Changes In Chemical Components Research Articles

Abiotic degradation and accelerated ageing of microplastics from biodegradable and recycled materials in artificial seawater

Microplastics (MPs) are considered one of the most widespread pollutants in all ecosystems worldwide. In the environment, MPs can undergo hydrolysis and/or oxidation, resulting in the release of low-molecular weight degradation products, along with additives, and adsorbed organic pollutants. In this study, the morphological, chemical, and thermal changes of microplastics obtained from two biodegradable plastics, polylactic acid and Mater-Bi®, and a recycled plastic, recycled-polyethylene terephthalate, were examined after accelerated ageing under photo-oxidative conditions in synthetic seawater in a Solarbox system, and after thermal treatment in the dark. Thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and evolved gas analysis-mass spectrometry. Compositions and changes of chemical components of the polymers were evaluated by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The leachable fractions and degradation products released in synthetic seawater by degraded MPs were characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. This study allowed us to identify hydrolysis as the main degradation pathway of the polymers under analysis, and to characterize not only the oligomers and degradation products released in the water as a consequence of degradation, but also additives used in plastic item formulations. This study improves our understanding of these polymers' behavior under accelerated ageing conditions.

Perubahan Komponen Kimia Fungsional pada Umbi, Tepung, dan Beras Analog Ubi Jalar Ungu

The purple sweet potato tuber, rich in functional chemical components, offers potential for development into high-value products such as flour, which can then be processed into analog rice. This research aims to evaluate the changes in functional chemical components–namely moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrates, anthocyanin, and β-carotene–along with antioxidant activity during the processing of purple sweet potato tubers into flour and analog rice. The chemical composition of the tubers was found to be as follows: moisture content of 78.00% on a wet basis (wb), ash content of 9.70% on a dry basis (db), fat content of 5.47% (db), protein content of 26.93% (db), carbohydrate content of 58.41% (db), anthocyanin content of 31.79 mg/100 g (db), β-carotene content of 17.73 mg/100 g (db), and antioxidant activity of 65.70%. The composition of the resulting flour included water (6.71% wb), ash (2.40% db), fat (1.06% db), protein (3.80% db), carbohydrate (92.75% db), anthocyanin (3.47 mg/100 g db), β-carotene (1.51 mg/100 g db), and antioxidant activity (45.59%). The chemical content of the analog rice was as follows: water (8.43% wb), ash (1.78% db), fat (1.62% db), protein (4.13% db), carbohydrate (92.50% db), anthocyanin (0.71 mg/100 g db), β-carotene (1.05 mg/100 g db), and antioxidant activity (8.38%). Processing the tubers into flour resulted in a reduction of fat, protein, anthocyanins, β-carotene, and antioxidant activity, while carbohydrate content increased. Similarly, the conversion of flour into analog rice led to decreased levels of carbohydrates, anthocyanins, β-carotene, and antioxidant activity, whereas fat and protein levels increased after transfor-mation into analog rice. The processing stages that significantly contributed to these changes in chemical components included drying, formulation, and extrusion.

Physiological response of Bidens pilosa to cadmium stress monitored by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The cadmium (Cd) pollution of soil causes serious environmental problems. The present paper deals with the physiological response of the changes in chemical components in the root, stem and leaf of Bidens pilosa seedlings stressed by excess cadmium ions (Cd2+) using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique (FTIR). Cadmium accumulation in plant and distribution in subcellular by atomic absorption spectroscopy were tested under different concentrations cadmium stress. Results indicated that at a Cd concentration of 7 mg·L-1, B. pilosa maintained normal growth without visible Cd toxicity symptoms, though biomass was reduced compared to controls. FTIR analysis revealed that the overall peak shapes of roots, stems, and leaves remained largely unchanged before and after heavy metal treatment, suggesting that the structural integrity of plant organs was not compromised. However, shifts in specific functional group absorption peaks, including hydroxy (3387-3417 cm-1), carboxyl (1411-1419 cm-1), and amide groups (1635 cm-1), were observed, indicating their involvement in the heavy metal absorption process. The characteristic peak intensity of leaves was higher at high Cd concentration than at medium-low Cd concentration, while peaks in stems and roots remained consistent with or exceeded those of the control group. Cd predominantly accumulated in cell walls (46.21%-55.32%) and was minimally distributed in chloroplasts and mitochondria (4.11%-8.43%). These findings suggest that B. pilosa exhibits strong tolerance to Cd-contaminated soil and has significant potential for phytoremediation. The FTIR method offers strong evidence supporting the development of phytoremediation technology.

In vitro antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera lam. Leaf after Monascus purpureus fermentation and chemical component changes by untargeted metabolomics

This study aims to explore the enhancement effect of semi-solid fermentation of Monascus purpureus on the antioxidant properties of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf (MOLL), as well as to analyze the potential antioxidant substances and their production mechanisms. In this study, the antioxidant activity of MOLL fermented with Monascus purpureus was evaluated in vitro. To gain further insight, we employed untargeted metabolomics to analyze the differentially abundant metabolites, and 30 key differentially expressed metabolites were identified. Notably, 15 of these metabolites were positively correlated with free radical scavenging activity. By utilizing a combination of KEGG topological and enrichment analyses, tryptophan metabolism was identified as a crucial pathway. Interestingly, Monascus purpureus fermentation significantly enhanced the conversion of tryptophan into metabolites with antioxidant properties, such as melatonin, kynurenine, and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, suggesting that fermentation with Monascus purpureus is a promising approach for enhancing the antioxidant properties of MOLL.

Evaluation of the Effective Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] Sprouting or Roasting for Pig Feeding

Background: The study investigated the effective roasting or sprouting of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) based on effects on in vitro digestibility (IVDMD), supported by measurement of key chemical components and trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA). Methods: The in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of raw and all processed cowpeas were evaluated using standard, 3-step (gastric-ileal-colon) simulation of porcine digestion, modified for micro (0.5 g) sample digestion. Standard methods were employed to track processing effects on Ash, CP, Fat, ADF, NDF and trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) at key processing points. Result: Sprouting for 2 and 3 days significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) gastric-ileal IVDMD while increasing (p less than 0.05) colon IVDMD. Total (steps 1-3) IVDMD increased (p less than 0.05) in 2-day (0.911) and 4-day (0.902) sprouts. The 20-minute cowpea roasting to 105°C terminal grain temperature resulted in high (p less than 0.05) step 3 and total IVDMD coefficients. The lowest (p greater than 0.05) total IVDMD was recorded in 15-minute (0.883) (95°C terminal grain temperature) roasts. In both experiments 1 and 2, quantitative changes in IVDMD were consistent with the changes in the chemical components (ADF, NDF, fat, CP, minerals) and trypsin inhibitor activity. In conclusion, the compartmental and total IVDMD and quantitative change in chemical components and TIA indicated 4 days sprouting and 20-minute (105°C) roasting were respectively most effective for cowpea processing.

Changes in chemical components and hepatoprotective effect of red Panax notoginseng processed by aspartic acid impregnation treatment.

Red Panax notoginseng (RPN) is one of the major processed products of P. notoginseng (PN), with more effective biological activities. However, the traditional processing method of RPN has some disadvantages, such as low conversion rate of ginsenosides and long processing time. In this work, we developed a green, safe, and efficient approach for RPN processing by aspartic acid impregnation pretreatment. Our results showed that the optimized temperature, steaming time, and concentration of aspartic acid were 120 °C, 1 h, and 3% respectively. The original ginsenosides in PN treated by aspartic acid (Asp-PN) were completely converted to rare saponins at 120 °C within just 1 h. The concentration of the rare ginsenosides in Asp-PN was two times higher than that in untreated RPN. In addition, we examined the protective effect of RPN and Asp-PN on acetaminophen-induced liver injury in a mouse model. The results showed that Asp-PN has significantly more potent hepatoprotective action than the RPN. The hepatoprotection of Asp-PN in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity may be due to its anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities. These results indicated that aspartic acid impregnation pretreatment may provide an effective method to shorten the steaming time, improve the conversion rate of ginsenosides, and enhance hepatoprotective activity of RPN. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Polygonatum kingianum processed by the traditional method of “Nine Cycles of Steaming and Sun-Drying”

Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et (Hemsl) is a famous Chinese traditional food and medicine analogous plant. The rhizome of P. kingianum showed a decrease in levels of alkaloids, amino acids and derivatives, terpenoids, and an increase in organic acid and saccharides when it was processed by the traditional method of “Nine Cycles of Steaming and Sun-Drying”. The relative content of 341 metabolites were increased (fold change, FC > 2; variable importance in projection, VIP > 1 and P-value, P < 0.05); while 456 metabolites were decreased (FC < 0.5, VIP > 1, and P < 0.05). The changes in chemical components result in a decrease in numb taste and an increase in sweetness. The increased antioxidant activity was observed in the processed samples. Together, this work has advanced the mechanism of reducing numb taste and enhancing antioxidant activity in the resource plants, such as P. kingianum, processed by the traditional method.

A comprehensive investigation on the chemical changes of traditional Chinese medicine with classic processing technology: Polygonum multiflorum under nine cycles of steaming and sunning as a case study.

The processing of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the clinical application, which usually has the function of "increasing efficiency and reducing toxicity". Polygonum multiflorum (PM) has been reported to induce hepatotoxicity, while it is believed that the toxicity is reduced after processing. Studies have shown that the hepatotoxicity of PM is closely related to the changes in chemical components before and after processing. However, there is no comprehensive investigation on the chemical changes of PM during the processing progress. In this research, we established a comprehensive method to profile both small molecule compounds and polysaccharides from raw and different processed PM samples. In detail, an online two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (2D-LC/Q-Orbitrap MS) was utilized to investigate the small molecules, and a total of 150 compounds were characterized successfully. After multivariate statistical analysis, 49 differential compounds between raw and processed products were screened out. Furthermore, an accurate and comprehensive method for quantification of differential compounds in PM samples was established based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/Q-Orbitrap-MS (UHPLC/Q-Orbitrap-MS) within 16 min. In addition, the changes of polysaccharides in different PM samples were analyzed, and it was found that the addition of black beans and steaming times would affect the content and composition of polysaccharides in PM significantly. Our work provided a reference basis for revealing the scientific connotation of the processing technology and increasing the quality control and safety of PM.

The in vivo study on antioxidant activity of wendan decoction in treating hyperlipidemia: a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model.

Background: Wendan Decoction (WDD) is a six-herb Chinese medicine recipe that was first mentioned in about 652 AD. It is frequently used to treat hyperlipidemic patients' clinical complaints. According to reports, oxidative stress has a significant role in hyperlipidemia. Purpose: There has not yet been a thorough pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) examination of the clinical efficacy of WDD in the context of hyperlipemia-related oxidative stress. Therefore, the goal of this research is to explore the antioxidant essence of WDD by developing a PK-PD model, ordering to assure its implication in treating hyperlipidemia in medical practice. Methods: The model rats of foodborne hyperlipidemia were established by feeding with high-fat feed, and the lipid-lowering effect of WDD was explored. The plasma drug concentration of rats at different doses were measured by UPL-MS/MS technology, and PK parameters were calculated using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.1 software. The level of lipid peroxide (LPO) in plasma at different time points was measured by enzyme labeling instrument. Finally, the PK-PD model was established by using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.1 software, to explore the lipid-lowering effect of WDD and the relation between the dynamic changes of chemical components and antioxidant effect. Results: The findings suggested that, WDD can reduce the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in plasma, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was related to the dosage. Between the peak drug levels and the WDD's maximal therapeutic response, there existed a hysteresis. WDD's effect-concentration curves displayed a counterclockwise delaying loop. Alternatively, among the ten components of WDD, hesperetin, quercetin, naringenin and tangeretin might exert more significant effects in regulating the LPO levels in hyperlipidemic rats. Conclusion: This study can be helpful for other investigators to study the lipid-lowering effect of WDD.

Differences in chemical components in processing of dried ginger-steamed, sand-fried, and rice swill water-bleached Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata pieces in "Jianchang" faction based on UPLC-MS/MS

This study compared the changes in chemical components during the processing of different types of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata(ALRP) in &quot;Jianchang&quot; faction, i.e., dried ginger-steamed ALRP pieces(Yin-FP), sand-fried ALRP pieces(Yang-FP), and rice swill water-bleached ALRP pieces(DFP), and provided a scientific basis for the mechanism in toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement from a compositional perspective. Samples were collected during the processing of the three types of ALRP pieces, yielding raw ALRP pieces, water-bleached Yin-FP, ginger juice-moistened Yin-FP, steamed Yin-FP, water-bleached Yang-FP, sand-fried Yang-FP, water-bleached DFP, rice swill water-bleached DFP, and roasted DFP. Aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, benzoylhypaconine, aconine, mesaconine, hypaconine, salsolinol, fuziline, and higenamine in the extracts were determined by UPLC-MS/MS, and then content analysis and cluster heatmap analysis were performed on 11 sets of samples. During the processing of the three types of ALRP pieces, bleaching significantly reduced the content of 12 alkaloids; steaming, stir-frying, and roasting significantly reduced the content of diester-type alkaloids(aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine) and significantly increased the content of monoester-type alkaloids(benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, and benzoylhypaconine) and aminoalcohol-type alkaloids(aconine, mesaconine, and hypaconine). During the processing of Yin-FP, the diester-type alkaloids continuously decreased, while the monoester-type and aminoalcohol-type alkaloids showed an initial decrease followed by an increase. During the processing of Yin-FP, Yang-FP, and DFP, the diester-type alkaloids continuously decreased, while the monoester-type and aminoalcohol-type alkaloids showed an initial decrease followed by an increase. Steamed Yin-FP showed a higher increase in content than fried Yang-FP and roasted DFP. Comprehensive analysis of content differences in toxic and therapeutic components in three ALRP pieces suggests that the distinctive processing methods in &quot;Jianchang&quot; faction can indeed achieve detoxification and efficacy enhancement on ALRP. This study provides references for understanding the mechanisms of action of the three processing methods.

Plant-Wide Target Metabolomics Provides a Novel Interpretation of the Changes in Chemical Components during Dendrobium officinale Traditional Processing.

The traditional processing of Dendrobium officinale (DO) is performed in five necessary processing steps: processing fresh strips, drying at 85 °C, curling, molding, and drying at 35 °C (Fengdou). The antioxidant activity of DO is increased after it is processed into Fengdou. To comprehensively analyze the changes in the functional components, a plant-wide target metabolomics approach was employed. In total, 739 differential chemical components were identified in five processing treatments, mainly highlighting differences in the levels of phenolic acids, flavonoids, lipids, and amino acids and their derivatives, and the glycosylation of aglycone resulted in the upregulation of flavonoid glycoside levels. Temperature is a key factor in DO processing during production. In addition, the enrichment of specific differential chemical components was found mainly in five different metabolic pathways: glucosinolate biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and ubiquinone and other terpene quinone biosynthesis. A correlation analysis clarified that total phenols and flavonoids show a significant positive correlation with antioxidant capacity. This study provides new insights into the influence of the processing processes on DO quality, which may provide guidance for the high-quality production of DO.

Analysis of Spatio-temporal Characteristics of Air Quality, Meteorological Impact, and Emission Reduction Effect During the Winter Olympics in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Its Surrounding Areas

From January 31st to February 20th, 2015 to 2022, the spatio-temporal characteristics of the PM2.5 pollution evolution of 44 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and its surrounding areas were analyzed. The contribution of simultaneous meteorology, coordinated emission reduction, and cross-regional transmission to PM2.5 concentration and chemical component changes were quantified, respectively, with the aim to provide scientific reference for regional air quality joint prevention and control under adverse meteorological conditions. The results showed that the mean value of PM2.5 concentration of 44 cities in 2022 was the lowest(46 μg·m-3) without heavy pollution in the same period of the lunar calendar since 2015, whereas the proportion of days with good air quality was the highest(83.3%). PM2.5 pollution was more serious in the southern region than that in the northern region, and the high values were mainly concentrated along the Taihang Mountains and Yanshan transmission channel cities. In 2016, under the unregulated emission of fireworks in the Spring Festival, the proportion of unpolluted days was 93.5%, which means that the strong atmospheric diffusion ability was crucial to improve air quality. In 2022, the static weather index(SWI) increased by 2.1 compared with that in 2021, indicating unfavorable atmospheric diffusion capacity. The average and peak values of PM2.5 decreased by 14 μg·m-3 and 76 μg·m-3, respectively. The reduction in PM2.5 concentration in Beijing owing to emission reduction measures increased by 96% compared with that before one month. Under the adverse atmospheric background in the Shanxi-Shandong-Henan Region, which contributed to the increase in PM2.5 concentration, the peak value of PM2.5 concentration decreased by 87 μg·m-3, indicating that the peak clipping effect of regional collaborative pollution emission reduction was significant. From 2019 to 2022, the concentration of PM2.5 chemical components decreased yearly with narrowed spatial differences, and the high value was concentrated in the central and southern regions. The descending order of PM2.5 secondary component concentration decrease was as follows:organic matter(21.9%)>sulfate(20%)>ammonium salt(16.7%)>nitrate(9.7%). The proportion of nitrate in PM2.5 increased yearly to 30.1%, indicating that the contribution of traffic pollution was relatively prominent. In 2022, the SNA concentration in the Shanxi-Shandong-Henan Region increased. Pollution from external sources accounted for the main contribution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region(>50%). Liaoning Province contributed significantly to the PM2.5 concentration in cities along the Bohai(>10%), and nitrate and sulfate were easy to transport over long distances. It is necessary to strengthen the coordinated control of precursors of secondary chemical components SO2, NOx, and NH3.

Study on Properties of New Biodegradable Plant Fiber (Agave Decipiens) for Polymer Reinforcement

&lt;p&gt;The article involves in the process of study on novel plant fiber from agave plant species known as agave decipiens. The fiber was mechanically extracted from their leaves and fiber was chemically treated using sodium hydroxide by 5% (w/v). Using various analyses, the fiber was characterized and its properties were obtained. From chemical constituent analysis it was confirmed that hemicellulose, amorphous lignin, and other impurities were removed to some extent, and using x-ray diffraction (XRD), an improvement in crystallinity index was observed (i.e. from 47.99% to 52.29%). Increased crystallinity provides better tensile stress from 479.302 MPa to 494.172 MPa, which was confirmed by single fiber tensile test. A change in physical diameter was observed using a digital microscope, the outer diameter was reduced to 117.66µm from 121.84µm. Change in chemical components was identified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Alkaline-treated (AT) fiber sustains a temperature of about 240oC during thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Study on surface morphology was conducted with help of scanning electron microscope (SEM). Concluding that alkaline treatment made some impact on fiber characteristics and made it suitable for reinforcement.&lt;/p&gt;&#x0D;

Microbial succession and its correlation with the dynamics of flavor compounds involved in the fermentation of Longxi bacon.

Longxi bacon is a traditional fermented meat from Gansu province, China. The ripening process of the bacon is crucial for quality and flavor. The aim of this study was to gain deeper knowledges on the bacterial and fungal community diversity and the changes of chemical components including fatty acids and volatile compounds at different time points during the ripening of the bacon and to understand the relationship between microbial profiles and the chemical components related the bacon flavor. Bacon samples were collected from days 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90. The bacterial and fungal compositions were analyzed with next generation sequencing targeting the 16S rDNA loci for bacteria and ITS loci for fungi. The fatty acids and the volatile components were analyzed by headspace solid phase micro extraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). We found that the abundance of bacteria in bacon was higher than that of fungi, and Psychrobacter, Brochothrix, Phoma and Trichoderma was the dominant bacon's population. The largest contributors of volatiles were aldehydes, ketones and esters, and the main fatty acids were palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids. Pearson correlation analysis between microbial succession and key flavor substances showed that the production of Longxi bacon flavor is the result of a combination of bacteria and fungi. Ten bacteria genera and six fungi genera were determined as functional core microbiota for the flavor production based their dominance and functionality in microbial community. In addition, bacteria and fungi are involved in the oxidation and hydrolysis of fatty acids during the ripening of bacon, which also contributes to the formation of bacon flavor. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the key microbiota involved in shaping bacon's distinctive flavor. Here, the results presented should provide insight into the influence of the microenvironment on the microbial community in bacon and lay a foundation for further investigations into the food ecology of bacon.

In-depth study of the formation processes of single atmospheric particles in the south-eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. The unique geographical location of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) plays an important role in regulating global climate change, but the impacts of the chemical components and atmospheric processing on the size distribution and mixing state of individual particles are rarely explored in the south-eastern margin of the TP, which is a transport channel for pollutants from Southeast Asia to the TP during the pre-monsoon season. Thus a single-particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SPAMS) was deployed to investigate how the local emissions of chemical composition interact with the transporting particles and assess the mixing state of different particle types and secondary formation in this study. The TP particles were classified into six distinct types, mainly including the largest fraction of the potassium-rich (K-rich) type in the total particles (30.9 %), followed by the biomass burning (BB) type (18.7 %). Most particle types were mainly transported from the sampling site's surroundings and along the Sino-Myanmar border, but the air mass trajectories from north-eastern India and Myanmar show a greater impact on the number fraction of the BB (31.7 %) and dust (18.2 %) types, respectively. Then, the two episodes with high particle concentrations showed that the differences in the meteorological conditions in the same trajectory clusters could cause significant changes in chemical components, especially the dust and aged elemental carbon (aged EC) types, which changed by a total of 93.6 % and 72.0 %, respectively. Ammonium and dust particles distribute at a relatively larger size (∼600 nm), but the size peak of other types is present at ∼440 nm. Compared with the abundant sulfate (97HSO4-), the low nitrate (62NO3-) internally mixed in TP particles is mainly due to the fact that nitrate is more volatilized during the transport process. The formation mechanism of secondary speciation demonstrates that the formation capacity of atmospheric oxidation is presumably affected by the convective transmission and the regional transport in the TP. However, the relative humidity (RH) could significantly promote the formation of secondary species, especially 97HSO4- and 18NH4+. This study provides new insights into the particle composition and size, mixing state, and ageing mechanism in high time resolution over the TP region.

The chemical profiling of Salvia plebeia during different growth periods and the biosynthesis of its main flavonoids ingredients.

Salvia plebeia (Lamiaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant widely distributed across Asia and Oceania. However, the composition and accumulation patterns of its active ingredients in different organs during the growth and their biosynthetic mechanism remain unknown. Therefore, we conducted metabolite profiling, transcriptomic analysis, and biological functional verification to explore the distribution, accumulation, and biosynthesis mechanisms of flavonoids in S. plebeia. We identified 70 metabolites including 46 flavonoids, 16 phenolic acids, seven terpenoids, and one organic acid, of which 21 were previously unreported in S. plebeia. Combining metabolomic-transcriptomic analysis and biological functional verification, we identified the key genes involved in biosynthesis of its main active ingredients, hispidulin and homoplantaginin, including SpPAL, SpC4H, Sp4CL2, Sp4CL5, SpCHS1, SpCHI, SpFNS, SpF6H1, SpF6OMT1, SpF6OMT2, SpUGT1, SpUGT2, and SpUGT3. Using the identified genes, we reconstructed the hispidulin and homoplantaginin biosynthesis pathways in Escherichia coli, and obtained a yield of 5.33 and 3.86 mg/L for hispidulin and homoplantaginin, respectively. Our findings provide valuable insights into the changes in chemical components in different organs of S. plebeia during different growth and harvest stages and establishes a foundation for identifying and synthesizing its active components.

Swelling and shrinkage of plant aggregates: Experimental and treatment effect

The present work focuses on providing a better evaluation and understanding of the swelling and shrinkage behavior of plant aggregates in response to moisture variation. The morphology of the aggregates is analyzed using an optical microscope to measure the percentage of swelling and shrinkage response to the relative humidity variation. The aggregates are exposed to a relative humidity cycle with varying stages allowing swelling and shrinking of the aggregates. An investigation on the effect of salt treatments with NaHCO3 and NaCl, is also conducted to evaluate their impact on the swelling behavior of the plant aggregates studied (wheat straw, rapeseed straw, sunflower bark and sunflower pith). The results show a high percentage of swelling of the sunflower pith, followed by wheat straw, rape straw, and sunflower bark. Treatment with NaHCO3 seems to be effective to reduce the swelling and shrinkage of aggregates with a decrease of 53% unlike NaCl, which has no effect on the change in chemical components. The effect of the lime binder is also studied in order to enhance the understanding of the behaviour and design of biocomposites.

Research on the thermal oxygen aging mechanism of the composite curing system epoxy asphalt with different curing agent proportions on the molecular scale

AbstractTo study the influence of the cross‐linking network on the thermal oxygen aging performance of the epoxy asphalt, the laser copolymerization microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and element analysis tests were used to characterize the changes in chemical components of epoxy asphalt with composite curing system during thermal oxygen aging. According to the changes in chemical components, the epoxy asphalt molecular models were constructed. The diffusion behavior of oxygen atoms was analyzed, the aging degree was determined. Moreover, the Tg and radial distribution function were calculated to determine the effect of aging on the low‐temperature performance and component distribution of epoxy asphalt. The results show that a proper proportion of curing agent helped to uniform distribution of the asphalt phase. The rise in anhydride curing agent content increased the density of crosslinking network, limited the diffusion of oxygen atoms, and contributed to the resistance of epoxy asphalt chemical components to thermal oxygen aging. However, the high proportion of anhydride aggravated the oxidation reaction of the asphalt phase due to the uneven coating of the asphalt phase. After thermal oxygen aging, the distribution of asphaltene and epoxy resin phase showed a concomitant phenomenon due to polarity adsorption.

Exploring the effect of boiling processing on the metabolic components of black beans through in vitro simulated digestion

In this study, we determined the changes in chemical components and metabolites of raw- and boiled-black beans before and after digestion using ultra performance liquid chromatography plus Q-Exactive mass spectrometry, and investigated the effects of boiling processing on the nutritional components of black beans through in vitro simulated digestion experiments. We characterized 557 and 565 chemical components of raw and boiled black beans, respectively, and after digestion we characterized 647 and 630 chemical components and metabolic fractions of for raw and boiled black beans, respectively. Raw black beans increased by 3, 2, and 1 for amino acids, sugars, and lipids, respectively, after boiling processing. Moreover, boiling reduced the number of antinutritional factors (1 glycoside and 4 saponins) to some extent, and in vitro simulated digestion experiments revealed that amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars in black beans are more easily digested and absorbed after boiling. This study provides a theoretical basis for validating an effective processing method for black beans and can serve as a basic reference for the nutritional development of bean products.

Combined LC-MS-based metabolomics and GC-IMS analysis reveal changes in chemical components and aroma components of Jujube leaf tea during processing.

Making tea from jujube leaves changed the chemical composition and aroma composition of jujube leaves. Here, Through LC-MS, GC-IMS, and GC-MS technology, we have revealed the effect of jujube leaf processing changes on metabolites. LC-MS identified 468 non-volatile metabolites, while GC-IMS and GC-MS detected 52 and 24 volatile metabolites, respectively. 109 non-volatile metabolites exhibiting more pronounced differences were screened. Most lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids, amino acids, and flavonoids increased significantly after processing. GC-IMS and GC-MS analysis revealed that the contents of aldehydes and ketones were significantly increased, while esters and partial alcohols were decreased after processing into jujube leaf tea. The main flavor substances of fresh jujube leaf and jujube leaf tea were eugenol and (E) - 2-Hexenal, respectively. Furthermore, amino acids and lipids were closely linked to the formation of volatile metabolites. Our study provided new insights into the changes in metabolites of jujube leaves processed into jujube leaf tea, and had great potential for industrial application. It laid a foundation for further research on fruit tree leaf tea.