Chinese jujube and sour jujube flowers are recognized for their distinct fragrance and nutritional benefits. However, the currently reported classes of metabolites in these flowers remain relatively scarce, and their underlying molecular regulation remains unclear. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry, 369 volatile metabolites and 1840 nonvolatile metabolites were identified. Compared to Chinese jujube flowers, sour jujube flowers showed greater relative levels of the majority of differently accumulated metabolites. Ester and terpenoid compounds were the primary volatile differentially accumulated metabolites, whereas flavonoids constituted the dominant nonvolatile differentially accumulated metabolites. ZjMYB86 expression was negatively correlated with the late flavonoid structural genes. Functional overexpression studies demonstrated that ZjMYB86 inhibited anthocyanin accumulation. The ZjMYB86-overexpressing line showed downregulation of most anthocyanin metabolites and of the late biosynthetic gene ZjBZ1 compared to the control. Overall, these results enhanced understanding of the chemical profiles and metabolite distribution patterns in jujube flowers.

Increased global consumption of fish and seafood, driven by their nutritional benefits, has highlighted concerns regarding bacterial contamination, particularly by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This study investigates the prevalence and associated risk factors of V. parahaemolyticus in fish samples collected from three cities in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. A total of 185 fish samples were collected and analyzed for V. parahaemolyticus contamination using enrichment and isolation protocols. The overall detection rate was 9.19%, with no significant differences observed between cities, fish age, sex, or species. However, fish exhibiting abnormal physical signs, such as loose scales, pale gills, and bulging eyes, showed significantly higher contamination rates. Seasonal trends indicated a decreasing, though not statistically significant, trend in contamination from spring to summer. The cortisol level and lymphocyte count showed significant elevation, with a decrease in red cell count and abnormal physical appearance in fish compared with normal fish. These findings highlight the role of physiological and environmental factors in V. parahaemolyticus contamination and emphasize the need for improved biosafety measures in freshwater fish handling and processing to mitigate public health risks.

Wheat is a major staple crop, and interest in its organic cultivation is growing. This study aimed to compare the technological and nutritional quality of winter wheat grown in organic and conventional systems. Sixteen varieties were evaluated using standard flour quality traits and 1H NMR profiling of protein amino acids and free metabolites in whole-grain flour and water crackers. Organic wheat had lower protein and gluten but higher starch and gluten index, with most parameters remaining within acceptable bread-making ranges. Protein amino acid composition was largely similar, with a consistent trend toward higher lysine in organic samples. Organic flour contained less free asparagine and several other amino acids, indicating a reduced potential for acrylamide formation. Water crackers from organic wheat exhibited higher concentrations of prebiotic oligosaccharides, particularly stachyose (28.3%) and raffinose (16.2%), revealing nutritional benefits that emerge during baking. Additionally, we highlight the role of 1H NMR metabolomics in food quality discoveries.

Fish consumption provides nutritional benefits but can also contribute to exposures to bioaccumulative contaminants, requiring guidance that integrates both dimensions. We conducted a deterministic pilot risk-benefit assessment of Latvian inland lake fish using pooled samples stratified by lakes and species. Risks were characterized for methylmercury, estimated from total mercury, and for Σ4 PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS) by calculating weekly intakes under three consumption scenarios (150, 300, and 450 g/week) for a 70 kg adult and comparing them to health-based guidance values. Benefits were quantified as weekly contributions of EPA + DHA, iodine, and protein relative to reference intakes, combined into a nutritional index and integrated with risk using a benefit-risk quotient (BRQ). The primary decision outputs were safe weekly consumption amounts (g/week) and the contaminant limiting factor. Across lake-species groups, mercury was the dominant constraint on safe consumption for most predatory fish, while PFAS limited selected groups with lower mercury burdens. EPA + DHA provided the strongest differentiating benefit signal between groups, whereas iodine contribution was limited because measurements were left-censored and constant after limit of quantification (LOQ) handling. This pilot demonstrates an interpretable framework for generating lake- and species-specific consumption guidance that can be updated as monitoring coverage expands.

Abstract Arthrospira platensis (AP) has gained increasing attention in the last two decades in ruminant nutrition for its several nutritional and pharmacological benefits. However, the influence of dietary AP intervention on small ruminant performance and health is not well understood. Therefore, this meta-analysis tested the effect of dietary AP on growth characteristics, blood, and antioxidative status of sheep and goats. Twenty-four studies identified via a systematic search conducted on four bibliographic databases were aggregated using random-effects models and results were displayed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) at 95% confidence interval. Pooled results revealed that dietary AP intervention increased dry matter intake (DMI) (SMD = 0.60; p < 0.05), average daily gain (ADG) (SMD = 1.44; p < 0.05) and reduced feed conversion ratio (SMD = − 1.08; p < 0.05) taking heterogeneity into consideration. The results also showed significant increase in concentrations of hemoglobin (SMD = 0.85; p < 0.05), hematocrits (SMD = 0.60; p < 0.05), red blood cell (SMD = 0.51; p < 0.05), and white blood cell (SMD = 2.15; p < 0.05) in comparison with the controls. Likewise, AP intervention improved blood antioxidative status, and aspects of serum biochemical values in small ruminants. The subgroup and meta-regression results revealed that moderators (ruminant type, breed, sex, feeding duration, body weight, diet type, supplementation level, and age) considered to influence the pooled results were significant predictors of AP effects on DMI, ADG and serum biochemical values, and accounted for most of the sources of heterogeneity. It is concluded that AP supplementation can enhances growth performance and blood characteristics in small ruminants, but further research is needed to determine optimal supplementation levels.

Ethnic fermentation secrets of Northeast India and emerging functional food insights.

Machine learning-enabled metabolomics for geographical authentication of Lonicera japonica via UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and SHAP interpretation.

Addressing issues of protein and vitamin A deficiency remains vital for mitigating hunger and moderating malnutrition in many developing countries. In this study, maize porridge, which is widely consumed in several communities of low- to middle-income countries, was experimented with as a vehicle for improving nutrient intake by adding soybean and ripe plantain to form composite flours. The physicochemical, functional, and proximate composition of the composite flours were determined, and the sensory properties and consumer acceptability of porridge prepared from the flours analyzed. Additionally, the willingness of respondents to consume the porridge was evaluated via questionnaire administration. The results show that adding soybean and ripe plantain led to increases in protein, iron, and β-carotene, which affected water binding capacity, bulk density, solubility, and swelling power. The browning index reduced, leading to observable color changes while an increase in total soluble solids was observed. The sensory panelists were able to distinguish between the different types of porridge, but this did not affect the overall acceptability. Respondents revealed health and nutritional benefits as the major drivers for acceptability, and were willing to pay higher tokens for the newly developed composite porridge. This study provides a practical approach for creating nutritious and acceptable composite flours from locally available raw ingredients: maize, soybean, and ripe plantain, which can address moderate malnutrition relating to protein and vitamin A deficiency while enhancing food security.

Strawberries ( Fragaria ×ananassa ) are highly sought-after fruit because of their flavor, color, and nutritional benefits. The balance of the soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity (Tacid) contribute to the overall strawberry taste and perceived sweetness, while the total monomeric anthocyanin content (TMAC) is the primary basis for fruit color. Although North Carolina has an active strawberry breeding program to develop genotypes adapted to the South Atlantic region of the United States, parental germplasm has not been characterized. In this study, a greenhouse collection of fruit from 268 commercial cultivars and advanced breeding lines was used to characterize fruit composition diversity. Strawberry genotypes (all octoploids) were separated into four distinct clusters based on fruit composition profiles and multivariate analysis results. Genotypes in cluster 1 exhibited the lowest SSC (7.0%), Tacid (0.72%), and TMAC (31.22 mg/100 g), whereas cluster 2 had the second lowest %SSC and %Tacid and highest TMAC (54.57 mg/100 g). Cluster 3 was characterized by high SSC (10.3%) and pH (3.66), and fruit from cluster 4 had the highest average Tacid (1.21%) and lowest pH (3.43). Genotypes from Florida were found in the same cluster, while California genotypes were split among clusters 1 and 2. The first principal components (PCs; PC1 and PC2) accounted for 64.88% of the total variance within total fruit composition, with pH and Tacid contributing to PC1 (91.1%), SSC contributing to PC2 (71.1%), and TMAC associated with PC3 (77.4%). These differences in fruit composition among genotypes in the North Carolina core germplasm collection will be useful in the determination of future crosses in the breeding program.

Yam (Dioscorea trifida L.f.): A review of its nutritional value, benefits, and food applications

Dried daylily flower buds, rich in polyphenols, are an edible vegetable renowned for their nutritional and health benefits. This study employed Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism to investigate the protective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction from the ethanol extract of Hemerocallis citrina (HC-EA) against amyloid-beta (Aβ) toxicity and elucidate its underlying mechanisms The results demonstrated that HC-EA significantly alleviated Aβ-induced paralysis and extended lifespan in C. elegans, while exhibiting no observable toxicity at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1mg/mL. Mechanistically, HC-EA reduced Aβ transcription and protein levels, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and proteasome activities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) C. elegans models. Furthermore, HC-EA upregulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes (gst-4, skn-1) and proteasome subunit genes (rpt-3, pbs-1, pbs-2, pbs-5), and conferred resistance to paraquat-induced oxidative stress via the SKN-1 pathway in wild-type nematodes. Notably, the proteasome inhibitor MG132 partially reversed HC-EA's anti-paralysis effect, suggesting that its action depends on proteasome activation and SKN-1-mediated oxidative stress mitigation. Collectively, HC-EA may attenuate Aβ toxicity by enhancing proteasome activity and antioxidant pathways, offering a potential protective effect against Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Revealing nutritional value and metal(loid)s and minerals in fish species in Çıldır Lake, Türkiye: assessment of risks to human health, fish gender and size-relevant difference.

Effect of diacylglycerol on the gel properties and microstructure of Nemipterus virgatus surimi: Purity and concentration.

Meat in the diet of athletes and active adults.

Temporary confinement and split-suckling improve early colostrum intake, but free-farrowing reduces preweaning mortality in low-birth-weight piglets.

Bifidobacterium animalis RH exopolysaccharide bidirectionally modulates inflammatory bone metabolism disorders.

Compared with lactic acid-producing probiotics, spore-producing probiotics such as Bacillus subtilis (BS) and Bacillus natto (BN) exhibited superior metabolic capacity and stress resistance and are more suitable for industrial applications. However, limited understanding of their nutritional and intestinal health mechanisms has constrained their food potential. This review systematically expounded on the 'triple mechanism' of BS and BN and their effects on intestinal nutrition, immunity and metabolism benefit for the first time. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies on livestock, model organisms, and human research from 2000 to 2025. After evaluating relevance and eligibility, 115 articles were included. Firstly, by secreting various digestive enzymes, BS and BN directly enhanced the small intestine digestive and absorptive efficiency and promoted animal growth. In particular, BN significantly increases calcium absorption in postmenopausal women. Secondly, as the antigen carrier that induced intestinal mucosal immunity, BS and BN enhanced the host's defense ability by strengthening the expression of tight junction proteins, mucins, and inflammatory factors and bidirectionally regulated constipation and acute diarrhea in the human body. Thirdly, they reshaped the structure of the intestinal microbiota and their metabolic profile in the form of the gut-liver/gut-adipose axis, including enriching beneficial bacteria, activating lipid metabolism pathways such as PI3K/AKT and AMPK/SREBP, and regulating liver targets such as PPAR and CD36, thereby reducing insulin resistance and liver injury and maintaining overall metabolic homeostasis. Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus natto mediated their probiotic benefits through a gut-centric, multi-system regulatory strategy, involving nutrient utilization, immune homeostasis, and microbial-host metabolic interactions. This integrated mechanism provided a robust foundation for their targeted application in functional formulations and fermented food science.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a crucial cereal crop in India, ranking third in production with 22.5 million tonnes harvested from 8.67 million hectares, contributing 2.4% of global maize production. Despite its nutritional benefits, maize cultivation is highly labor-intensive, requiring 431 to 753 man-hours per hectare, which drives up operational costs. This study presents the development of a compact, cost-effective self-propelled maize planter designed for small-scale farmers. The planter, featuring an inclined plate metering mechanism, is optimized through analysis of key parameters such as seed dimensions and moisture content. Laboratory and field tests revealed that the planter achieved a seeding mass rate of 14.81 kg per hectare. Minimum seed spacing was observed at 2.3 km h⁻¹ and 45 mm depth, while maximum spacing occurred at 1.8 km h⁻¹ and 55 mm depth. The miss index was minimum at 1.8 km h⁻¹ with 55 mm depth and maximum 10% at 2.3 km h⁻¹ and 45 mm depth. The multiple index was minimum at 2.3 km h⁻¹ and 55 mm depth, whereas the maximum value 13.75% was recorded at 1.8 km h⁻¹ and 50 mm depth. The results indicate that the new planter offers an efficient and economical solution for maize planting, addressing labor and cost challenges effectively. The development of a self-propelled planter could enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in regions relying on traditional methods.

Abstract Okpeye, a traditional West African fermented seasoning made from Prosopis africana seeds, is recognized for its flavour and nutritional benefits, especially its bioactive gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which exhibits neuroprotective, antihypertensive, and anti-diabetic properties. This study applied an Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Diode-Array Detector (UHPLC-DAD) and principal component analysis (PCA) to profile GABA and amino acids in four Okpeye samples (locally-sourced and laboratory-produced). Results showed significant variations in GABA content, ranging from 22.86 to 48.06 mg/100 g dry fermented Okpeye across samples. PCA analysis revealed two main components, explaining 83.39% of the variance, which highlighted leucine, lysine, and GABA as key differentiating metabolites. Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between GABA and its precursor, glutamic acid, underscoring the role of fermentation in enhancing nutritional quality. This study suggests optimizing fermentation conditions could improve GABA production, maximizing Okpeye’s health benefits as a functional food.

Milk is a highly nutritious food and a cornerstone of the human diet, supplying not only essential macronutrients but also a wide range of bioactive compounds with important functional and health-promoting properties. This study presents the first comparative analysis of ruminant (cow, goat, sheep) and equine (mare, jenny) milk samples collected in Serbia, with emphasis on their physicochemical properties, protein profile, redox characteristics, and nutritional potential. Ruminant milk had significantly higher protein concentrations, with cow and sheep milk containing the highest levels of protein. Two equine milks demonstrated a distinctive whey-to-casein protein ratio to ruminants, and a higher content of active sulfhydryl groups, correlating with improved digestibility and functional properties. Antioxidant potential was determined using spectrophotometric and electrochemical methods, confirming superior redox potential in mare’s milk, followed by jenny’s and sheep’s milk. Nutritional properties of milk separated by Principal Component Analysis highlighted species-specific profiles of equine milks as a promising alternative for individuals with an allergy to cow’s milk protein, offering enhanced antioxidant protection, bioactive compounds, and digestibility. These results support the potential of equine milk as a functional food with added value in human nutrition.