Caixia Guo

Elaeagnus mollis oilseed (EMO) meal is a protein-rich by-product that may serve as a novel source of food-derived α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides. This study aimed to obtain EMO peptide fractions with enhanced α-glucosidase inhibition and to clarify the activity, stability and mechanism of the most active fraction. Fourteen proteases were compared, and 3.350 acidic protease was selected to establish an optimized hydrolysis process. The resulting EMO hydrolysate showed an IC₅₀ of 9.11 mg/mL against α-glucosidase and no detectable cytotoxicity towards HEK-293T cells at 0.1–12.0 mg/mL. Ultrafiltration yielded four fractions, among which the 3–10 kDa fraction exhibited the highest inhibition and maintained substantial activity under acidic pH (2–6), −20–50 °C, NaCl ≤ 5% and simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Kinetic analysis indicated mixed-type inhibition, while fluorescence, circular dichroism and molecular docking suggested that peptides in this fraction bind near the catalytic site of α-glucosidase and induce local conformational changes. These findings support EMO-derived 3–10 kDa peptides as stable, non-cytotoxic α-glucosidase inhibitors with potential as functional ingredients for dietary management of type 2 diabetes.

In recent years, more and more biochars have been employed to treat dye wastewater. In order to increase the utilization of moringa seed shell resources and enrich the removal method of methylene blue (MB) in solution, in the current study, the magnetic moringa seed shells biochar was prepared through ultrasonic-assisted impregnation and pyrolysis, while Fe₃O₄ was used to activate the material to obtain adsorption (Fe₃O₄-MOS). The prepared adsorbents were characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS, FTIR, N₂ adsorption and desorption and VSM. Under the suitable experimental conditions, the removal rate can be close to 100% and the maximum adsorption capacity of MB could be 219.60 mg/g. The Freundlich model provided a good match to the data presented by the adsorption isotherm, and the adsorption of MB on Fe₃O₄-MOS was a spontaneous and endothermic reaction. Study of the mechanism indicated that pore adsorption, electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bond, and π-π interaction were the major adsorption mechanisms. After five cycles, it was found that Fe₃O₄-MOS had a high removal rate for MB, which was close to 90%. This work provides a new idea for moringa seed shells and the results confirm that Fe₃O₄-MOS has substantial potential for dye wastewater treatment.

Elaeagnus mollis oil (EMO) meal, a by-product of oil production with plentiful protein, is considered a cheap and good quality source of plant protein for use in the food industry. In this study, the influence of limited enzymatic hydrolysis of EMO meal protein on the structure, solubility, foaming and emulsifying capacities was investigated in detail. The hydrolysates with different DH values (5, 10, 15, and 17) were obtained by controlling the time of enzymatic hydrolysis with alcalase. The results showed that enzymatic hydrolysis decreased molecular weight and increased flexibility and surface hydrophobicity. At the given range of pH and concentration of NaCl, the solubility, foaming and emulsifying capacities of hydrolysates were significantly improved, especially in the area of isoelectric point, and increased with the increase of DH. It was also found that the hydrolysate with DH10 had better foaming and emulsifying stability. In general, appropriate enzymatic hydrolysis could improve the functional properties in favor of their potential use as food ingredients.

Summary: This study investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin and piperine on fluorescent advanced glycation end products (fAGEs) formation in a bovine serum albumin (BSA)–fructose model. Model systems of BSA and fructose were prepared, and curcumin or piperine was added. fAGEs and BSA oxidation product (dityrosine, kynurenine and N'‐formylkynurenine) contents were determined. The results showed that fAGEs content decreased with increasing concentration of curcumin and piperine (P < 0.05). Addition of curcumin and piperine at 160 µg mL⁻¹ could inhibit fluorescent AGEs by 100% and 93% respectively. Dityrosine and N'‐formylkynurenine contents decreased as curcumin and piperine concentration increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the result of principal component analysis indicated that curcumin and piperine markedly impeded BSA oxidation, resulting in a lower level of fAGEs in model systems. Therefore, adding curcumin and piperine may facilitate reduced fAGEs levels in BSA–fructose model.

In this study, triethylene tetramine–modified water‐insoluble corn flour caged in magnetic chitosan resin (TETA‐WICF/MCR) was firstly prepared, which indicates novel aspects for immobilization and chemically modification of mycotoxin adsorbents. The TETA‐WICF/MCR was characterized using zoom stereo microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), and magnetic separation performance analysis. Experimental results confirmed successful layer by layer modification of chitosan, biosorbent water‐insoluble corn flour (WICF), TETA onto the surface of magnetic beads. The mean diameter of the TETA‐WICF/MCR was 2.63 mm with good magnetic‐responsive ability. Subsequently, the adsorption performance of the TETA‐WICF/MCR obtained toward patulin was assessed in batch adsorption system and the results demonstrated that the adsorption process was strongly depended on adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature, and initial patulin concentration. The results of SEM images and FTIR analysis showed obvious changes in the porous structure of TETA‐WICF/MCR after adsorbing patulin, and ‐NH ₂ and ‐OH groups were predominantly involved in the adsorption of patulin. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics followed the mechanism of pseudo‐second‐order model, and equilibrium data were well fitted in the Freundlich isotherm model. It was also found that the TETA‐WICF/MCR had good reusability without any adverse changes in apple juice. Practical Application: Patulin is a regulated toxin biosynthesized by certain fungi that contaminate agricultural commodities, such as fruits, juices, and other beverages. Several approaches have been studied to reduce patulin levels in apple juice and other aqueous systems. There is need for more low‐cost and eco‐friendly adsorbent capable of detoxifying patulin contaminated. In this sense, triethylene tetramine–modified water‐insoluble corn flour caged in magnetic chitosan resin (TETA‐WICF/MCR) was first prepared and exhibits easy solid–liquid separation and high adsorption capacity for removing patulin from contaminated apple juice.

This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of seabuckthorn freeze-dried powder on high-fat diet-induced obesity and related lipid metabolism disorders, and further explored if this improvement is associated with gut microbiota. Results showed that seabuckthorn freeze-dried powder administration decreased body weight, Lee’s index, adipose tissue weight, liver weight, and serum lipid levels. Moreover, treatment with seabuckthorn freeze-dried powder effectively reduced fat accumulation by modulating the relative expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism through down-regulation of encoding lipogenic and store genes, including SREBP-1c, PPAR-γ, ACC, and SCD1, and up-regulation of regulating genes of fatty acid oxidation, including HSL, CPT-1, and ACOX. Especially, seabuckthorn freeze-dried powder regulated the composition of gut microbiota, such as increasing the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, decreasing relative abundance of harmful bacteria (Desulfovibrio), and increasing relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Akkermansia and Bacteroides). The changes of beneficial bacteria had a positive correlation with genes encoding lipolysis and a negative correlation with genes encoding lipid lipogenesis and store. The harmful bacteria were just the opposite. Besides, changes in gut microbiota had an obvious effect in the secretion of main metabolites—short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially propionic acid. Thus, our results indicated that the seabuckthorn freeze-dried powder could ameliorate high-fat diet-induced obesity and obesity-associated lipid metabolism disorders by changing the composition and structure of gut microbiota.