Goji Research Articles

Insights on environmental behavior and dietary risk of spirotetramat and its metabolites in Goji berry and soil: “Third Pole” medicine and food homologous crop

Goji berry is an important cash crop in Qinghai Plateau, in this study, the potential residual risk and dietary risks of spirotetramat and its four metabolites are assessed in Goji berry. The results showed that the mean recoveries were 80.02~102.39% and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.45~9.09%. According to the experimental results, the degradation of spirotetramat in fresh Goji berry and soil were best fitted to the first-order kinetics model, and the half-lives were 7.7 d and 7.3 d, respectively. The terminal residues of spirotetramat in fresh Goji berry, dried Goji berry and soil were 0.0394~0.2105mg/kg, 0.0013~0.0795mg/kg and 0.0165~0.8694mg/kg, respectively. The chronic dietary intake risk (RQc) was 12.25% and the acute dietary intake risk (RQa) was 0.002~0.020%, which were well below the 100% threshold and represent an acceptable dietary risk range. This means that spirotetramat and its four metabolites are safe.

Carvacrol maintains antioxidant capacity in goji fruit by increasing the content of bioactive compounds

Fresh goji berries are prone to decay and spoilage, resulting in economic losses. We investigated the effects of carvacrol (CVR) on the natural disease incidence and quality of goji berries by fumigating with varying CVR concentrations (0.06, 0.12, and 0.24 μL/mL). The results showed that CVR treatment inhibited the natural decay of goji berries by enhancing their quality, color, and total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio. Moreover, 0.12 μL/mL CVR was determined to be the optimal concentration, as it maintained the sensory quality (except for aroma) and inhibited the disease incidence and preliminary disease expansion of goji fruit inoculated with Alternaria alternata. The treated berries exhibited elevated total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, ascorbic acid, glutathione, melatonin, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid levels. Higher hydrophilic and lipophilic total antioxidant activities and free radical scavenging capacities were also observed in the treated berries. Targeted metabolomics showed that treatment with 0.12 μL/mL CVR increased the levels of four phenolic acids (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and protocatechuic acid) and two flavonoids (naringenin and quercetin) in goji berries, thereby activating the gene expression of the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway. In summary, CVR treatment delayed fruit senescence and the decline in fruit quality, promoted the accumulation of bioactive compounds, and improved antioxidant capacity and disease resistance by activating the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway.

Black goji berry anthocyanins extend lifespan and enhance the antioxidant defenses in Caenorhabditis elegans via the JNK-1 and DAF-16/FOXO pathways.

The black goji berry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) is known for its abundance of high-quality natural antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins. Black goji berry anthocyanins (BGA) are receiving increasing attention because of their high safety and beneficial biological activities. Studies have shown that oxidative stress is a key factor affecting aging, whereas antioxidants are critical preventive and delaying strategies. In the present study, we investigated the potential anti-aging effects and mechanism of BGA using the Caenorhabditis elegans model. We found that BGA prolonged the mean lifespan of nematodes and improve their healthspan, including locomotion, pharyngeal pumping rate and stress resistance. Subsequently, we observed a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in nematodes after administering BGA. Moreover, BGA enhanced the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, and elevated the glutathione disulfide/glutathione ratio. We confirmed that BGA exerted excellent antioxidative stress activity in nematodes, which may contribute substantially to its anti-aging effects. The health benefits of BGA in C. elegans might be closely related to petunidin-3-O-glucoside, the most abundant anthocyanin in BGA. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that the JNK-1 and DAF-16/FOXO pathways, rather than the calorie restriction pathway, were responsible for the antioxidant stress and life-prolonging effects of BGA in nematodes. Our research provides a theoretical foundation for studying the anti-aging effect of BGA and a basis for developing black goji berry and its anthocyanins as functional foods with anti-aging and antioxidative stress benefits. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Potential Application of Visible-Near Infrared (Vis-NIR) Hyperspectral Imaging for Classifying Typical Defective Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum L.).

Goji berry is acknowledged for its notable medicinal attributes and elevated free radical scavenger properties. Nevertheless, its susceptibility to mechanical injuries and biological disorders reduces the commercial diffusion of the fruit. A hyperspectral imaging system (HSI) was employed to identify common defects in the Vis-NIR range (400-1000 nm). The sensorial evaluation of visual appearance was used to obtain the reference measurement of defects. A supervised classification model employing PLS-DA was developed using raw and pre-processed spectra, followed by applying a covariance selection algorithm (CovSel). The classification model demonstrated superior performance in two classifications distinguishing between sound and defective fruit, achieving an accuracy and sensitivity of 94.9% and 96.9%, respectively. However, when extended to a more complex task of classifying fruit into four categories, the model exhibited reliable results with an accuracy and sensitivity of 74.5% and 77.9%, respectively. These results indicate that a method based on hyperspectral visible-NIR can be implemented for rapid and reliable methods of online quality inspection securing high-quality goji berries.

Advances in Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide in the Prevention and Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases

Lycium barbarum is the dried mature fruit of Ningxia wolfberry, family Solanaceae. Chinese medicine believes that wolfberry has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidney, benefiting the essence and brightening the eyes. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is a proteoglycan isolated from Chinese medicine goji berry, which is the most important active ingredient in goji berry extract, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-tumor, protection of the nervous system, protection of the retina, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia, enhancement of immunity and other effects. In recent years, research results about LBP in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases have been emerging, such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration has a certain preventive and therapeutic effects. This paper analyzes and reviews the relevant literature on LBP in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases.

Determining the geographical origins of goji berries using the Twin-Tower model for Multi-Feature

Gogi berry products, known for their medicinal value, are exclusively available in the Ningxia region of China. However, the nutritional components, active ingredients, and economic value of these berries vary considerably among different cultivation zones in Ningxia. Accurate geographical traceability is essential not only for fostering the sustainable growth of the goji berry industry but also to ensure consumer safety, safeguard regional brands, and prevent fraudulent labelling practices that can erode market confidence and disrupt economic stability. Consequently, identification of the precise geographical origin of goji berries in Ningxia has emerged as a focal point in the progression of the industry. In this study, the Twin-Tower Model (TTM) was employed in conjunction with hyperspectral spectral and image data to establish a classification model for determining the proximate geographical origins of goji berries in Ningxia, including the regions of Zhongning, Guyuan, Tongxin, and Huinong. The results show that the graph-based training method built on TTM improves the accuracy by 3.7% compared to traditional data fusion methods. Notably, it attained a flawless 100% recognition rate for the highest quality Zhongning goji berries. These findings highlight that the implementation of the TTM method for multitask learning signifies a novel direction for transforming the conventional data fusion paradigm. Furthermore, it provides an essential technological means for the robust development of the goji berry industry.

What role do attitudes, information and taste play in consumer preferences and willingness to pay for domestic alternatives to exotic superfoods?

Superfoods are a recent health-oriented food trend, especially among younger consumers. The most well-known superfoods, such as quinoa or goji berries, are considered exotic foods, at least for the European market. This contradicts another food trend: the movement towards regional or local foods. As little is known about how consumers evaluate this trade-off when consuming superfoods, we investigate i) consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for domestic and exotic superfood ingredients; and ii) factors determining a higher WTP for domestic superfood alternatives. To this end, we conducted a three-step Vickrey auction of fruit smoothies with exotic and domestic superfood ingredients. A total of 116 individuals participated in the within-subjects experiment, which included an information treatment, tastings and a sensory evaluation. In general, participants perceived superfoods as a healthy but expensive food trend potentially harmful to the environment. Moreover, participants were eager to try the exotic smoothie, but agreed more strongly with statements endorsing the positive health benefits and good taste of the domestic smoothie. In general, we found a higher WTP for the domestic smoothie, which was reinforced by providing information about the origin of the fruits. After tasting, the WTP a premium for the domestic smoothie was driven by differences in sensory evaluations, but no longer by product perceptions and food neophobia. This indicates that food neophobia is related to taste uncertainty, which was resolved by the tasting. We discuss practical implications for fruit growers and processors marketing products containing novel and familiar superfood ingredients.

Growth Promotion and In vitro Seed Germination of Lycium barbarum L. (Red Goji) Using Different Types of Cytokinins.

Lycium barbarum L., commonly known as red goji berry, is a widely recognized plant-based medicinal herb with nutritional and therapeutic properties. In this study, the effects of various cytokinins on the germination of L. barbarum seeds and the growth of seedlings were investigated under in vitro conditions. The berries were first surface sterilized and dissected, and the seeds were then cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/L) of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), thidiazuron (TDZ), and kinetin (KIN) for 10 weeks at 25±2ºC with a photoperiod of 16 hours and a light intensity of 1000 lux. Upon observation after 10 weeks of culture, all cytokinin-treated cultures produced 100% seed germination as early as 7 days. KIN at 0.5 mg/L produced plantlets with the greatest height (8.40 ± 0.97 cm) with extensive rooting and the greatest total chlorophyll production. Besides, KIN at 1.5 mg/L resulted in the highest number of leaves per plantlet (6.90 ± 0.72), while 1.0 mg/L of TDZ led to the greatest biomass, i.e., fresh weight (FW) of 0.328 ± 0.05 gram and dry weight (DW) of 0.023 ± 0.003 gram. All cytokinins used in this experiment (BAP, TDZ, and KIN) promoted different in vitro growth promotion responses in L. barbarum. The effects of different types and concentrations of cytokinin on the height of plantlets, number of leaves per plantlet, fresh and dry weight, the extent of rooting, and the chlorophyll content were demonstrated to be statistically significant. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing in vitro cultivation techniques for goji berry propagation, which could contribute to developing superior cultivars and increased production of this superfruit in the future. For future perspectives, extended research in elucidating the underlying mechanism associated with cytokinin supplementation is imperative to understanding the roles of cytokinins and optimizing their effects on plant growth promotion.

The Combination of Gastrodin and Gallic Acid Synergistically Attenuates AngII-Induced Apoptosis and Inflammation via Regulation of Sphingolipid Metabolism.

Hypertension (HTN) is closely related to endothelial damage. While tianma (TM) and gouqizi (GQZ) have the potential to be effective in the treatment of HTN in traditional Chinese medicine, their main active ingredients and whether its exert synergistic effects and the underlying mechanisms of synergistic effects are still unclear. This study screened the active ingredients of TM and GQZ, investigated the synergistic effects of the active ingredients and explored possible mechanisms. The potential targets and mechanisms of TM and GQZ were screened using network pharmacology, and gastrodin (GAS) and gallic acid (GA) were identified as compounds with significant antihypertensive activity. The synergistic effects of the combination of GAS and GA was assessed by measuring biomarkers of AngII-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) dysfunction model. Furthermore, the anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by measuring inflammatory cytokine secretion, and apoptosis-related markers. Finally, key targets of the sphingolipid signaling pathway were experimentally validated by Western blotting. In network pharmacology, the herb-pair exerted a synergetic effect by regulating sphingolipid pathways. The GAS and GA exerted synergistic protective effects in AngII-induced HUVECs injury by improving Nitric Oxide Content (NO) levels, alleviating lactate Endothelin-1 (ET-1), and Thromboxane B2 (TX-B2) release, reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors like interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α)), decreasing the pro-apoptotic protein BAX, and increasing the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2. Furthermore, the results showed that the GAS and GA combination could elevate the level of S1PR1 and inhibit the expression of ROCK2 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB, which are key targets involved in sphingolipid pathways. Our study revealed that the combination of GAS and GA could suppress inflammation and apoptosis, which are highly correlated with sphingolipid signaling pathways, making it a potential candidate for the treatment of HTN.

Dietary Supplementation for Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology

To review the evidence on the effectiveness of dietary supplementation for retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A literature search of the PubMed database was last conducted in January 2024 to identify published English-language original research on dietary supplementation for RP. Eligible compounds included products ingested orally containing nutrients intended to supplement the diet. Studies meeting eligibility criteria were assigned a level of evidence rating by the panel methodologist. The search identified 283 citations, 15 of which met the assessment criteria. Two studies were rated level I, 11 studies were rated level II, and 2 studies were rated level III. All were single-center studies and were published between 1993 and 2022. The products evaluated included vitamin A, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), lutein, vitamin E, goji berry (Lycium barbarum fruit) extract, and chlorogenic acid. Primary outcome measures were most commonly based on electroretinography (n= 7) or perimetry (n= 2) testing. Numerous studies highlighted data suggestive of possible efficacy for vitamin A, DHA, and lutein, yet these findings typically derived from secondary outcomes, evaluations of participant subsets, post hoc analyses, problematic interpretations of the data, or a combination thereof. Additionally, it was often unclear if the study findings represented clinically meaningful outcomes. No prominent safety concerns were reported in any study. No high-quality evidence was found to support the effectiveness of any form of dietary supplementation for RP. The findings underscore the challenges of studying this rare and slowly progressive retinal disease. Future studies should leverage the enhanced recruitment abilities from collaborative research networks to refine eligibility criteria while using novel, clinically meaningful endpoints. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Human health benefits of the goji berry plant, known as the superfruit

Human health benefits of the goji berry plant, known as the superfruit

Influence of Goji Berry EM Fermentation and Saccharification Products as Cosmetic Raw Materials on Hair Protection

Purpose: Recently, as the number of cases of side effects due to exposure to chemicals has increased, consumers' anxiety about chemicals has deepened, and interest in cosmetics using natural extracts that do not use chemical ingredients has increased. No-chemicals are being created and scientific research using natural extracts is expanding. Accordingly, Goji berry, which is a natural product handed down from the private sector and is rich in various functional ingredients such as carotinoids, choline, and zeatin, and is said to be excellent for antioxidation effects, was fermented and the active ingredients and effectiveness (in vitro) were investigated.
 Method: Goji berry, which has been found to contain large amounts of functional ingredients such as betaine and rutin, is extracted through double fermentation using EM (Effective Microorganisms) and malt to obtain total polyphenol content, flavonoid content, total sugar content, DPPH radical scavenging ability, and SOD. Effectiveness (in vitro) was examined through activity, catalase activity, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxidase verified.
 Results: As a result of the measurement, the sugar content increased when the EM (Effective Microorganisms) fermented product was enzymatically fermented after extracting Goji berry fruit with purified water. The difference depending on the enzyme fermentation temperature was also higher when the enzyme fermented at 60°C compared to immediately after fermentation. The sugar content increased by about two-fold. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid content decreased when the EM (Effective Microorganisms) fermentation product of the sealed pressurized hot water extract was enzymatically fermented at 60°C.
 Conclusion: The extract double-fermented from Goji berry fruit through EM (Effective Microorganisms) fermentation and malt enzyme fermentation has excellent antioxidant ability, suggesting the possibility of using Goji berry fruit and EM (Effective Microorganisms) fermentation as a natural antioxidant. I confirmed that it exists. In particular, it has antioxidant and antibacterial functions, and its feasibility as a natural raw material used in hair products was found.

Optimisation of Not-from-Concentrate Goji Juice Processing Using Fuzzy Mathematics and Response Surface Methodology and Its Quality Assessment

Not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice effectively retains the original characteristics of the fruit. Despite the various health benefits of Goji berries, reports on the processing technology and quality changes of NFC goji juice are lacking. We optimised the processing technology of NFC goji juice. Employing fuzzy mathematics evaluation combined with response surface methodology based on single-factor experiments, the physicochemical, nutritional, and microbiological indicators of the juice were determined. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy was used to analyse changes in volatile compounds before and after processing. The optimal processing parameters were: times for homogenisation, ultrasonication, and sterilisation of 2 min, 3 min, and 85 s, respectively, and sterilisation temperature of 102 °C. The resulting product had a sensory evaluation score of 85.5 and a rich, pleasant taste. The ratio of total soluble solids to titratable acidity and turbidity were 12.8 and 1420 NTU, respectively. Post-processing, the contents of β-carotene, polysaccharides, and betaine increased by 57.3%, 26.7%, and 31.5%, respectively. Microbiological indicators met Chinese national limits for food pollutants and microorganisms. The total relative content of volatile substances in NFC goji juice decreased by 19.86% after processing. This study provides a theoretical reference for the intensive processing and development of high-value goji berries.

In vitro digestion and fermentation of the whole goji berry: Bioactive ingredients change and impacts on human gut microbiota.

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) is a nutrient-rich fruit and has received enormous interest for its health benefits. The beneficial effects of goji berry are linked to the absorption of bioactive compounds within the gastrointestinal digestion process and colon fermentation. Nonetheless, how certain bioactive compounds were released, and metabolism changed of the consumption of whole goji berries were still unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the digestion characteristics of key bioactive compounds in whole goji berries with an in vitro digestion model, and the effects of whole goji berries on the structure of gut microbiota were also investigated. Results showed that a significant release of carbohydrates during the digestion process, peaking within the first 15min of the intestinal phase (421.4±5.82mgGE/g, dry weight, respectively), was observed, and the phenolic release reached the highest in the first 15min of the gastric phase. Meanwhile, the bioaccessibilities of phenolic compounds and carbohydrates were determined to be 63.87% and 80.40%, respectively, after intestinal digestion. In addition, the undigested fractions of goji berries could be further fermented to produce short-chain fatty acids, which decreased the colon pH value (from 7.38 to 6.71) as well as the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Moreover, the goji berries regulated the composition of gut microbiota by promoting beneficial bacteria such as Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Paraclostridium, whereas inhibiting the proliferation of harmful bacteria (e.g., Fusobacterium). Our results indicated that the goji berry exhibited significant bioactivity during the digestion and fermentation stage and might provide some new insights into the utilization of goji berries in healthy food processing.

An ultra-dense linkage map identified quantitative trait loci corresponding to fruit quality- and size-related traits in red goji berry.

Goji berries are a small-fruited shrub with industrial importance whose fruit considered beneficial in both fresh and dried forms. Current germplasms of goji berries include small fruits with a short shelf life, less sweet and bitter taste, and a lack of appropriate genetic information. This study aimed to employ whole genome resequencing to generate an ultra-dense bin linkage map and to elucidate the genetic basis of goji fruit quality and size using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis in a cross-pollinated hybrid population. To achieve this goal, human sensory tests were carried out to determine the bitter taste (BT) and sweet taste (ST), and to quantify the soluble solid content (SSC), fruit firmness (FF), and fruit size-related traits of fresh goji fruits over three or four years. The results revealed that the goji bin linkage map based on resequencing spanned a total length of 966.42 cM and an average bin interval of 0.03 cM. Subsequent variant calling and ordering resulted in 3,058 bins containing 35,331 polymorphic markers across 12 chromosomes. A total of 99 QTLs, with individual loci in different environments explaining a phenotypic variance of 1.21-16.95% were identified for the studied traits. Ten major effects, including colocalized QTLs corresponding to different traits, were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, with a maximum Logarithm of Odds (LOD) of 29.25 and 16.95% of explained phenotypic variance (PVE). In addition, four stable loci, one for FF, one for fruit weight (FW), and two for fruit shape index (FSI), were mainly mapped on chromosomes 5, 6, and 7, elucidating 2.10-16.95% PVE. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic architecture of goji fruit traits along with identified specific loci and markers to further improve and develop sweeter, less bitter and larger fruited goji berry cultivars with extended shelf life.

Decoding of the Key Odorants in Fresh Red Goji Berries and Changes during the Gentle Drying Process

Decoding of the Key Odorants in Fresh Red Goji Berries and Changes during the Gentle Drying Process

Evaluation of physicochemical characteristics, bioactivity, flavor profile and key metabolites in the fermentation of goji juice by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus

This study aimed to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties, bioactivities and metabolites of fermented goji juice (FGJ) by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus at different fermentation stages. The results showed that Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation significantly decreased the content of soluble protein, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total sugar. Meanwhile, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability and the inhibition rate of xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity were remarkably enhanced by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation. Flavor profiles analysis indicated that FGJ produced novel volatile compounds such as 4-methylpentanol and 2-butanol, which provide its distinct aroma. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis showed that the differential metabolites in the FGJ28 vs. FGJ0 group were mainly included 1,7-bis (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) heptan-3-yl acetate, isoplumbagin, triacetylresveratrol, sulochrin, indole-3-acetaldehyde, etc., which might have an effect on the promotion of the bioactivity of goji juice. These findings will contribute to understanding the biotransformation effect of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus fermentation on goji juice.

Study on Betaine and Growth Characteristics of Lycium chinense Mill. in Different Cultivation Environments in South Korea.

Betaine is a useful compound that has various activities and is the marker compound of Lycium chinense fruit in Korean Pharmacopoeia. we seek to support the stable production of medicinal goji berries, which have significant potential in the pharmaceutical industry due to their high values, and to provide foundational data for consistent quality control. This study's purpose was to examine the correlation among betaine content, environmental variables, and the growth characteristics of L. chinense fruits. The fruits were collected from 25 cultivation sites across South Korea. We investigated five growth characteristics and betaine contents in L. chinense fruits and twelve soil physicochemical properties, and seven meteorological data at cultivation sites. The fruit's growth characteristics included a length of 15.62-26.49 mm, a width of 7.09-11.38 mm, a fresh weight of 0.73-1.62 g, and a sugar content of 11.10-19.62 Brix°. Its betaine content ranged from 0.54% to 0.97%. The betaine content was positively correlated with electrical conductivity (0.327 **), exchangeable potassium (0.314 **), and sodium (0.259 *) and negatively correlated with annual average minimum temperature (-0.256 *) and annual average temperature (-0.242 *). Also, betaine showed a positive correlation with the length of the fruit (0.294 *) and the fresh weight of the fruit (0.238 *). These results can be used to find the best cultivation method and to manage quality control for the highly economical L. chinense fruit.

Preparation and chromatographic evaluation of hydrophilic polymer brushes grafted-silica with post modification of silicon/carbon dots as a green liquid chromatography stationary phase.

Polar stationary phases were prepared by grafting hydrophilic acrylamide (Am) polymer brushes with post modification of carbon dots (CDs) and silicon dots (SiDs) onto SiO2 particles. The prepared stationary phases, SiO2-PAm-CDs, SiO2-PAm-CDs/SiDs, and SiO2-PAm-SiDs, were packed as chromatographic columns, respectively. Using nucleic bases, organic acids, and β-agonists as targetsubstances to investigate the influence of chromatographic conditions on retentionand separation, the packed columns showed the partitioning and adsorption of mixed retention behavior in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mode and successfully separated thepolar compounds. Most importantly, under per aqueous liquid chromatography mode (using 100% water as mobile phase), those columns still had goodseparation ability toward nucleic bases, β-agonist, and organic acids. Because AM isa temperature-sensitive monomer, the resulting van't Hoff curves exhibited a nonlinear relationship, having temperature-responsive chromatographic characteristic under pure water separation. Hence, building on temperature-sensitive characteristics and pure water of separation conditions, the separation selectivity toward hydrophilic compounds greatly improved. Compared with the commercial hydrophilic columns, the efficiency of our developed column had the superior ability in separation and detection of betaine in Goji berry with the enhanced resolution achieved in the proposedgreen separation method(just using pure water as mobile phase).

Transcriptional RNA sequencing reveals the molecular mechanism of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma against postharvest pathogen Alternaria alternata

Alternaria alternata (A. alternata), a pervasive pathogen, infects fruits and vegetables, posing a significant contamination threat. Dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBD-CP), a novel physical treatment technology, effectively prevents and controls postharvest diseases. This study investigated CP treatment's antifungal mechanism on A. alternata. Biochemical assays, laser confocal microscopy, flow cytometry analysis, and fluorescence staining demonstrated that CP treatment reduces spore germination, inhibits hyphal growth, disrupts cell membrane integrity and permeability, induces intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and interferes with energy metabolism. Specifically, following 100-kV CP treatment, hyphal growth was entirely inhibited within 24 h, and the spore germination rate decreased to only 18.48% of that of the control group. Furthermore, CP treatment significantly reduced the quantity of A. alternata inoculated on dried goji berries, with 80-kV CP treatment resulting in a 48.2% reduction. According to transcriptomic analysis, CP treatment resulted in 2954 differentially expressed genes. Among these genes, CP treatment downregulated those associated with membrane composition and functionality, DNA replication and repair, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism pathways. These findings highlight CP as a promising alternative technique for controlling postharvest fungal diseases.