Journal of Food Biochemistry

Myrciariatenella O.Berg, a native plant species of Brazil, exhibits pharmacological applications, including antitumor activity. In this study, we isolated the essential oil (EO) of M. tenella and identified its phytochemical profile. In addition, we determined the in vitro and in silico cytotoxic activities of EO in nontumor and tumor cell lines (gingival fibroblasts and oral squamous cell carcinoma, respectively) and its free radical scavenging activity (i.e., antioxidant activity) using ABTS and DPPH assays. The EO of M. tenella primarily constitutes hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes, with (E)-caryophyllene (33.95%), δ-cadinene (7.4%), caryophyllene oxide (4.74%), and viridiflorene (4.49%) as its four major components. EO effectively suppressed the cell viability of CAL-27 tumor cells to below 70% at concentrations of 125 and 250 μg/mL and exhibited a free radical inhibition potential of 75.63 ± 0.41% and 28.46 ± 0.36%, respectively, in the DPPH and ABTS assays. This chemical and biological potential may be attributed to the major compounds present in EO, as well as the molecular coupling simulations conducted, which revealed the anticancer mechanism of EO in the sesquiterpenes (E)-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, caryophyllene oxide, and viridiflorene.

A growing interest in more sustainable and alternative food sources has brought seaweed and macroalgae to the spotlight for the general worldwide cuisine. Algae are often praised for their high nutritional value and are rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Abundant in base precursors, algae are particularly interesting from an acid-base perspective. Their unique biochemical composition suggests a low potential renal acid load (PRAL), which is a commonly used estimate for the amount of acid or base a certain food produces in humans. Here, we analyzed the PRAL value of n = 106 macroalgae. Results suggested a strong alkalizing potential, with a mean PRAL value of −86.76 mEq/100 g. The lowest PRAL values were found for Laminaria ochroleuca (−286.78 mEq/100 g), Gelidium micropterum (−268.46 mEq/100 g), and Palmaria palmata (−259.16 mEq/100 g). We observed a strong inverse relationship of PRAL with algae’s potassium content (Spearman’s rho = −0.79, ) and a moderate relationship with algae’s calcium content (Spearmen’s rho: −0.34, ). Our data point at a potential role for several macroalgae as potent alkalizing marine drugs and suggest that a 10 g edible portion of some algae alone could contribute to a substantial PRAL reduction of up to −28.68 mEq. This might be of particular importance for individuals who benefit from a more alkaline diet and warrants further investigation in future studies.

Plant and fruit extracts exhibit fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals and can display therapeutic qualities. Consequently, they have attracted increased attention among health-conscious individuals, and many studies related to their health-promoting effects are being actively conducted. Vitis coignetiae is well-known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. However, the immune-enhancing effects of Vitis coignetiae have not yet been studied. In this study, Vitis coignetiae extract (VCE) increased immune-related activity in Wistar rat splenocytes and cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed rats. In splenocytes, VCE was nontoxic up to 300 μg/mL and increased cell viability in the presence of Cy. VCE also recovered Cy-induced decreases in cytokine (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and IL-12) levels and natural killer (NK) cell activity in splenocytes. In Cy-induced immunosuppressed rats, VCE protected against Cy-induced spleen tissue damage and decreases in body and spleen weight, cytokine (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-12) levels, and NK cell activity. We also observed recovery of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM levels following VCE treatment. In conclusion, the ability of VCE to restore immune activity from an immunosuppressive state to normal levels suggests its immune-enhancing efficacy. Therefore, VCE may have the potential for application in the development of immune-enhancing functional foods and medicines.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrine-metabolic disorder that has limited approaches to treat effectively. Morus alba L., also known as mulberry, is a well-known medicinal plant, and its branch bark has shown hypoglycemic activity. It is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients. In this study, we used metabolomics combined with network pharmacology to investigate the molecular mechanism and potential key targets of mulberry branch bark powder (MBBP) for treating DM. Serum metabolomics was performed to analyze the differences in metabolites and enrich metabolic pathways. Network pharmacology, based on systems biology tools, was applied to generate the pathway-target-compound network. Integrated analyses were then used to screen for key targets. To verify the obtained key targets, we used a molecular docking method and experimental validation. Our findings revealed that thirty-five endogenous metabolites contributed to the therapeutic impact of MBBP against DM. The analysis of 10 hub genes in the compound-target network partially supported the enrichment of metabolic pathways. Further analysis focused on two compounds (eugenol and mulberrofuran A) and three key targets (NOS2, MAOA, and CYP1A1). This study explores the active compounds of MBBP against DM and provides a novel perspective for improving DM treatment based on key targets.

In order to predict the freshness of grass carp, a novel data preprocessing method was proposed for electronic nose (E-nose) signals. The signal sequences from six sensors were selected and subsequently normalized. The direct signal sequence merging (DSSM) and reversed signal sequence merging (RSSM) modes were used for signal sequence merging. Subsequently, the genetic algorithm (GA) was used to evaluate the contribution of diverse sensors, and the merged data sequence was compressed using wavelet transform (WT). Using approximation coefficient and detail coefficient based on different scales and different signal sequence merging modes, principal component analysis (PCA) discriminated successfully storage time of chilled fish fillet. The PCA plots clearly demonstrated that all extracted feature data fully retain the signal characters. The partial least squares (PLS) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used to establish prediction models for the freshness of grass carp during storage. The DSSM-ANN- and DSSM-PLS- models were chosen as the TVB-N content prediction models, while the DSSM-ANN- and RSSM-PLS- models were selected as the K value prediction models. The values of these models are higher than 0.9, and they have a good coefficient of determination. The results of this study suggest that it using E-nose signals to predict TVB-N content and K value is an effective method for assessing the freshness of grass carp during storage.

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function, is a growing concern as the global population continues to age. It is associated with physical disability, decreased quality of life, and increased risk of falls and fractures. Nutritional interventions have been suggested to be effective in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. According to cross-sectional studies, the prevalence of sarcopenia in people with heart failure (HF) is 38% for men and 32% for women, contributing to cardiac fragility, a lower quality of life, and an increased risk of death. A rising number of research studies have been performed to investigate the role of certain nutrients on muscle mass or function, as appropriate nutrition is crucial for muscle maintenance. The goal of this systematic review is to outline the present evidence for exercise and nutritional interventions as potential contributors to the treatment of sarcopenia and frailty (decreased muscle mass and physical function), as well as the threat of underlying cardiac metabolic comorbidity in individuals who have heart failure (HF), cancer, CVDs, and other health problems. The biochemical properties of natural foods play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. This review explores the effectiveness of nutritional interventions for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.