Bo Zou

Insulin resistance (IR), a primary pathological driver of dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism, is closely associated with elevated oxidative stress. Gut microbiota contributes to IR via bioactive metabolites. Among these, microbial tryptophan-derived indole compounds have emerged as key metabolic regulators, yet their specific targets remain unclear. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics analyses indicated that tryptophan metabolism serves as the primary pathway through which Lactobacillus johnsonii Y1 alleviates IR. Genomic analysis of L. johnsonii Y1 and in vitro fermentation experiments subsequently identified indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) as the key functional metabolite. Further experimentation in a cellular IR model demonstrated that ILA restores insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake. Mechanistically, transcriptomic analysis revealed that ILA enhances mitochondrial complex IV (CIV) activity through the upregulation of COX5B, thereby reducing reactive oxygen species production, attenuating inflammation and restoring insulin signaling. Together, these findings highlight an L. johnsonii-derived ILA–CIV axis that alleviates oxidative stress and improves IR, offering a tryptophan–mitochondrial axis-targeted strategy for IR management.

Finger Citron (Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle) holds significant potential as both a culinary ingredient and a traditional medicinal remedy; however, its precise molecular mechanisms of action remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory properties of Finger Citron extract (FCE) in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Using UPLC-ESI-QTF-MS, we analyzed the extract’s composition, revealing a rich presence of polyphenols and polysaccharides, with hesperidin, melitidin, and hesperetin as the predominant polyphenolic compounds. Additionally, the study elucidated the monosaccharide composition profile of polysaccharides in the extract. Furthermore, Finger Citron extract markedly suppressed the production of key inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-6, and NO. The inhibition of protein phosphorylation levels of inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling was also observed, indicating that the anti-inflammatory effects of Finger Citron extract may involve the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway. Given these findings, Finger Citron extract has the potential to act as a natural product with anti-inflammatory activity.

Headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry and partial-least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were adopted to analyze the rule of change in flavor substances for different varieties of green plums at different levels of maturity (S1—immature, S2—commercially mature, and S3—fully mature). The results showed that 68 kinds of volatile flavor substances were identified in all green plum samples. The types and contents of such volatile substances experienced a V-shaped trend with an increasing degree of green plum maturity. During the S1 and S2 stages, aldehydes, ketones, and a small amount of alcohols were the main volatile flavor substances in the green plum samples. During the S3 stage, esters and alcohols were the most important volatile flavor components in the green plum pulp samples, followed by terpenes and ketones. YS had the most types and highest contents of volatile flavor substances in three stages, followed by GC and DZ. By using the PLS-DA method, this study revealed the differences in flavor of the different varieties of green plums at different maturity stages, and it identified eight common characteristic volatile flavor substances, such as ethyl acetate, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, and 2-propanone, produced by the different green plum samples during the ripening process, as well as the characteristic flavor substances of green plums at each maturity stage (S1–S3).

In this study, the physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and volatile compounds of the juices of different guava cultivars before and after pectinase treatment were evaluated. The results showed that the guava juice of the small fragrant (SF) cultivar exhibited the highest ascorbic acid concentration (1761.09 mg/L), and the highest contents of total phenolics (329.52 mg GAE/L) and total flavonoids (411.13 mg RE/L) were both found in the juice of the watermelon red (WR) cultivar. After pectinase treatment, the juice yield and the titratable acid, sugar components, total phenolics and total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity levels of the guava juices were all higher than those of the non-pectinase group. However, lower sensory evaluation scores were obtained in the pectinase-treated guava juices. Aldehydes and terpenoids were the main flavor components in the guava juices, which were responsible for the aroma of the juice, while their relative contents were different in the four cultivar guava juices. Furthermore, pectinase treatment could change the amounts and relative contents of volatile compounds in the guava juice. During the pectinase treatment process, the relative contents of the main aroma constituents in the guava juices were significantly decreased. The findings of this research provide valuable information for the processing of guava juice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and co-fermentation by Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Gluconacetobacter xylinus on the quality of yacon-litchi-longan (YLL) juice. The carbohydrates, organic acids, free amino acids (FAAs), and volatile compounds in YLL juice were analyzed. Thermal processing (TP) increased the content of total carbohydrates, organic acids and FAAs, and destroyed the aroma components, whereas HHP treatment had a negligible effect. Carbohydrate content was lower, and content of lactic acid, acetic acid, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) were higher in co-fermented juice than in unfermented juice. Furthermore, the content of bitter FAAs in fermented TP and HHP-treated YLL juices decreased by 88.7% and 86.9%, respectively. Co-fermentation also increased ketones and the sum of individual volatile constituents, and improved the overall flavor of juice. Taken together, HHP treatment prior to co-fermentation can be used to improve the quality of YLL juice, especially the flavor thereof.

Sedimentation is a major issue in juice production. This paper aims to study the mechanisms of precipitate formation during the storage of cloudy litchi juice. The sediment concentration, relative turbidity, and ζ potential were analyzed. The supernatant and sediment were separated to determine the contents of proteins and phenolics. The results showed that the amount of sediment increased during the storage. In addition, the total protein and total phenolic content in the supernatant decreased, whereas the glutelin and total phenolic contents in the sediment increased significantly (p < 0.05). Moreover, our results showed that the amounts of procyanidin B₂ and quercetin-3-O-rutinose-7-O-rhamnoside in the supernatant decreased noticeably. However, these two substances could not be detected in the sediment. In summary, the formation of sediment from litchi juice is mainly caused by the slow denaturation of proteins and the oxidation of procyanidin B₂ and quercetin-3-O-rutinose-7-O-rhamnoside.

探讨澄清型桑果汁贮藏期间酚类物质的变化规律, 明确沉淀形成的主要物质基础。 首次研究了桑果汁贮藏期间上清和沉淀中酚类物质的变化规律, 阐明了酚类物质参与桑果汁沉淀形成的机制, 明确了花色苷是沉淀形成的主要物质基础。 对贮藏期间桑果汁的上清和沉淀进行了分离, 提取了游离态和结合态多酚, 对总酚含量的变化进行了研究, 并采用高效液相色谱法和高效液相色谱质谱联用法对酚类化合物的组成进行了定性和定量分析。