from the edible herb Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (ZBEO) have been demonstrated herein.

Artemisia annua L. (A. annua) contains artemisinin, which attracts attention on account of its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects.

GMD showed a strong effect in improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing inflammation. 1600 mg kg⁻¹ GMD increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium, while 150 and 800 mg kg⁻¹ GMD increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Turicibacter.

The purpose of this study was to verify that acid polysaccharides from Buddleja officinalis Maxim (APBOM) could relieve diabetic retinopathy (DR) through inhibition of angiogenesis via activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

GSPE anti-obesity effects are modulated by the gut microbiota in a photoperiod-dependent manner.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an inflammatory lung disease that is caused by bacterial infection.

Krill oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and helps to locomotion.

Many clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of black tea on cardiovascular diseases.

Green and purple SPL consumption may enhance the Nrf2-mediated hepatic antioxidant activity and modulate xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and transporters via different mechanisms.

γ-glutamylcysteine activates SIRT1 by activating AMPK, promoting the nuclear translocation of GAPDH, while inhibiting that of DBC1. SIRT1 activation causes the deacetylation of p53 in the nucleus and inhibits the protein levels of p21 and p16.

The distribution of eicosapentaenoic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine was similar to that of mesenchymal stem cells markers in the abdominal aortic aneurysm wall.

Umami substances can increase the overall taste of food and bring pleasure to people.

Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 was given to pregnant mice, and can protect the offspring from maternal separation-induced neurobiological and gastrointestinal disorders. The mechanism possibly correlated with the mother-to-offspring transmission of CCFM1025.

In high-fructose-induced salt-sensitive hypertensive mice, the oral administration of CGA restructures gut microbiota, modulates bile acid metabolism, enriches DCA et al., improves endothelial vasoconstriction and attenuates hypertension.

Glucolipid metabolism disorders pose a serious and global health problem, and more effective prevention and treatment methods are urgently needed.

Optimized AR/FGA DNs exhibit excellent mechanical performance and comparable texture with beef tendons.

Cyclo (Phe-Phe) ameliorated hepatic injury and dysplasia induced by oxidative stress, and the mechanism is mainly via promoting Nrf2 translocation as well as activating the Nrf2 pathway through binding Keap1.

The differences in the chemical composition between monascus rice and highland barley monascus were mainly monacolins, pigments, amino acids and organic acids.

In this study, we investigated the underlying microscopic network structure of agarose fluid gels, which defines the basic length scale for their bulk elastic response, resulting in unique textural properties.

Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens JKSP109 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae JKSP39 isolated from Tibetan kefir grain co-alleviated AOM/DSS induced inflammation and colorectal carcinogenesis. The combined effect was superior to a single strain.

Lycopene as the main carotenoid from tomatoes is known to have beneficial effects on various inflammatory diseases.

Baicalin alleviates endometrial inflammatory injury in a mouse model. Baicalin activated autophagy in a mouse model and a cell model. Baicalin redistributed TJ proteins by regulating autophagy.

This study develops a bottom-up approach to investigate the effect of food microstructures on the bioaccessibility of curcumin, enabling innovations in food structures to control the release of micronutrients.

Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) are non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs) that are often added to infant formula to replace the functionalities of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).

Cinnamaldehyde reduced the u-PA activity and invasiveness of the osteosarcoma cells by targeting the FAK pathway and reducing the expression of N-cadherin and fibronectin and suppressed the pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma in mice.

Myricitrin, a flavonoid isolated from the leaves of the Indian olive tree (Elaeocarpus floribundus), improves motor incoordination in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease by maintaining striatal dopamine levels through inhibition of MAO-B activity.

Passiflora setacea (PS), a fruit from the Brazilian biodiversity rich in polyphenols. PS juice reduced insulin, IL-6 levels and HOMA IR in humans. And its phenolic metabolites increased activity of PPAR-γ in BV-2 cells.

Elevated expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ), a key regulator of adipogenesis, leads to lipid accumulation and obesity.

A novel antioxidant peptide WLP derived from sea squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) exhibited high neuroprotective ability on PC12 cells in 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress.

Consuming RD43 rice for 12 weeks potentially reduces the value of glycemic parameters such as fasting glucose and insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, as well as body weight, BMI, total fat mass, and waist circumference in overweight prediabetic people.

Phase separated microstructures/emulsions based on a model system (containing protein, polysaccharides and oil) were found to be able to control lipid digestion (measured in vitro).

EWH prevented the morphological and metabolic disorder induced by chronic Hg exposure at low doses, by improving antioxidant defenses, inactivating pro-apoptotic pathways and normalizing the mRNA expression of PPARs and adipokines.

Lactobacillus plantarum 23-1 improved blood lipid level, liver oxidative stress injury, regulated the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, enhanced intestinal barrier function, effectively alleviated intestinal inflammation and obesity symptoms of mice.

Artistic representation of the dairy products studied encapsulated by cyclodextrins.

The metabolic perturbations and health impact of the co-accumulation of acrylamide, harmane, and Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine was investigated via serum biochemical and histopathological examinations as well as metabolomic analysis.

CO improves dyslipidemia and alleviates lipid accumulation in HF-fed mice, the molecular mechanisms possibly associated with the reorganization of gut microbiota, in particular, Alistipes and Dubosiella, mediated the inhibition of the mTOR pathway.