Identification and molecular mechanism of novel antioxidant peptides from okara fermentation broth with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YP2: In silico and in vitro analysis.

From stability to application: mechanistic insights into the stability and 3d printing of probiotic-loaded pea protein-based high internal phase pickering emulsions.

Role of lipolysis and tocopherols in the formation of primary and secondary oxidation products during simulated gastrointestinal digestion of n-3 PUFA-rich oils.

Processing affects the oxidative and nutritional quality of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) before and after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

Discovery of garlic-derived peptides as natural DPP4 inhibitors: An integrated computational, network pharmacology, and in situ evaluation approach.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) byproducts, such as seeds and leaves, are abundant agro-industrial residues and represent underexplored protein sources with potential health relevance. However, the repertoire of bioactive peptides that may be released from olive proteins during gastrointestinal digestion remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to perform a comprehensive in silico screening to identify and characterize multifunctional bioactive peptides potentially released from olive proteins during gastrointestinal digestion. Five UniProt-reviewed Olea europaea L. proteins (annotation score 5/5) were selected as curated reference sequences and subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion using pepsin, trypsin, and chymotrypsin. The resulting peptides were filtered and evaluated using a battery of in silico tools to predict physicochemical properties, bioactivity, and bioavailability-related features. Molecular docking analyses were conducted to explore peptide-target interaction patterns. Simulated digestion generated a diverse peptide pool, from which a reduced set of high-ranking candidates was prioritized based on predicted bioactivity. Correlation analyses suggested that structural features such as amphipathicity and steric accessibility were associated with stronger predicted activities. Molecular docking analyses indicated stable and target-specific interaction patterns with proteins involved in cardiometabolic and inflammatory pathways, supporting the prioritization of selected peptide candidates interacting with angiotensin-converting enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, and the TLR4/MD2 complex. This study provides an integrated in silico screening and prioritization framework to identify olive-derived peptide candidates with predicted multifunctional bioactivity. The findings offer a rational basis to guide future experimental validation and support the valorization of olive byproducts as sources of functional food ingredients. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact of in vitro digestion on the cytotoxicity and gut microbiota toxicity of three representative pesticides in apples.

Gastrointestinal transformation of Fuzi alkaloids and their modulatory effects on gut microbiota.

Microplastics in simulated digestion: Surface modifications, enzyme interference, and chemical migration.

This study successfully developed a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) stabilized by Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP) for the efficient delivery of Lactobacillus acidophilus (La). Characterization of the extracted polysaccharide revealed an average molecular weight of approximately 1.27×105Da. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) scanning and Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed the high purity of PCP and revealed its characteristic pyranose and furanose ring structures. Atomic force microscopy observation showed a non-helical, entangled network morphology. The emulsion system maintained a probiotic survival rate of 63.75% under simulated gastrointestinal digestion, retained 50.2% viability after heat treatment at 70°C, and preserved stable bacterial counts after 28 days of storage at 4°C, demonstrating significantly superior protection (p<0.05) compared to the gum arabic-based system. Mechanistic analysis indicated that the amphiphilic structure of PCP enables the formation of dense interfacial films and gel networks, effectively shielding the probiotics from environmental stress. These findings confirm the potential of PCP-based HIPEs as a green and efficient probiotic delivery carrier for functional food applications.

Study on the characteristics of W1/O/W2 emulsion delivery system stabilized by soybean protein isolate/(-)-epigallocatechin gallate/exopolysaccharides complex.

This study investigated the effects of acute cold stress on digestive function and gastrointestinal pathology in juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). The experimental setup encompassed a control group (CG, 30°C), a low-temperature group (HT, 24°C), and an ultra-low-temperature group (LT, 18°C), with sampling conducted at 0, 12, 24, and 36 h, respectively, over a total experimental duration of 36 h. We analyzed digestive enzyme activities in the gastric tissue and intestine, expression of key digestive genes, and gastrointestinal histopathology. Results showed that low-temperature stress significantly altered digestive enzyme activities. During the early stage of acute cold exposure (12-24 h), intestinal amylase and trypsin showed enzyme-specific changes, indicating an energy-saving response. With continued exposure over the 36-h experimental period, lipase activity increased substantially in the LT group, suggesting a metabolic shift toward lipid mobilization for energy and membrane fluidity maintenance. Pepsin activity was highest in the HT group and fluctuated in the LT group, reflecting complex gastric microenvironment disruption. Gene expression analysis revealed transcriptional-physiological decoupling. Histopathological findings showed cellular edema, necrosis, and mucous cell hyperplasia in both HT and LT groups, worsening with colder temperatures and longer exposure. By 36 h, the LT group exhibited severe mucosal detachment and glandular structure disruption. In summary, juvenile yellowfin tuna responded to acute cold stress through a biphasic metabolic strategy-initial inhibition followed by compensation-and dynamic gene-enzyme decoupling. While short-term stress activated metabolic plasticity, severe acute cold exposure caused significant gastric tissue damage and digestive dysfunction. These findings provide new insights into thermal adaptation mechanisms and support improved temperature management in aquaculture.

Lipid-driven modulation of milk/soy proteins digestion in young child formulas: From in vitro gastric emptying to intestinal absorption coupled with in vivo protease activation.

Green extraction technologies offer sustainable alternatives to conventional solvent-based methods for recovering phytochemicals from medicinal plants. In this study, different blends of Ginkgo biloba leaves, Astragalus membranaceus roots, and Salvia miltiorrhiza roots were screened, and the 1:1:2 blend showed the strongest TPC-based apparent synergistic effect on total phenolic content (TPC). Probe ultrasound-assisted extraction (probe-UAE), bath ultrasound-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction were then optimized using response surface methodology. Probe-UAE yielded the highest TPC, with an experimental value of 342.73 mg GAE/g under the optimized conditions. HPLC analysis of the prevailing synergistic extract (PSE) revealed rosmarinic acid (249.58 μg/mL), chlorogenic acid (135.59 μg/mL), and catechin (36.93 μg/mL) as the predominant identified phenolic compounds. The PSE showed strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 23.04 μg/mL; ABTS IC50 = 30.71 μg/mL; FRAP/reducing power = 260.27 μg AAE/mg extract; TAC = 345.20 μg AAE/mg extract), anti-inflammatory activity (protein denaturation IC50 = 18.21 μg/mL), and α-amylase inhibition (IC50 = 40.58 μg/mL). The extract also exhibited antimicrobial activity, with the highest inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus (30 mm; MIC = 15.62 μg/mL), and moderate cytotoxic activity against PC3 and MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 84.82 and 109.76 μg/mL, respectively). Simulated gastrointestinal digestion showed that total phenolics and flavonoids remained bioaccessible across digestive phases, although phenolics decreased progressively toward the intestinal phase. Overall, the optimized tri-herbal extract demonstrated multifunctional invitro bioactivity and may represent a promising candidate for functional food and nutraceutical applications. Further invivo validation and formulation studies are warranted.

Multiscale insights into the digestion and bioactive peptide release of Laminaria-fortified yak meat under different thermal treatments.

Yogurt is a popular functional dairy product prized for health benefits and nutritional value, especially as a significant source of high-quality proteins. In recent years, the research on the processing-induced modification of milk protein structure to regulate its nutritional properties has attracted much attention. Although yogurt processing has been extensively studied at the physicochemical level, novel processing technologies continue to emerge. At the same time, increasing attention has been directed toward digestion-driven nutritional functionality, calling for a renewed, digestion-oriented interpretation of processing-induced protein modifications and their downstream physiological relevance. The review synthesizes current knowledge on how key yogurt processing technologies-standardization, homogenization, heat treatment, and fermentation-govern milk protein structural transformations, gel network formation, and bioactive peptide generation. Particular emphasis is placed on linking processing-induced protein changes with gastrointestinal digestion behaviors, including gastric emptying, enzymatic hydrolysis, and nutrient absorption. Precisely, processing-driven protein denaturation, aggregation, redistribution, and hydrolysis collectively determine yogurt matrix architecture and its digestive fate. Structural features of the yogurt matrix modulate gastric emptying kinetics, whereas protein conformational changes influence enzymatic accessibility and hydrolysis rates. Fermentation-associated proteolysis further alters the profile and availability of absorbable peptides and amino acids. This review may help for advancing yogurt production from standardized processing toward precision nutrition design and for developing functional yogurts with targeted digestive and health benefits.

Supplements are commonly used by osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and eggshell membrane (ESM) proteins are widely advertised as natural bioactive compounds for joint health. Here, we evaluated the solubility, digestibility, and immunomodulatory potential of commercial ESM supplements under physiologically relevant conditions to assess their plausibility as anti-inflammatory agents. We analyzed three commercial ESM formulations (NEM®, Torolis®, and Biova®) using standardized extraction protocols. Protein solubility was assessed in physiological saline and under simulated gastric (pH 2) and intestinal (pH 5.8) conditions with controlled temperature, agitation, and digestive enzyme exposure. We examined the role of disulfide-crosslinked proteins in insolubility using dithiothreitol (DTT) and evaluated digestibility of proteins by SDS-PAGE after treatment with pepsin, pancrelipase (Creon®), or sequential digestion. Released peptides were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and immunomodulatory effects were tested using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by measuring cytokine release after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate/Ionomycin, in the presence or absence of Biova®. NEM® and Torolis® showed extremely low solubility (< 0.3%) and remained insoluble under all conditions, including after DTT treatment. Although Biova® was highly soluble (~ 90%), simulated gastrointestinal digestion produced minimal peptide generation. Only non-physiological extraction yielded sporadic trace peptides, most lacking known anti-inflammatory relevance. In PBMC assays, Biova® increased IL-6 after lipopolysaccharide stimulation, showed a non-significant TNFα reduction, and had no effect on IL-17A or granzyme B. Together, commercial ESM supplements are largely insoluble, resistant to digestion, and show no meaningful anti-inflammatory activity in human immune cells. These findings challenge the plausibility of orally administered ESM as a therapeutic intervention for osteoarthritis.

The binding mechanism of an iron-chelating peptide from duck plasma and insights into its absorption-enhancing effect in Caco-2 cells.

Novel immunomodulatory peptides identified from Mytilus edulis: Molecular docking, immunomodulatory effects on RAW264.7 cells and molecular dynamics simulation studies.

Fermentation unlocks the nutritional potential of oat milk during in vitro dynamic gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation.