Functional Food Industries Research Articles

Evaluation of bioprospecting potential of epiphytic Gracilaria edulis harvested from seaweed farm in Seriwe Bay, Lombok, Indonesia

Abstract. Prasedya ES, Fitriani F, Saraswati PBA, Haqiqi N, Qoriasmadillah W, Hikmaturrohmi H, Nurhidayati SZ, Ariati PEP. 2023. Evaluation of bioprospecting potential of epiphytic Gracilaria edulis harvested from seaweed farm in Seriwe Bay, Lombok, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 5343-5351. The seaweed industry is strategically important in Indonesia, comprising over 40% of the nation's aquaculture annual production. Despite the industry's promising growth, various challenges and problems remain, including intense epiphyte infestation. Hence, investigating the economic value of these epiphytes could provide new opportunities for potential industrial applications. Epiphytic algae is commonly found growing on commercial seaweeds which causes decreased biomass and increased risk of crop failure. Information regarding these epiphytic algae remains limited. This study investigates the molecular identification of the abundant epiphytic macroalgae found in one of the largest seaweed farms in, Seriwe Bay, Lombok, Indonesia. In addition, the epiphytic bioactive activity is also evaluated for further industrial potential. Molecular identification with the mitochondrial marker COX1 identifies the epiphytic macroalgae as Gracilaria edulis (S.G.Gmel.) P.C.Silva. The Indonesian G. edulis is closely related to the G. edulis specimens from Malaysia (JQ026083.1), Philippines (KY995636.1 and KY995635.1), and Thailand (JQ026088.1). The outgroup used was the G. edulis specimen from India (KP099563.1) because it shows the most distinct relationship to the other specimens. Extracted agar of Seriwe G. edulis shows moderate yield (21%) and low gel strength (134 g/cm2). The phytochemical content analyses show that G. edulis agar has a TPC value of 3.65 ± 0.52 mg GAE/g and promising antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 797.40 ± 1.50 µg/mL; ABTS IC50 = 558.40 ± 1.44 µg/mL). Further phytochemical profiling with GCMS shows various promising major constituents such as tetradecanoic acid, neophyte diene, pentadecanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid. Therefore, the findings suggest that G. edulis displays potential applications in the functional food and cosmetic industry.

In Vitro Anti-Tumor and Hypoglycemic Effects of Total Flavonoids from Willow Buds.

Salix babylonica L. is a species of willow tree that is widely cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant, but its medicinal resources have not yet been reasonably developed or utilized. Herein, we extracted and purified the total flavonoids from willow buds (PTFW) for component analysis in order to evaluate their in vitro anti-tumor and hypoglycemic activities. Through Q-Orbitrap LC-MS/MS analysis, a total of 10 flavonoid compounds were identified (including flavones, flavan-3-ols, and flavonols). The inhibitory effects of PTFW on the proliferation of cervical cancer HeLa cells, colon cancer HT-29 cells, and breast cancer MCF7 cells were evaluated using an MTT assay. Moreover, the hypoglycemic activity of PTFW was determined by investigating the inhibitory effects of PTFW on α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The results indicated that PTFW significantly suppressed the proliferation of HeLa cells, HT-29 cells, and MCF7 cells, with IC50 values of 1.432, 0.3476, and 2.297 mg/mL, respectively. PTFW, at different concentrations, had certain inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC50 values of 2.94 mg/mL and 1.87 mg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, PTFW at different doses exhibits anti-proliferation effects on all three types of cancer cells, particularly on HT-29 cells, and also shows significant hypoglycemic effects. Willow buds have the potential to be used in functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Influence of Post-Harvest 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) Treatment and Refrigeration on Chemical Composition, Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Modifications during Storage of Abate Fétel Pears.

'Abate Fétel', a winter cultivar, is the most important pear cultivar in Italy; its fruits are appreciated by consumers for their aroma, texture and balanced sweet and sour taste. Maintaining high-quality characteristics to prolong the shelf-life of fruit and preserve the sensory and nutritional quality is a priority for the food industry. The aim of our study was to test the effectiveness of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and cold storage in prolonging the shelf-life of these fruits, which were harvested at maturity at two different times. This work focused on the effects of different storage treatments and two ripening times on (i) the chemical composition of Abate Fétel pulp fruits to preserve their sweet taste and aroma and (ii) the phenolic profile composition and antioxidant activity of the peel, which is naturally rich in phytochemicals and important for the fruit's shelf-life and in the functional food industry for its high nutritional value. Abate Fétel fruits were harvested at the optimal commercial maturity stage, first on 15 September, having been treated with 1-MCP and stored for 2 months at cold temperatures; the other fruits were harvested at the end of September and stored in a cold cell for 2 months. The fruit pulp was tested for glucose and fructose, pH, acidity and organic acids (malic, citric, fumaric and shikimic), phenolic content and phenolic compounds (chlorogenic and caffeic acids, rutin, hyperoside, kaempferol-3-rutinoside and isoquercitrin), and the antioxidant activities in the fruit peels were measured. Treating the fruits with 1-MCP better preserved the phytochemical compounds compared to simple refrigeration, preserving the fruit's quality and prolonging its shelf-life. All the treatments help to maintain the glucose and fructose content and the acidity, preserving the aroma and organoleptic characteristics.

Chemical characterization, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities of acetylated polysaccharides from Cyperus esculentus.

This research was designed to characterize the structure of Cyperus esculentus polysaccharide (CEP) and its acetylated one (ACEP), and then investigated the effects of acetylation on the changes in physicochemical properties, thermal stability, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. Results showed that CEP and ACEP were heteropolysaccharides consisting of glucose, mannose, arabinose and xylose. The main chain of CEP included α-1,4-Glcp residues with the branching points at the O-6 position of the α-1,6-Manp residues. Acetyl groups were substituted at the O-2 and O-6 positions of some glucose residues. Meanwhile, the acetylation remarkably improved the polysaccharides thermal stability, and the ACEP exhibited a greater antioxidant activity. Furthermore, CEP and ACEP were proved to protect RAW 264.7 cells against LPS-induced inflammation by improving cellular morphology and decreasing reactive oxygen species secretion. This study may highlight a new approach for developing a high value-added ingredient from C. esculentus for functional food industry.

Assessment of in vitro anti-skin aging activities of Phyllanthus indofischeri Bennet extracts for dermatological and aesthetic applications

Giant Indian Gooseberry (GIG) or Phyllanthus indofischeri Bennet are commercially cultivated and commonly used herbs in Traditional medicine, especially in Thailand. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of the GIG extracts in anti-aging activities to be a dermatological application. The juice, meat residues, and seeds of GIG collected from Sra Kaeo Province, Thailand, were extracted by the Boiling method (B) and the Maceration process (M) by using 95% ethanol as a solvent. The GIG extracts gave the total phenolic, total flavonoid contents and quercetin contents, as well as exhibited anti-oxidative activities. The GIG-R-B extract inhibited tyrosinase activity and had the highest anti-melanogenesis activity on B16F10 cells at 31.63 ± 0.70%. The GIG-S-B, GIG-S-M, and GIG-R-M extracts demonstrated the highest collagen biosynthesis, which was comparable to vitamin C (p < 0.05), whereas the GIG-R-B extracts gave the highest stimulation of anti-aging genes (SIRT1 and FOXO1). All extracts at the concentration of 0.1 mg/mL showed no cytotoxicity on human skin fibroblasts. Therefore, the GIG-S-B extract was discovered to be a promising natural anti-aging agent for dermatological health and aesthetic applications that can be further developed in cosmetic, functional food and food supplement industries.

Extraction of Ampelopsis japonica polysaccharides using p-toluenesulfonic acid assisted n-butanol three-phase partitioning: Physicochemical, rheological characterization and antioxidant activity

Polysaccharides as the biopolymers are showing various structural and modulatory functions. Effective separation of carbohydrate structures is essential to understanding their function. In this study, we choose an efficient organic acid in combination with recyclable organic solvent three-phase partitioning technology for the simultaneous extraction of polysaccharides from Ampelopsis japonica (AJPs) to ensure the integrity of linear and branched polysaccharide. The monosaccharide composition, glycosidic linkage information, structural and physicochemical analyses and associations with antioxidant activities were extensively analyzed. Synergistic extraction was compared with the conventional hot water extraction method and the results showed that AJPs-HNP exhibited better elastic properties and excellent antioxidant activity. Correlation analysis confirmed that the antioxidant activity of AJPs was significantly correlated with relative molecular weight, uronic acid content and terminal glycoside linkage molar ratios. The collaborative processing has significantly improved the utilization potential of AJPs and provides a sound theoretical foundation for the effective extraction and separation of polysaccharides. Overall, this work provides systematic and comprehensive scientific information on the physicochemical, rheological and antioxidant properties of AJPs, revealing their potential as natural antioxidants in the functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

The Effect of Mushroom Dietary Fiber on the Gut Microbiota and Related Health Benefits: A Review.

Mushroom dietary fiber is a type of bioactive macromolecule derived from the mycelia, fruiting bodies, or sclerotia of edible or medicinal fungi. The use of mushroom dietary fiber as a prebiotic has recently gained significant attention for providing health benefits to the host by promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms; therefore, mushroom dietary fiber has promising prospects for application in the functional food industry and in drug development. This review summarizes methods for the preparation and modification of mushroom dietary fiber, its degradation and metabolism in the intestine, its impact on the gut microbiota community, and the generation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs); this review also systematically summarizes the beneficial effects of mushroom dietary fiber on host health. Overall, this review aims to provide theoretical guidance and a fresh perspective for the prebiotic application of mushroom dietary fiber in the development of new functional foods and drugs.

Investigation of antioxidant and sensory properties and in vitro bioaccessibility of low-fat functional cookies substituted with wheat germ flour and coffee silverskin.

This study aimed to produce new functional cookies with high nutritional properties and low calorie content. It investigated the effects of incorporating wheat germ flour (WGF) at levels of 10-30% as a substitute for whole wheat flour (WWF), along with coffee silver skin (CSS) in the same proportions, serving as natural functional additives to substitute for fat in cookie formulations. The total phenol content of the cookies with added WGF-CSS ranged from 1813.72 to 1838.45 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) per kilogram of dry weight (mg GAE kg-1 ), whereas the total phenolic bioaccessibility values ranged between 53.39 and 56.84%. Of the three methods used to determine antioxidant capacity (AC), the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method gave higher bioaccessibility values (44.55-51.19%) than the 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH) scavenging methods. The contribution of WGF-CSS supplemented cookies to the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) (%) of K, P, Mg, and Ca increased depending on the number of cookies consumed and the WGF and CSS ratio. The general acceptability scores of the cookies varied between 5.66 and -7.08, and the 10% WGF cookie (F2) (6.48) sample received the score that was closest to that of the control. Moderately strong positive relationships (r > 0.90, P < 0.05) were detected between the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the cookies. As a result, WGF and CSS food additives with high nutritional properties can be recommended as potential enriching ingredients and fat substitutes in the development of new products in the functional food industry. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Coffee Silverskin Phytocompounds as a Novel Anti-Aging Functional Food: A Pharmacoinformatic Approach Combined with In Vitro Study.

Coffee became a beverage that was in demand in the world and consequently produced millions of tons of coffee byproducts namely coffee silverskin (CS). Unutilized CS will be waste and cause environmental pollution such as greenhouse gas emissions, landfill waste, and groundwater contamination. This is a research concern at this time, although many studies have been conducted to find newer applications of CS, exploration of its benefits in the health sector is still limited. Therefore, exploring the benefits of CS to prevent or delay aging will be very interesting to develop in functional food industry technology. Therefore, this study aims to report profiling metabolites or phytochemicals, biological activities in terms of antioxidant activity, and potential anti-aging of CS via molecular docking simulation and in vitro modulation of the mTOR/AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. Something new has been obtained from this work, the profile of phytocompounds, and biological activities both in molecular docking simulation and in vitro studies. Some of the compounds observed in Robusta CS extract (rCSE) such as Epicatechin, Kaempferol, and Quercitrin, and Arabica CS extract (aCSE) such as (+)-Catechin dan Naringin have promising potential as inhibitors of iNOS, mTOR, and HIF-1α via molecular docking simulation. Interestingly, the in vitro biological activity assay of antioxidant and anti-aging activity, rCSE showed the same promising potential as the results of a molecular docking simulation. More interestingly, AMPK/SIRT1/mTOR expressions are well modulated by rCSE compared to aCSE significantly (p < 0.05). This makes the rCSE have promising biological activity as a candidate for functional food development and/or treatment agent in combating free radicals that cause the aging process. In vivo studies and human trials are certainly needed to see the further efficacy of the rCSE in the future.

Kinetic stability, gastrointestinal fate, and cytotoxicity of vitamin D3 emulsion incorporated with cricket protein-fructooligosaccharide conjugate

Vitamin D3 stability has been a concern in the functional food industry. Protein conjugated with saccharides showed potential for an improvement in vitamin D3 stability. Novel and sustainable proteins, such as cricket protein, are of interest worldwide. Therefore, this research examined the utilization of cricket protein-fructooligosaccharide (FOS) conjugates formed through the Maillard reaction as a delivery system for vitamin D3 in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. O/W emulsions with vitamin D3 stabilized by cricket protein powder (CP), cricket protein-FOS mixture (CPM), and cricket protein-FOS conjugates (CPF) with varying concentrations (0.3%, 0.5%, and 1.0% w/v). All emulsions had di-modal distributions with mean particle size diameters (D [4,3]) between 4.17 and 12.62 μm. The CPF emulsion had larger particle size diameters (8.46–12.62 μm) but less span value (3.26–4.76) when compared with CP and CPM (4.17–5.88 μm, 4.87–6.38). The storage stability of emulsions and vitamin D3 release (4 °C, 0–30 days) was improved by conjugated products. The CPF-stabilized vitamin D3 emulsions exhibited enhanced vitamin D3 bioaccessibility (37–54%), surpassing that of CP (27–34%) and CPM (32–37%). Furthermore, CPF showed superior vitamin D3 stability during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The concentration required for 50% inhibition of cell viability of CP, CPM, CPF, and CPF-vitamin D3 emulsion was 0.643, 0.552, 0.474, and 0.229 mg/mL, respectively, indicating low cytotoxic activity. These findings validate the effectiveness of cricket protein-FOS conjugates, particularly at a 1% (w/v) concentration, in improving the release of vitamin D3 in emulsion-based delivery systems and their potential for fortifying functional food products.

Review: Utilization of cellulose in food products

Cellulose is one of the most abundant natural materials in the world. It has a long-chain carbohydrate polymer made up of repeating glucose units. Reviewed literature shows that the material has been widely explored as a functional ingredient in foods, including meat products, emulsions, beverages, dairy products, bread, confectionery, and fillings. This carbohydrate polymer has many promising applications in the functional food and nutraceutical industries. Cellulose can be isolated through chemical, mechanical, and biological means to produce a variety of functional materials in the form of cellulose crystals with varying shapes and sizes, including microcrystalline cellulose, micro fibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, nanofibrillated cellulose, and bacterial cellulose, based on its production techniques and sources. This review highlights the utilization and functions of cellulose as a material in food products.

THE RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH THE PROGRESS ON THE APPLICATION OF MUSHROOM IN MEAT PRODUCTS PROCESSING

In this article, the function of mushrooms and the progress of their application in meat processing were introduced. According to the last research, some types of meat products contain more saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, sodium salt, phosphate, nitrite and other components, and excessive intake of these components may lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer and a series of diseases. So, the food industry is redesigning existing products or developing new ones that are healthier and more sustainable, and shifting to focus on the application of plant ingredients. Attention is drawn to the fact that more and more studies have been conducted to improve the nutritional and functional properties of food by adding vegetables, beans, cereals, tubers, edible seeds, algae or insects as substitutes for fat, protein and salt. Mushrooms has attracted much attention because of its high nutritional value, wide variety of bioactive compounds, antioxidant effect and health function, and excellent flavor and taste, mushroom can provide exogenous active substances for meat products and improve the nutritional value and functional properties of meat products. The application progress and development prospect of mushroom as fat substitute, protein substitute, salt, phosphate and nitrite substitute, flavor additive and antioxidant in meat products were analyzed. There is a lack of research on the health function of mushroom in meat products, and the potential effects and mechanisms of mushroom applied to meat products on human health and health function need to be further explored in the future. The results showed that the application of mushrooms in meat processing meets people’s requirements for green, healthy and functional food industry. Mushrooms are a promising functional additive in meat processing.

An efficient ionic gelation based nano-delivery system to improve the stability and controlled release of saffron extracts

Saffron bioactive compounds possess exceptional nutritional and health properties. However, their industrial utilization has been limited due to challenges such as low solubility, poor bioavailability, untargeted release, and instability during processing and preparation. This study aimed to improve the delivery and stability of nano-sized saffron extracts as a rich antioxidant and anticancer agent via an ionic gelation-based approach. Efficient alcoholic and aqueous extracts of saffron loaded in chitosan-alginate nanoparticles (CANPs) were developed. Size and zeta potential of produced CANPs recorded in the range of 218–251 nm and 27.5–53.6 mV, respectively. The spherical CANPs showed high encapsulation efficiency. Also, AFM analysis depicted the distinct shape and uniform size distribution of prepared CANPs. The CANPs swelled in neutral solution, while in acidic conditions, it tended to shrink. The release profiles revealed that non-Fickian diffusion of encapsulants would be controlled by adjusting the pH. The encapsulation of saffron extracts within the CANPs significantly enhanced the storage stability. Both refrigerator and room temperatures in dark condition were detected suitable for the storage of saffron extracts loaded CANPs. Cytotoxicity test against MCF-7 cells demonstrated higher anticancer activity of the aqueous extract compared to the alcoholic extract loaded CANPs. Deionized water demonstrated more efficient performance for saffron extract preparation and biological functions in comparison to ethanolic extract. In brief, the CANPs could be introduced as an efficient protective delivery system for the rich bioactive compounds source, namely saffron extracts in functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Incorporating carrot pomace-based emulsion to enhance the nutritional value and shelf life of butter

ABSTRACT Carrot pomace, a byproduct of juice extraction from the widely cultivated root vegetable, contains micronutrients and carotenoids that are often discarded as agricultural waste. To address this issue, the present study aimed to create a stable carrot pomace-based emulsion (CPBE) suitable for use in butter production and to evaluate its impact on the physicochemical, microbiological, thermal, oxidative, and fatty acid properties of butter. The CPBE was made with a natural emulsifier and a dispersion medium made of a mixture of vegetable oils in a certain ratio to get the most components, like carotenoids, probiotic culture, and omega-3 fatty acids. The emulsion was selected based on particle size, zeta potential, and color values. Compared to the control sample, the addition of CPBE altered the content of moisture, carbohydrate, protein, and fat, resulting in a higher calorie count. The addition of CPBE also improved the oxidative stability of butter and inhibited the growth of coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, and psychotropic bacteria during storage, and its biological value increased while its spreadability decreased. Although the color scores were impacted by CPBE, overall acceptability was unaffected. The study shows that the use of CPBE in butter production has potential applications in the functional food industry.

Investigating in vitro antiobesity properties of enzyme-assisted hydrolysate and its crude sulfated polysaccharide from Padina arborescens

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the chemical characteristics and potential antiobesity effects of celluclast-assisted hydrolysate from Padina arborescens (PAC) and its sulfated polysaccharide from Padina arborescens (SPPA) examined in differentiated 3 T3-L1 cells. Brown seaweed derived sulfated polysaccharide is known to possess functional ingredients, which show vivid biological potentials. PAC and SPPA treatment significantly inhibited the intracellular lipid accumulation. Furthermore, SPPA significantly regulated key adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBP-α), lipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBP-α) and lipolytic adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in 3 T3-L1 cells. In addition, Alamara Blue staining results indicated that energy expenditure was considerably enhanced by SPPA in zebrafish embryos. Thus, our research findings indicate that the PAC and SPPA treatment exerted potential intracellular lipid inhibitory activity and may prove useful as raw materials for food or for the functional food industry.

Structure, rheology and gastrointestinal release kinetics of new-type curcumin-based nanofibers nanohydrogel assisted prepared with subcritical water at different treatment times

This study aimed to design a new-type curcumin (Cur)-based network nanohydrogel (H), which was composed of whey protein isolate nanofibers (WPINs) and pectin (P). Among them, WPINs were prepared with subcritical water at different treatment times (90 min: WPINs-90, 120 min: WPINs-120, and 180 min: WPINs-180). The structural characteristics, rheology and gastrointestinal release kinetics of Cur-based nanohydrogel were investigated. The results showed that WPINs-120-P-H showed the most favorable particle size (659.00 ± 3.90 nm), potential (−30.00 ± 2.00 mV), peak temperature (110.57 °C) and heating stability. The rheological results revealed that each group of nanohydrogels formed strong elastic gels. In addition, WPINs-120-P-H exhibited the highest encapsulation efficiency (98.42 ± 5.00%) of Cur with the strongest network structure. Moreover, the release curved line of Cur showed an initial release of 19.23% in the stomach, and afterwards, a continuous release trend in the small intestine, reaching a final release amount of 84.80%. Interestingly, the release kinetics of Cur was in line with the Weibull equation model, evidencing a continuous and dynamic release process. This study provided a novel way to prepare the WPINs-P nanohydrogel as delivery for Cur, which demonstrated great potential application prospects in the functional food industry.

Ameliorative Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei L14 on Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rats.

Bioprospecting of more novel probiotic strains has attained continuous interest. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of Lactobacillus paracasei strain L14, an isolate from a traditional Chinese dairy product, on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. Preventive supplementation of strain L14 showed excellent anti-diabetic effects on high-fat diet/low-dose streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced T2DM rats. It significantly reduced hyperglycemia, protected pancreatic β-cell and liver function, and ameliorated oxidative stress while considerably improving dyslipidemia and inflammation. Furthermore, the strain modulated the gut microbiota to alleviate gut dysbiosis. Interestingly, most of these biochemical parameters could even restore to normal levels by the intervention of strain L14. The whole-genome sequencing of L14 was performed to provide a critical molecular basis for its probiotic activities. Genes related to antioxidant systems and other beneficial microbial metabolites like exopolysaccharides (EPS) biosynthesis were found. This study demonstrates that probiotic L. paracasei L14 has good potential for applications in functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Label-free quantitative proteomics reveals the potential mechanisms of insoluble dietary fiber from okara in improving hepatic lipid metabolism of high-fat diet-induced mice

The high purity insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) from okara is a natural component with a potentially positive effect on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic metabolic disorders, although its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the potential pathways and key proteins of IDF for the amelioration of hepatic lipid metabolism in mice fed with HFD. Here, we used label-free quantitative proteomics technology to quantity and identify differentially expressed proteins in the liver that are associated with IDF treatment. The differentially expressed proteins were assessed by GO annotation and KEGG pathways. Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses were conducted to validate the potential targets regulated by IDF. In total, 73 differentially expressed proteins were identified, of which 27 were up-regulated (FC > 1.5) and 46 were down-regulated (FC < 0.667). GO analysis suggested that differentially expressed proteins were mainly located in the cell and organelles, regulated biological processes, and were associated with enzyme activity and molecular binding. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis further demonstrated glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, TCA cycle, arginine biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and retinol metabolism were affected. The combination of proteomics, Western blot, and qRT-PCR suggested that ACS, ACLY, GOT1, GLS2, NAGS, CYP4A10, CYP3A25, and CYP2A5 in these pathways might be key proteins for IDF intervention. Taken together, our findings elucidate new mechanisms involved in how IDF affects hepatic metabolism, provide important information for the functional food industries, and improve the added value of okara. SignificanceOkara is evidenced as a high-quality by-product with several nutritional components, especially dietary fiber (50–60%) labeled as “The Seventh Nutrient”. Previous studies have shown that IDF has a positive potential effect on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic metabolic disorders, but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. To elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of IDF at the protein level, a label-free quantitative proteomic analysis was used to identify the dynamic changes of the liver proteome between HIDF and HFD groups in this study. These results provide a new perspective for exploring the therapeutic mechanism of IDF at the protein level and enlightenment for promoting the comprehensive utilization of okara.

Ultrasound-Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Thinned Young Kiwifruits and Their Beneficial Effects.

Fruit thinning is a common practice employed to enhance the quality and yield of kiwifruits during the growing period, and about 30-50% of unripe kiwifruits will be thinned and discarded. In fact, these unripe kiwifruits are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, the applications of thinned young kiwifruits and related bioactive compounds in the food and functional food industry are still limited. Therefore, to promote the potential applications of thinned young kiwifruits as value-added health products, the extraction, characterization, and evaluation of beneficial effects of phenolic compounds from thinned young fruits of red-fleshed Actinidia chinensis cv 'HY' were examined in the present study. A green and efficient ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (UADE) method for extracting phenolic compounds from thinned young kiwifruits was established. A maximum yield (105.37 ± 1.2 mg GAE/g DW) of total phenolics extracted from thinned young kiwifruits by UADE was obtained, which was significantly higher than those of conventional organic solvent extraction (CSE, about 14.51 ± 0.26 mg GAE/g DW) and ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UAEE, about 43.85 ± 1.17 mg GAE/g DW). In addition, 29 compounds, e.g., gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, procyanidin B2, quercetin-3-rhamnoside, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside, were identified in the kiwifruit extract by UPLC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the contents of major phenolic compounds in different kiwifruit extracts prepared by conventional organic solvent extraction (EE), ultrasound-assisted ethanol extraction (UEE), and ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent extraction (UDE) were compared by HPLC analysis. Results revealed that the content of major phenolics in UDE (about 15.067 mg/g DW) was significantly higher than that in EE (about 2.218 mg/g DW) and UEE (about 6.122 mg/g DW), suggesting that the UADE method was more efficient for extracting polyphenolics from thinned young kiwifruits. In addition, compared with EE and UEE, UDE exhibited much higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, which were closely associated with its higher content of phenolic compounds. Collectively, the findings suggest that the UADE method can be applied as an efficient technique for the preparation of bioactive polyphenolics from thinned young kiwifruits, and the thinned young fruits of red-fleshed A. chinensis cv 'HY' have good potential to be developed and utilized as functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Elucidation and quantification health-promoting phenolic compounds, antioxidant properties and sugar levels of ultrasound assisted extraction, aroma compositions and amino acids profiles of macroalgae, Laurencia papillosa

Currently, sustainability is one of the most critical issues confronting society today. The growing of macroalgae in ocean farms appears more sustainable than agriculture on land due to it does not require any fresh water, chemical fertiliser, or soil. Macroalgae have been shown to be a sustainable marine source of amino acids, novel bioactive phenolic and aroma compounds that can be exploitation in food, cosmetic, nutraceuticals, pharmacological applications. Despite starting the huge cultivation of macroalgae in world, bioactive compounds in the edible macroalgae have not been well characterized. Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and conventional extraction (CE) techniques were compared and red macroalgae, L. papillosa extracts were characterized. The highest amount of amino acid was glutamic acid (GLU) and composed of 35% was essential amino acids. UAE at 10% amplitude for 15 min showed significantly highest (p < 0.05) phenolic (212.03±3.03 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g) as well as antioxidant activity determined by DPPH (105.69±3.02 µmol Trolox/100 g), ABTS (238.69±2.23 µmol Trolox/100 g) radical assay and FRAP value (72.47±3.13 µmol Trolox/100 g) when in comparison with CE. Furthermore, bioactive compounds in extracts were indicated as phlorotannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids and other polyphenols using liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS). This result confirmed higher antioxidant capacity detected with the UAE. A total of 46 volatile organic compounds were identified and quantified by GC-FID/MS with HS-SPME system. This study emerges as first report to novel extraction method used and deeply characterization of L papillosa. The results seem that significant potential application in the functional food, active packaging and nutraceuticals industry.