Ferulic Acid Content Research Articles

Covalent Pectin/Arabinoxylan Hydrogels: Rheological and Microstructural Characterization.

This research aimed to evaluate the gelation process of ferulated pectin (FP) and ferulated arabinoxylan (AXF) in a new mixed hydrogel and determine its microstructural characteristics. FP from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) and arabinoxylan from maize (Zea mays) bran were gelled via oxidative coupling using laccase as a crosslinking agent. The dynamic oscillatory rheology of the mixed hydrogel revealed a maximum storage modulus of 768 Pa after 60 min. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that mixed hydrogels possess a microstructure of imperfect honeycomb. The ferulic acid content of the mixed hydrogel was 3.73 mg/g, and ferulic acid dimer 8-5' was the most abundant. The presence of a trimer was also detected. This study reports the distribution and concentration of ferulic acid dimers, and the rheological and microstructural properties of a mixed hydrogel based on FP and AXF, which has promising features as a new covalent biopolymeric material.

Extraction Condition Optimization, Quantitative Analysis, and Anti-AD Bioactivity Evaluation of Acorn Polyphenols from Quercus variabilis, Quercus aliena, and Quercus dentata

In the present study, Quercus variabilis (Q. variabilis), Quercus aliena (Q. aliena), and Quercus dentata (Q. dentata) acorn kernels were taken as the research objects, and the free polyphenols and bound polyphenols in acorn kernels were extracted using improved ultrasound-assisted ethanolic and alkaline extraction methods, after which the contents of gallic acid, quercetin, azelaic acid, ellagic acid, and ferulic acid were quantified by LC-MC/MS. The results demonstrated that Q. variabilis and Q. aliena acorns were suitable as raw materials to extract ellagic acid, the contents of ferulic acid and bound gallic acid in them were different, and Q. aliena acorns were more suitable for the research of gallic acid, but not for azelaic acid. Results on APP/PS1 transgenic mice verified that five polyphenols significantly suppressed the progression of AD. This study provides a theoretical basis for the drug development of acorn polyphenols.

Light-Regulated Growth, Anatomical, Metabolites Biosynthesis and Transcriptional Changes in Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is an alpine medicinal plant that has been widely used as a general blood tonic and gynecological indications over 2000 years, which depend on the bioactive metabolites (e.g., volatile oils, organic acids, and flavonoids). Although the accumulation of these metabolites is significantly affected by the environmental factors (e.g., altitude, temperature, and sunshine) as found in previous studies, the regulatory mechanism of different lights has not been clearly revealed. Here, growth parameters, contents of bioactive metabolites, and expression levels of related genes were examined when A. sinensis was exposed to different white-light (WL) and UV-B radiation treatments. The results showed that the differences in growth parameters (e.g., plant height, root length, and plant biomass) and leaf tissue characteristics (e.g., leaf thickness, stomatal density and shape, and chloroplast density) were observed under different light treatments. The contents of Z-ligustilide and ferulic acid elevated with the increase of WL (50 to 150 µmol·m2/s) and maximized under the combination of WL-100 and UV-B (107 µW/m2, UV-107) radiation, while the total flavonoids and polysaccharides contents, as well as in vitro antioxidant capacity, elevated with the increasing of WL and UV-B. mRNA transcripts encoding for the biosynthesis of volatile oils, ferulic acid, flavonoids, and polysaccharides were found to be differentially regulated under the different WL and UV-B treatments. These morphological, anatomical, and transcriptional changes are consistent with the elevated bioactive metabolites in A. sinensis under the combination of WL and UV-B. These findings will provide useful references for improving bioactive metabolite production via the cultivation and bioengineering of A. sinensis.

Exploring the Fermentation Products, Microbiology Communities, and Metabolites of Big-Bale Alfalfa Silage Prepared with/without Molasses and Lactobacillus rhamnosus

The influence of molasses (M) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR) on fermentation products, microbial communities, and metabolites in big-bale alfalfa silage was investigated. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was harvested at the third growth stage during the flowering stage in the experimental field of Linhui Grass Company from Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia. An alfalfa sample without additives was used as a control (C). M (20 g/kg) and LR (106 cfu/g) were added either alone or in combination. Alfalfa was fermented for 7, 14, and 56 d. Lactic acid content in the M, LR, and MLR groups increased, whereas the pH value and butyric acid, 2,3-butanediol, and ethanol contents decreased compared to those of C group after 7, 14, and 56 d of fermentation. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to estimate the results. The LR group exhibited increased Lactobacillus abundance, whereas the M and MLR groups showed increased Weissella abundance compared to the C group. The relative contents of amino acids (tyrosine, isoleucine, threonine, arginine, valine, and citrulline) in the M and MLR groups were higher than those in the C group. During fermentation, the M, LR, and MLR groups showed decreased phenylalanine, isoleucine, and ferulic acid contents. Amino acids such as isoleucine and L-aspartic acid were positively correlated with Lactobacillus but negatively correlated with Weissella. In conclusion, combining high-throughput sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry during anaerobic alfalfa fermentation can reveal new microbial community compositions and metabolite profiles, supporting the application of M, LR, and MLR as feed fermentation agents.

Evaluating the Dermatological Benefits of Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus): A Comparative Analysis of Extracts and Fermented Products from Different Plant Parts.

Skin ageing is influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, with excessive ultraviolet (UV) exposure being a significant contributor. Such exposure can lead to moisture loss, sagging, increased wrinkling, and decreased skin elasticity. Prolonged UV exposure negatively impacts the extracellular matrix by reducing collagen, hyaluronic acid, and aquaporin 3 (AQP-3) levels. Fermentation, which involves microorganisms, can produce and transform beneficial substances for human health. Natural product fermentation using lactic acid bacteria have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, whitening, and anti-wrinkle properties. Snowberry, traditionally used as an antiemetic, purgative, and anti-inflammatory agent, is now also used as an immune stimulant and for treating digestive disorders and colds. However, research on the skin benefits of Fermented Snowberry Extracts remains limited. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the skin benefits of snowberry by investigating its moisturising and anti-wrinkle effects, comparing extracts from different parts of the snowberry plant with those subjected to fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum. Chlorophyll-free extracts were prepared from various parts of the snowberry plant, and ferments were created using Lactobacillus plantarum. The extracts and ferments were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine and compare their chemical compositions. Moisturising and anti-ageing tests were conducted to assess the efficacy of the extracts and ferments on the skin. The gallic acid content remained unchanged across all parts of the snowberry before and after fermentation. However, Fermented Snowberry Leaf Extracts exhibited a slight decrease in chlorogenic acid content but a significant increase in ferulic acid content. The Fermented Snowberry Fruit Extract demonstrated increased chlorogenic acid and a notable rise in ferulic acid compared to its non-fermented counterpart. Skin efficacy tests revealed that Fermented Snowberry Leaf and Fruit Extracts enhanced the expression of AQP-3, HAS-3, and COL1A1. These extracts exhibited distinct phenolic component profiles, indicating potential skin benefits such as improved moisture retention and protection against ageing. These findings suggest that Fermented Snowberry Extracts could be developed into effective skincare products, providing a natural alternative for enhancing skin hydration and reducing signs of ageing.

Bacillus subtilis B55 degraded the ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid and changed the soil bacterial community in soils.

This study aimed to assess the effects of phenolic acid-degrading bacteria strains on phenolic acid content, plant growth, and soil bacterial community in phenolic acid-treated soils. The strain of interest coded as B55 was isolated from cucumber root litter, and its degradation rates of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were 81.92% and 72.41% in Luria-Bertani solution, respectively, and B55 was identified as Bacillus subtilis. B55 had plant growth-promoting attributes, including solubilization of inorganic phosphate and production of siderophore and indole acetic acid. Both ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid significantly restrained an increase in cucumber seedling dry biomass, while the B55 inoculation not only completely counteracted the damage of phenolic acids to cucumber seedlings and decreased the content of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid in soil, but also promoted cucumber seedlings growth. Amplicon sequencing found that B55 inoculation changed the cucumber rhizosphere bacterial community structure and promoted the enrichment of certain bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Flavobacterium, Streptomyces, and Comamonas. B55 not only promoted cucumber seedling growth, and decreased the content of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid in soil, but it also increased the relative abundance of beneficial microorganisms in the cucumber rhizosphere.

Thermomechanically micronized sugar beet pulp: Elucidating the interaction of soluble elements and insoluble fibrous particles for enhancing emulsification

The micronization of plant particles usually transfers substantial insoluble fraction into soluble elements, resulting in a soluble-insoluble binary system and the content of soluble elements can not be neglected. The present work aims to investigate the interaction between soluble elements and insoluble particles obtained from sugar beet pulp by microwave heating with ultrasonication, and their contribution to the synergistic emulsification performance. The soluble elements (∼40%) (sugar beet pectic substance, SBPS) and insoluble fibrous particles (IFPs) were separated from micronized sugar beet pulp (MSBP). Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation analysis revealed that SBPS could irreversibly adsorb onto IFPs with an adsorbed mass of 32.2 μg/mg Fiber. By adopting sequential extraction and specific enzymatic hydrolysis for the modification of IFPs and SBPS, it was found that their non-saccharide fraction played an important role in the interaction. Larger molecular weight subfractions with abundant protein and ferulic acid content were the main adsorbable fraction in SBPS, and the interaction was driven by hydrophobic interaction. The soluble-insoluble binary system promoted the interfacial adsorption of both IFPs (from 65.6% to 82.2%) and SBPS (from 9.6% to 19.6%), forming a hybrid interfacial coverage (with SBPS-coated IFPs and SBPS) and endowing emulsion with better stability. These findings provided a guideline for understanding the emulsification mechanism of plant particles.

Physiological-Biochemical Characteristics and a Transcriptomic Profiling Analysis Reveal the Postharvest Wound Healing Mechanisms of Sweet Potatoes under Ascorbic Acid Treatment.

Sweet potatoes are extremely vulnerable to mechanical wounds during harvesting and postharvest handling. It is highly necessary to take measures to accelerate wound healing. The effect of 20 g L-1 of ascorbic acid (AA) treatment on the wound healing of sweet potatoes and its mechanisms were studied. The results validated that AA treatment significantly reduced the weight loss rate and disease index. AA treatment effectively enhanced the formation speed of lignin and SPP at the wound sites, decreased the MDA content, and maintained the cell membrane integrity. AA enhanced the activities of PAL, C4H, 4CL, CAD, and POD and increased the contents of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, p-coumaryl alcohol, sinapyl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, and lignin. Based on a transcriptomic analysis, a total of 1200 genes were differentially expressed at the sweet potato wound sites by the AA treatment, among which 700 genes were upregulated and 500 genes were downregulated. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; phenylpropanoid biosynthesis; and other wound healing-related pathways. As verified by a qRT-PCR, the AA treatment significantly upregulated the gene expression levels of IbSKDH, IbADT/PDT, IbPAL, and Ib4CL at the wound sties.

The functional and nutritional properties of a novel Monascus fermented rice rich in resistant starch

Rice high in resistant starch (RS) showed great benefits in preventing diabetes. Red mold rice (RMR) is a traditionally functional food in China, preparing RMR with high-RS rice might produce a novel RMR with better nutrients and promote the utilization of high-RS rice in the food industry. R4 with the highest RS content was the most prone to be fermented by Monascus. After fermentation, the total starch and protein contents were significantly decreased, while the RS, lipid, free glucan, total free amino acids (FAAs), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contents were remarkably increased. Concurrently, the phenolic content and antioxidation activity were enhanced greatly. The individual phenolic acids such as ferulic acid showed significantly positive correlations with the antioxidant activity. Besides the abundant lipids, FAAs, GABA, and strong antioxidant capacity, fermented R4 had the highest ferulic acid content. This study provided alternatives for producing novel RMR and widened applications of high-RS rice in innovative functional foods.

Feruloylation and Hydrolysis of Arabinoxylan Extracted from Wheat Bran: Effect on Dough Rheology and Microstructure.

Feruloylated arabinoxylan (AX) is a potential health-promoting fiber ingredient that can enhance nutritional properties of bread but is also known to affect dough rheology. To determine the role of feruloylation and hydrolysis of wheat bran AX on dough quality and microstructure, hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed AX fractions with low and high ferulic acid content were produced, and their chemical composition and properties were evaluated. These fractions were then incorporated into wheat dough, and farinograph measurements, large and small deformation measurements and dough microstructure were assessed. AX was found to greatly affect both fraction properties and dough quality, and this effect was modulated by hydrolysis of AX. These results demonstrated how especially unhydrolyzed fiber fractions produced stiff doughs with poor extensibility due to weak gluten network, while hydrolyzed fractions maintained a dough quality closer to control. This suggests that hydrolysis can further improve the baking properties of feruloylated wheat bran AX. However, no clear effects from AX feruloylation on dough properties or microstructure could be detected. Based on this study, feruloylation does not appear to affect dough rheology or microstructure, and feruloylated wheat bran arabinoxylan can be used as a bakery ingredient to potentially enhance the nutritional quality of bread.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of different ratios and preparations of Angelica sinensis and chuanxiong rhizoma extracts

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAngelica sinensis (AS) and Chuanxiong rhizoma (CR) are frequently prescribed in clinical settings for their ability to enrich blood, regulate menstrual cycles, and alleviate pain. Despite their widespread use, there is a relative dearth of studies exploring their anti-inflammatory properties. Aim of the studyTo evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Angelica sinensis-Chuanxiong rhizoma (ASCR) extracts and investigate its anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Materials and methodsAS and CR were combined in six ratios and extracted using five solvents. The quality of the resulting ASCR extracts was assessed by determining the content of ferulic acid (FA) using HPLC. The antioxidant effects of the ASCR extracts were evaluated in vitro using the DPPH and ABTS assays, as well as in HUVECs exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative damage. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts were investigated in vivo through the assays of ear edema in mice and paw edema in rats. Biochemical markers including NO, MDA, and SOD in paw tissues, as well as PGE2, TNF-α, and COX-2 in rat serum, were measured to further elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ASCR extracts. ResultsThe WA-2-1 was obtained by combining AS and CR in a 2:1 ratio through first water then ethanol extraction, and showed favorable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The extract demonstrated effective scavenging abilities against DPPH• and ABTS+• radicals while also protecting against H2O2-induced oxidative damage. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed that WA-2-1 had significant inhibitory effects on ear and paw edema as well as the ability to decrease NO and MDA levels, enhance SOD activity, and downregulate the expression of COX-2, PGE2, and TNF-α. ConclusionsThe combination of AS and CR exhibits favorable anti-inflammatory effects, attributed to its dual actions of mitigating oxidative stress and suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators in serum or tissues during the inflammatory process.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Biocomposite Films Containing Ferulic Acid and Cellulose Extracted from Robinia Pseudoacacia Pods

ABSTRACT Capitalizing on invasive plant species and stopping their aggressive spread might be achieved by using them as a renewable source of useful products such as cellulose. The study aimed to develop new cellulose-based food packaging materials with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The cellulose was extracted from the invasive plant species Robinia pseudoacacia pods, crosslinked with citric acid, used as reinforcement for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and functionalized with ferulic acid (FA). The obtained materials were characterized by XRD, ATR-FTIR, contact angle and SEM. The materials exhibited low solubility in water and the swelling degree was proportional to the FA content. The FA release from the matrix was assessed by HPLC and the antioxidant profile by CUPRAC, FRAP, and TEAC methods. The obtained materials inhibited the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds, being especially active on Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts. Overall, the most promising formulation for further developing new packaging materials for products with water activity less than 0.95 was the one with the highest FA content.

Integrated multi-omics investigation revealed the importance of phenylpropanoid metabolism in the defense response of Lilium regale Wilson to fusarium wilt.

Lilies (genus Lilium) play a significant role in the global cut-flower industry, but they are highly susceptible to fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum. However, Lilium regale, a wild lily species, exhibits remarkable resistance to F. oxysporum. To investigate the quantitative resistance of L. regale to fusarium wilt, a comprehensive multi-omics analysis was conducted. Upon inoculation with F. oxysporum, L. regale roots showed a significant accumulation of phenylpropane metabolites, including lignin precursors, flavonoids, and hydroxycinnamic acids. These findings were consistent with the upregulated expression of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related genes encoding various enzymes, as revealed by transcriptomics and proteomics analyses. Furthermore, metabolomics and proteomics data demonstrated differential activation of monoterpenoid and isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis. Colorimetry and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses revealed significantly higher levels of total flavonoids, lignin, ferulic acid, phlorizin, and quercetin contents in L. regale scales compared with susceptible lily 'Siberia' scales during F. oxysporum infection. These phenylpropanes exhibited inhibitory effects on F. oxysporum growth and suppressed the expression of pathogenicity-related genes. Transcriptional regulatory network analysis suggested that ethylene-responsive transcription factors (ERFs) may positively regulate phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Therefore, LrERF4 was cloned and transiently overexpressed in the fusarium wilt-susceptible Oriental hybrid lily 'Siberia'. The overexpression of LrERF4 resulted in increased levels of total flavonoids, lignin, ferulic acid, phlorizin, and quercetin, while the silencing of LrERF4 in L. regale through RNAi had the opposite effect. In conclusion, phenylpropanoid metabolism plays a crucial role in the defense response of L. regale against fusarium wilt, with LrERF4 acting as a positive regulator of phenylpropane biosynthesis.

Metabolic changes in tomato plants caused by psychrotolerant Antarctic endophytic bacteria might be implicated in cold stress mitigation.

Climate change is responsible for mild winters and warm springs that can induce premature plant development, increasing the risk of exposure to cold stress with a severe reduction in plant growth. Tomato plants are sensitive to cold stress and beneficial microorganisms can increase their tolerance. However, scarce information is available on mechanisms stimulated by bacterial endophytes in tomato plants against cold stress. This study aimed to clarify metabolic changes stimulated by psychrotolerant endophytic bacteria in tomato plants exposed to cold stress and annotate compounds possibly associated with cold stress mitigation. Tomato seeds were inoculated with two bacterial endophytes isolated from Antarctic Colobanthus quitensis plants (Ewingella sp. S1.OA.A_B6 and Pseudomonas sp. S2.OTC.A_B10) or with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans PsJN, while mock-inoculated seeds were used as control. The metabolic composition of tomato plants was analyzed immediately after cold stress exposure (4°C for seven days) or after two and four days of recovery at 25°C. Under cold stress, the content of malondialdehyde, phenylalanine, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid was lower in bacterium-inoculated compared to mock-inoculated plants, indicating a reduction of lipid peroxidation and the stimulation of phenolic compound metabolism. The content of two phenolic compounds, five putative phenylalanine-derived dipeptides, and three further phenylalanine-derived compounds was higher in bacterium-inoculated compared to mock-inoculated samples under cold stress. Thus, psychrotolerant endophytic bacteria can reprogram polyphenol metabolism and stimulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites, like 4-hydroxybenzoic and salicylic acid, which are presumably involved in cold stress mitigation, and phenylalanine-derived dipeptides possibly involved in plant stress responses.

Two-pot optimization of nutrient sources to enhance antioxidants in Citrus reticulata peel powder through solid-state fermentation with Aspergillus niger CGMCC 3.6189

This study aimed to optimize nutrient sources for enhancing the accumulation of antioxidants in Citrus reticulata peel powder (CRPP) through solid-state fermentation (SSF) using Aspergillus niger CGMCC 3.6189. A Plackett-Burman design revealed that four medium compositions, including yeast extract, NH4Cl, CaCl2, and MgCl2, significantly affected antioxidant accumulation in fermented CRPP. The optimal concentrations of these four compositions were predicted as 13.86, 0.40, 0.06, and 0.04 mg/g of CRPP, respectively, using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) when simultaneous optimization of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacities using Derringer's desirability function. Under the optimal medium compositions, TPC, TFC, ABTS, and DPPH scavenging capacities of fermented CRPP (FO-CRPP) increased by 25.2%, 26.9%, 45.8%, and 57.3%, respectively, in comparison with the unfermented CRPP (UF-CRPP). The HPLC analysis exhibited notable decreases in the levels of hesperidin, narirutin, nobiletin, and tangeretin, while enhancements in the contents of p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, narirutin, and hesperetin in FO-CRPP compared to UF-CRPP were observed. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses demonstrated changes in the surface microstructure and functional groups in FO-CRPP. Our findings suggested that yeast extract and NH4Cl significantly improve the accumulation of antioxidants in CRPP during SSF by A. niger CGMCC 3.6189.

Feruloylation and hydrolysis of arabinoxylan extracted from wheat bran: Effect on bread quality and shelf-life

Arabinoxylan (AX) is a potential health-promoting fiber ingredient that could be used to improve nutritional properties of bread, but is also known to affect bread and dough quality. To identify the role of feruloylation and hydrolysis of wheat bran AX on bread quality and shelf-life, hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed AX with low and high ferulic acid content were incorporated into wheat bread. Water absorption, visual appearance, specific volume, and crumb structure were evaluated in fresh bread, and texture and moisture content over 14 days of storage. Feruloylated and unhydrolyzed AX breads underwent less moisture loss during storage but none of the AX fractions retarded crumb hardening. Feruloylated and hydrolyzed AX breads were comparable to control bread even at the highest addition level (5%) in terms of volume and crumb structure. The higher quality of these breads was associated with ferulic acid content and lower molar mass based on multivariate analysis. Based on our work, knowledge on specific AX structure can facilitate the use of increased AX levels in breadmaking.

Cascade Microbial Metabolism of Ferulic Acid In Vitro Fermented by the Human Fecal Inoculum.

Ferulic acid (FA), predominantly existing in most cereals, can modulate the gut microbiome, but the influences of its metabolites on the microbial population and FA-transforming microorganisms are still unclear. In this study, FA and its potential phenolic metabolites were fermented in vitro for 24 h with the human fecal inoculum. A comparable short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production trend was observed in the presence and absence of substrates, suggesting limited contribution of FA mechanism to SCFA formation. Dihydroferulic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, and 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid were ascertained to be successive metabolites of FA, by tracking the intermediate variation. FA remarkably promoted the absolute abundances of total bacteria, while different metabolites affected bacterial growth of selective genera. Specific genera were identified as quantitatively correlating to the content of FA and its metabolites. Ultimately, FA-mediated gut microbiota modulation involves both the action of metabolizing microbes and the regulation effects of metabolites on bacterial growth.

Transdermal diffusion research on functional substances of Jingu Zhitong Gel

This study systematically explored the transdermal diffusion law of functional substances of Jingu Zhitong Gel(JGZTG). The transdermal diffusion research methods of JGZTG were investigated by single factor trial with the automated transdermal(dry-heat) sampling system. High performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) content determination method was established to determine the contents of ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, cinnamic acid, hydroxy-ε-xanthoxylin, hydroxy-α-xanthoxylin, and hydroxy-β-xanthoxylin in the transdermal diffusion solution of JGZTG. The transdermal diffusion law of the components within 16 h was investigated. The results showed that the optimal transdermal diffusion method of JGZTG was as follows: Rat skin was used as the transdermal barrier; normal saline was used as the receiving medium; the dosage of JGZTG was 0.3 g, and the receiving solution was extracted by ethyl acetate. The results of transdermal diffusion showed that the release of ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, and senkyunolide I increased significantly at 0-8 h and slowed down at 8-16 h. The drug release was a synergic process of diffusion and dissolution, in which ferulic acid and cinnamic acid followed Higuchi and Ritger-Peppas equations, and liguolactone I followed Higuchi equation. The transdermal diffusion curves of hydroxy-ε-zanthoxylin, hydroxy-α-zanthoxylin, and hydroxy-β-zanthoxylin showed continuous release within 16 h, and the drug release was skeleton dissolution. The diffusion law followed zero-order equation, first-order equation, and Ritger-Peppas equation. In clonclusion, it is a controlled release of ferulic acid, ligustrone I, cinnamic acid, hydroxy-ε-pyrroxylin, hydroxy-α-pyrroxylin, and hydroxy-β-pyrroxylin in JGZTG, which can maintain stable blood drug concentration with 16 h, and the cumulative transmittance of each component with 12 h can reach 80% of cumulative transmittance with 24 h, which is in line with the clinical drug use law of bis in die.

Investigation of the structure-forming role of dietary fibre components in gluten-free cereal- and pseudocereal-based food matrices

The aim of this work was to investigate the structure-forming ability of cereal β-glucan (BG) and arabinoxylan (AX) in gluten-free (GF) dough and slurry matrices. 2, 5 or 8%, w/w BG was dosed to white millet and buckwheat flours and its effect on the mixing and pasting properties was examined. Furthermore, AX “incorporation” into dough structure and possible interaction with millet and buckwheat proteins were investigated by using reduction and subsequent re-oxidation based on our previous work.BG addition increased consistency and changed mixing properties in both millet and buckwheat doughs by forming viscous gel and aggregates. However, its impact on the pasting properties of the two types of GF flours differed in tendency. Similarly, a different behaviour of millet and buckwheat matrices was found in case of AX incorporation, explained by their distinct macromolecular (especially protein) composition. SDS-PAGE results referred to interactions between AX molecules and non-gluten proteins, however the changes in free ferulic acid contents did not confirm this. Although, white flours of millet and buckwheat are simpler matrices than wholemeals, they might be still too complex to examine the effect of a specific component, especially in a redox system. Thus, development of model gluten-free dough systems is a further goal of this work.Research works focusing on AX or BG functionality in gluten-free matrices are rare. The current work might contribute to a better understanding of dietary fibre functionality in dough systems with non-gluten proteins, as well as to develop healthier gluten-free products of higher fibre content.

Influence of species and stand position on isotopic and molecular composition of leaf litter during degradation in an urban mangrove forest

Understanding the diagenetic processes of organic matter (OM) within mangrove forests is essential to grasp ecosystem dynamics and exchanges with adjacent ecosystems. This study investigated the influence of urban runoff on leaf litter degradation in a New Caledonian mangrove forest, subjected to urban rainwater for over 50 years. Focusing on Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa, our objectives were to determine factors affecting leaf litter degradation, assess urban runoff effects on decay rates and element concentrations, and understand OM changes at the molecular level. Litterbags containing senescent leaves placed on the mangrove floor were collected after 7, 14, 28, 56, and 72 days. C and N along with their stable isotopes were evaluated during degradation as well as lignin and neutral carbohydrates contents. Despite lower initial N content, R. stylosa exhibited faster degradation (t1/2 of 36 ± 3 and 28 ± 2 days) than A. marina (t1/2 of 43 ± 9 and 33 ± 4 days), emphasizing the critical role of species position within the mangrove forest regarding tidal immersion. Urban runoff, submerging the urban site, intensified leaf litter degradation, influencing both mass loss and molecular changes in OM. After 72 days of leaf litter degradation, the loss of rhamnose and glucose was more pronounced at the control site (13 % and 75 % for rhamnose and 46 % and 53 % for glucose for A. marina and R. stylosa, respectively) compared to the urban site. The study also exposed molecular tendencies during mangrove leaf litter degradation. The content of ferulic acid in the leaf litter decreased at all stands after 72 days of degradation (between −25 % and −58 %), while total syringyl phenols increased (between + 64 % and + 232 %). This research exposed the global implications of urban runoff, indicating accelerated leaf litter degradation in mangrove forests, potentially disrupting C sequestration dynamics and threatening ecosystem services.