Protective effect of resveratrol against colistin-induced nephrotoxicity through regulating Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis.

Societal Impact Statement Global legal frameworks seek to ensure that benefits arising from the use of biological resources are shared fairly, yet their practical application—particularly where plant materials and Indigenous knowledge are involved—remains challenging. This article presents a case study modelling a pathway for ethical research and commercialisation of Indigenous food products, demonstrating how scientific, legal and cultural frameworks can be aligned to support Indigenous self‐determination, public health, food system sustainability and access and benefit sharing. The findings offer practical insights to inform future policy and law reform related to Indigenous rights, responsible use of plant resources and resilient food systems. Summary International environmental laws established the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) system, aiming to promote sustainable biodiversity use and ensure research benefits are shared fairly and equitably. However, many scientists face serious challenges navigating these laws, such as the Nagoya Protocol. This is particularly important to note given the growing global emphasis on health and sustainability—priority areas driving significant research and commercialisation activity. Consideration of ABS frameworks is essential to enable ethical innovation, support Indigenous participation and ultimately ensure progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here, we demonstrate how researchers can effectively comply with principles of the Nagoya Protocol based on our experience with the Indigenous‐led development and commercialisation of a new beverage. The project targeted sugar consumption from sweet drinks by developing a beverage with native food plants that was designed to be a healthier choice for consumers. We present the sensory and nutritional analysis of the beverage, demonstrating its potential as a healthier alternative to conventional soft drinks (SDG3) and showing that consumers are receptive to products featuring Indigenous ingredients, noteworthy from a food system sustainability perspective (SDG12). The project's success is encapsulated by four key findings: (1) establishment of collaborative research centres with Indigenous governance, (2) consideration of the cultural significance of biological resources, (3) involvement of Indigenous stakeholders at each juncture and (4) ensured Indigenous ownership of the commercialisation process. Our case study offers a reimagination of how research and commercialisation of Indigenous food products can occur, aligning with SDG3 and 12.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase LasB accelerates refrigerated food spoilage through proteolytic degradation of muscle and milk proteins. While Marrubium vulgare essential oil terpenes exhibit antimicrobial activity, their weak potency and nonspecificity limit direct food preservation applications. This computational study aimed to rationally redesign terpene scaffolds into predicted selective LasB inhibitors. A virtual library of 635 terpene-peptide-phosphinic acid hybrids (expanded to 3940 conformers) was evaluated using consensus molecular docking (Glide/Flare) against LasB (PDB: 3DBK) and three human off-target proteases. Top candidates underwent duplicate 150 ns molecular dynamics simulations with MM/GBSA binding free-energy calculations. Computational screening identified thymol-Leu-Trp-phosphinic acid as the lead candidate with predicted binding affinity of -12.12 kcal/mol, comparable to reference inhibitor phosphoramidon (-11.87 kcal/mol), and predicted selectivity index of +0.12 kcal/mol representing a 2.3 kcal/mol advantage over human proteases. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated exceptional stability (98.7% stable frames, 0.12 Å inter-replica RMSD) with consistent zinc coordination. Structure-activity analysis revealed phosphinic zinc-binding groups (+1.57 kcal/mol), Leu-Trp linkers (+2.47 kcal/mol), and phenolic scaffolds (+1.35 kcal/mol) as predicted optimal structural features. This in silico study provides a computational framework and prioritized candidate set for developing natural product-derived food preservatives. All findings represent computational predictions requiring experimental validation through enzymatic assays, food model studies, and toxicological evaluation.

Native Foods: Agriculture, Indigeneity, and Settler Colonialism in American History

Prunella vulgaris, a medicinal and edible plant, is traditionally recognized for its ability to clear heat and relieve liver fire. This study investigated the metabolic composition, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of P. vulgaris. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant difference in the metabolic profile among different samples from four distinct regions. Notably, the sample Xingren displayed the preferred antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking further confirmed the high binding affinity of the main active ingredients (isothankunic acid) and targets. Furthermore, naringenin 7-O-(2'',6''-di-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-glucopyranoside, okanin 4'-gentiobioside, 2''-(6-acetylglucosyl)astragalin, and dihydroscoparin may be active markers of antioxidant activity. These results validate the traditional anti-inflammatory use of P. vulgaris and underscore its potential as a source of natural food antioxidants, supporting its further development as a functional ingredient.

Natural product-based colorants as substitutes for petroleum-based synthetic food dyes: sources, chemistry, and characteristics.

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is an important and functional food which is consumed all around the world. It has diverse nutritional and phytochemical composition, with increasing potential health benefits. A beetroot is a vegetable notable for its intense pigmentation and nutritional profile that has emerged as a multifunctional crop across culinary, agricultural, and biomedical domains. Its primary bioactive compounds like nitrates, betalains, and polyphenols contribute to antioxidant capacity, it has beneficial for improving hemoglobin levels and preventing anemia, enhances blood flow, supports cardiovascular health, and helps lower blood pressure. Additionally, the vegetable’s vibrant pigments offer applications in natural food coloring and biodegradable materials. This review unified current knowledge on beetroot’s nutritional and physical properties, and health-related functionalities.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a medicinal plant recognized for its therapeutic value. Although its polysaccharides are known to be bioactive, their precise structural characteristics and direct anti-inflammatory mechanisms remain largely undefined. This study isolated and purified two novel homogeneous polysaccharides, SBP50-0 and SBP70-0, from sea buckthorn aiming to elucidate their detailed structures and evaluate their anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. SBP50-0 and SBP70-0 were identified as neutral polysaccharides with molecular weights of 1.04 × 104 Da and 6.45 × 103 Da, respectively. Monosaccharide analysis indicated they are composed of mannose, galactose, glucose, rhamnose and arabinose. Structural characterization via methylation and NMR spectroscopy revealed that both compounds possess unique, highly branched backbones, distinct from the linear chains often reported in literature. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, treatment with SBP50-0 and SBP70-0 significantly inhibited nitric oxide production. Furthermore, they effectively suppressed the protein expression of key pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase. These findings demonstrate that SBP50-0 and SBP70-0 possess potent anti-inflammatory properties. This bioactivity is likely attributed to their specific structural architectures, particularly the highly branched arabinogalactan side chains and mannose-rich motifs that facilitate interaction with macrophage receptors. Consequently, these polysaccharides show significant promise as potential candidates for the development of natural anti-inflammatory functional foods or pharmaceutical agents. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

ABSTRACT Cantharides, a medicinal insect listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for its anticancer efficacies, faces increasing demand, leading to depletion of wild resources. The larvae's exclusive feeding on locust eggs hindered their large‐scale rearing. This study compared the nutritional profiles and feeding effects of an artificial diet of yellow‐black small cantharides ( Hycleus cichorii Linnaeus 1758) and its natural food, locust eggs, to inform improvements in diet formulation. The analyses revealed that the artificial diet contained significantly higher total sugar but lower crude protein and fat compared to locust eggs. Larvae fed with the artificial diet exhibited reduced survival rates, consumed more food, yet achieved lower body weights at maturity. Although the digestion rate was higher in larvae fed with the artificial diets, their conversion efficiency was notably poorer than that of larvae fed with locust eggs. Mass spectrometry identified 6689 distinct compounds, with 2739 showing significantly lower abundance in the artificial diet than in locust eggs. These diminished compounds were predominantly enriched in metabolism pathways such as sugar and amino acid metabolisms, riboflavin metabolism, and insect hormone synthesis, potentially impacting larval survival, growth, and nutrient utilization. These findings not only provide scientific insights into understanding the specialized feeding mechanisms of cantharides larvae but also offer crucial theoretical guidance for optimizing artificial diet formulations for medicinal cantharides.

Invasive alien plants, rats and macaques reduce native food availability for an endangered mass-culled flying fox through multiple mechanisms with short to long-term effects

Optical sensor arrays have emerged as a powerful paradigm for high-throughput, multiplexed analysis, overcoming the limitations of traditional single-analyte sensing by leveraging cross-reactive elements to generate distinct multidimensional response patterns. This comprehensive review systematically outlines recent advancements in the design, material integration, and application of optical sensing arrays. It begins by introducing the fundamental principles and design strategies of sensor arrays, followed by an in-depth discussion of a broad spectrum of optical sensing elements─including organic dyes, quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, metal-organic frameworks, lanthanide-based materials, and nanozymes, et al. The review further elaborates on innovative strategies for constructing sensing platforms, such as ligand functionalization, multi-channel integration, modulation of environmental factors, and single-element systems with multidimensional outputs. Key optical response mechanisms, including direct binding, competitive binding, aggregation-induced emission, and dual-band ratiometric sensing, are critically examined for their roles in enhancing sensitivity, specificity, and self-calibration capabilities. The application scope of these arrays is extensively covered, spanning natural product analysis, food and environmental safety monitoring, biomedical diagnostics, and chiral discrimination. Emphasis is also placed on emerging portable platforms for on-site detection. Finally, we discuss current challenges and future directions, highlighting the integration of artificial intelligence, novel nanomaterial designs, and field-deployable systems.

Integrated LC-MS and GC–MS based widely targeted metabolomics for characterizing quality traits in a high-yield chinese turmeric cultivar

Impact of Curcumin as a Natural Food Additive on Physiological Health Indicators in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

This study presents the first comprehensive physicochemical and bioactive characterization of the fruit of Chondrodendron tomentosum Ruiz & Pav. (Menispermaceae). Biometric and physicochemical parameters were characterized across three fruit ripening stages (green, turning, ripe). Additionally, proximate composition was determined in ripe fruits, and methanol concentration (25–75%), ultrasonic amplitude (30–70%), and time (1–15 min) were optimized using response surface methodology with a Box–Behnken design. During ripening, weight increased by +47.7% (3.89 to 5.74 g; p < 0.0001), TSS by +26.1% (7.00 to 8.83 °Brix), pH decreased by 32.0% (6.28 to 4.27), and acidity increased by 276% (0.25 to 0.94%). The quadratic models demonstrated high predictive accuracy (R2 > 96.5%; p < 0.004). Optimal conditions (57% methanol, 70% amplitude, and 15 min) maximized total anthocyanin content (120.71 ± 1.89 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/L), total phenols (672.46 ± 5.84 mg GAE/100 g), and DPPH radical scavenging capacity (5857.55 ± 60.20 µmol Trolox/100 g) in ripe fruits. Unripe fruits do not contain anthocyanins, reaching 46.01 mg C3G/L in turning fruits and 120.71 mg/L in ripe fruits (162% higher than turning fruits). Principal component analysis (90.6% variance) revealed synchronized co-accumulation of anthocyanins and phenols, enhanced by vacuolar acidification. These results suggest ripe C. tomentosum fruits as a potential source for natural colorants, nutraceuticals, and functional foods, pending prior development of green, human-safe extraction processes.

The application of essential oils and plant extracts as natural food preservatives has gained increasing interest; however, their potential impacts on gut health and host physiology remain unknown. This study evaluated the effects of synergistic combinations of peppermint essential oil (EO) + thyme EO and peppermint EO + feijoa peel extract on gut microbiota composition and colonic morphology in a rat model. Sprague–Dawley rats were orally given the synergistic combinations daily for 28 days, and their effects were assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the caecum microbiota and histological analysis of proximal colon tissues. Alpha diversity metrics showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between treatment and control groups, and beta diversity indicated no treatment-related shift in the bacterial communities. Taxonomic profiling at the phylum, family, and genus levels showed comparable relative abundances of dominant microbial taxa across all treatments, with no evidence of dysbiosis. Histological examination of proximal colon tissues revealed no significant changes in crypt depth between treated and control groups, confirming the absence of adverse morphological effects on the intestinal epithelium. The results of this study indicate that synergistic combinations of peppermint EO, thyme EO, and feijoa peel extract do not adversely affect the gut microbiota composition and colonic morphology in rats, thereby supporting their application as preservatives in foods.

Nutraceuticals are biologically active compounds derived from natural food sources that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, including the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Among them, resveratrol, a non-flavonoid polyphenolic phytoalexin found mainly in grapes, red wine, peanuts, and berries, has gained significant attention for its potential role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, largely driven by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and abnormal platelet aggregation. Resveratrol exerts its effects by modulating key signaling pathways, including SIRT1, AMPK, Nrf2, NF-κB, and eNOS, thereby enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, improving endothelial function, inhibiting platelet aggregation, and regulating lipid metabolism. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest beneficial roles of resveratrol in atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction or stroke, endothelial dysfunction, and heart failure. Overall, resveratrol shows strong potential as a safe, natural, and multifunctional nutraceutical for cardiovascular disease prevention and as an adjunct to conventional therapies, although further large-scale clinical trials are required to establish optimal dosage, long-term safety, and clinical effectiveness. However, translation of these promising findings into clinical practice remains constrained by limited human clinical evidence, heterogeneity in study design, short intervention durations, small sample sizes, and substantial variability in clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the clinical utility of resveratrol is hindered by poor oral bioavailability, rapid metabolism, uncertain dose–response relationships, and lack of standardized formulations. Emerging strategies, including micronized, encapsulated, and nano-based delivery systems, may enhance systemic availability and therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, resveratrol represents a compelling nutraceutical candidate for cardiovascular protection, yet definitive validation through large-scale, well-designed human clinical trials with standardized formulations, optimized dosing, and clinically relevant cardiovascular endpoints is essential before its routine incorporation into CVD prevention and treatment strategies.

Tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa. armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), has been identified as the most harmful and destructive insect pest of tomato crop. Mass rearing of this insect is necessary to obtain enough culture for conducting different bioassays i.e., to screen insecticides as tools for insect pest management under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, five artificial diets were prepared by substituting basic ingredients as flour of chickpea, mung bean, soybean, maize and common bean and tested for biological parameters of H. armigera compared with natural food i.e., okra fruit. The current study was conducted in the Laboratory of Plant Protection Division Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peshawar, Pakistan. The investigations revealed that chickpea flour based-diet produced healthy larvae and pupae that completed development within the minimum duration of 12.7 and 10.5 days, respectively, while artificial diets based on maize and common bean flour increased larval and pupal duration up to 17.5 and 13.4 days, respectively. Likewise, the minimum and maximum larval length of full-grown larvae ranged from 34.2 to 29.8 mm was recorded on common bean flour-based diet and chickpea flour-based diet, respectively. Mortality of larvae was maximum (20%) on natural okra diet. However, mortality was minimum (4%) on chickpea flour-based diet. Percent male and female emergence was varied in all treatments. Apparently maximum adult emergence of 86% was achieved on natural diet, followed by chickpea (83%), soybean (80.3 %), common bean (78%), mung bean (82%) flour based artificial diets while minimum of 68% was recorded on maize flour-based diet. Longevity of adults ranged from 7.6 to 9.4 days in males and 10.2 to 13.3 days in females were recorded among all tested diets. Pre-oviposition, oviposition, postoviposition, fertility and fecundity were also found better in chickpea flour based artificial diet. The male to female sex ratio obtained after feeding the larvae on different diets differ significantly and was found maximum (1:1.8) on chickpea and minimum (1:1.4) on common bean flour-based diet. Therefore, it is concluded from the findings that chickpea flour-based diet is very conducive to maintain good quality culture of H. armigera. Moreover, mung bean and soybean flour-based diets can also be used for successful rearing of H. armigera.

Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultivation is one of the fisheries sub-sectors that has high economic value and is important in supporting the economy, among various cultivation systems, traditional ponds are still the choice for most farmers, especially those who have limited capital and supporting technology. This study aims to analyze the weight growth and absolute weight growth rate of vannamei shrimp cultivated in traditional ponds, this study was carried out for 35 days, the variables of this study include the absolute weight and absolute length of the cultivated shrimp. This study shows that shrimp in pond A have better growth than pond B, where the absolute weight is 15.92 grams while in pond B it is 7.56 grams. Analysis of the absolute length growth of vannamei also shows better in pond A with a value of 5.73 cm while in pond B it is 2.90 cm. Density and water quality are the causes of slow growth, on the other hand, land area, optimal density is more profitable for shrimp in obtaining natural food.

Microbial interactions in cheese rinds influence community structure, food safety, and product quality. But the chemical mechanisms that mediate microbial interactions in cheeses and other fermented foods are generally not known. Here, we investigate how the spoilage mold Aspergillus westerdijkiae chemically inhibits beneficial cheese-rind bacteria using a combination of omics technologies. In cheese-rind community and co-culture experiments, A. westerdijkiae strongly inhibited most cheese-rind community members. In co-culture with Staphylococcus equorum, A. westerdijkiae strongly affected bacterial gene expression, including upregulation of a putative bceAB gene cluster that is associated with resistance to antimicrobial compounds in other bacteria. Mass spectrometry imaging revealed spatially localized production of secondary metabolites, including penicillic acid and ochratoxin B at the fungal-bacterial interface with Brachybacterium alimentarium. Integration of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and genome annotations confirmed the presence of additional bioactive metabolites, such as notoamides and circumdatins. Fungal metabolic responses varied by bacterial partner, suggesting species-specific chemical strategies. Notably, penicillic acid levels increased 2.5-fold during interaction with B. alimentarium, and experiments with purified penicillic acid showed inhibition in a dose-dependent manner against this rind bacterium. These findings show that A. westerdijkiae deploys a context-dependent suite of mycotoxins and other metabolites, disrupting microbial community assembly in cheese rinds.IMPORTANCEThis study identifies the chemical mechanisms underlying the negative impacts of Aspergillus westerdijkiae on cheese-rind development, revealing how specialized metabolites like penicillic acid and ochratoxin B influence rind bacterial communities. By integrating biosynthetic gene cluster analyses with mass spectrometry, we demonstrate how chemical communication shapes microbial interactions, with possible implications for food safety and cheese quality. Understanding these interactions is essential for assessing the risks of fungal-driven spoilage and mycotoxin production in cheese-rind maturation. Beyond cheese, these findings contribute to broader microbiome ecology, emphasizing how secondary metabolites mediate microbial competition in natural and fermented food environments.

Butterfly pea flowers (BPF) are widely used in Indonesia as a natural food and beverage colorants. BPF is also traditionally used to relieve diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, few research has been conducted on the potential toxic effects of BPF infusion. Therefore, further research is necessary to evaluate its safe consumption dosage. The objective of this study was to investigate acute and subchronic toxicity of BPF infusion on histological structure of the kidney and liver in male albino rat. Acute toxicity treatment, BPF infusion was orally administered at the doses of 2500 and 5000 mg kg-1 BW for 14 days. For the subchronic toxicity treatment, BPF infusion was orally administered at the doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg kg-1 BW. Histological preparations were performed using the paraffin method, followed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The histological structures of the livers and kidney were evaluated using an ordinal scoring method. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test for acute treatments and the Kruskal-Wallis test for subchronic treatments (p ≤ 0.05). The results indicated very mild liver damage in the acute treatment groups, characterized by cellular degeneration. In the subchronic treatment groups, very mild damage was observed, including cellular degeneration and vacuolization. Additionally, very mild kidney damage, such as leukocyte infiltration and tubular hemorrhage, was detected in both acute and subchronic treatment groups. These findings suggest that BPF infusion is relatively safe for consumption, provided it is not consumed over an extended period.