Jun-Hui Wang

This study investigated the effects of different drying methods on the quality and metabolic characteristics of Dictyophora rubrovalvata soup. Soups were prepared using D. rubrovalvata treated by means of vacuum freeze-drying (FDS), hot-air drying (HADS), far-infrared drying (FIDS), and combined hot-air and far-infrared drying (HAFIDS). The soups, referred to as FDS, HADS, FIDS, and HAFIDS, respectively, were evaluated using an electronic tongue, UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycaemic activity assays. By combining these evaluations with non-targeted metabolomics techniques, this study analysed the physicochemical properties, biological activities, and patterns of change in non-volatile metabolites. The spectral results indicated that the Maillard reaction occurred in all groups of D. rubrovalvata soup during the cooking process, with the reaction being more pronounced in the heat-dried group. Among the four soup samples, HAFIDS exhibited superior DPPH radical scavenging, FRAP, and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, along with the highest abundance of umami-related metabolites, revealing that combined hot-air and far-infrared drying achieves a favourable balance between flavour and bioactivity. Metabolomics identified a total of 716 metabolites, with 238 differentially expressed metabolites screened, primarily enriched in pathways such as amino acid metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glucose metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism. Twelve key taste-related amino acids were identified, with significant differences observed between the different drying groups in terms of umami, sweet, and bitter amino acids, as well as organic acids and sugar alcohols. This study systematically investigated the metabolic changes underlying the gustatory quality and bioactivity of D. rubrovalvata soup through a metabolomics analysis of drying methods. It demonstrated that combined hot-air and far-infrared drying is more suitable for the high-value processing of D. rubrovalvata soup, providing a theoretical basis and data support for the flavour optimisation and processing of edible fungus soups.

This study aimed to explore the ameliorative effects and potential mechanisms of Huangshan Umbilicaria esculenta polysaccharide (UEP) in dextran sulfate sodium-induced acute ulcerative colitis (UC) and UC secondary liver injury (SLI). Results showed that UEP could ameliorate both colon and liver pathologic injuries, upregulate mouse intestinal tight junction proteins (TJs) and MUC2 expression, and reduce LPS exposure, thereby attenuating the effects of the gut-liver axis. Importantly, UEP significantly downregulated the secretion levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 through inhibition of the NF-κB pathway and activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway to increase the expression levels of SOD and GSH-Px. In vitro, UEP inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of NF-κB P65 and promoted nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in RAW264.7 cells. These results revealed that UEP ameliorated UC and SLI through NF-κB and Nrf2-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress. The study first investigated the anticolitis effect of UEP, suggesting its potential for the treatment of colitis and colitis-associated liver disease.

The polysaccharides isolated and purified from different parts of the medicinal fungus Cordyceps cicadae were identified, and three extracts displaying significant biological activities were selected for further study. The bacterium substance polysaccharides (BSP), spore powder polysaccharides (SPP), and pure powder polysaccharides (PPP) were separated, purified, and collected from the sclerotia, spores, and fruiting bodies of Cordyceps cicadae, respectively. The structures of Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharides were analyzed using gas chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and one-dimensional (¹H and ¹³C) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Moreover, the hypoglycemic effect of Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharides was examined in both in vitro and in vivo models. BSP, SPP, and PPP significantly increased glucose absorption in HepG2 cells, and alleviated insulin resistance (IR) in the in vitro model. SPP was the most effective, and was therefore selected for further study of its hypoglycemic effect in vivo. SPP effectively improved body weight and glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes model mice, in addition to exerting a protective effect on liver injury. SPP regulated the mRNA expression of key PI3K/Akt genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway. The hypoglycemic mechanism of SPP may reduce hepatic insulin resistance by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Spore powder polysaccharides (SPP) extracted from Cordyceps cicadae effectively improved body weight and glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes model mice, in addition to exerting a protective effect on liver injury. The mechanism underlying the hypoglycemic effect of SPP regulates the mRNA expression of key PI3K/Akt genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway to alleviate insulin resistance. Our results provide a theoretical basis for research into the hypoglycemic effect of Cordyceps cicadae, and lay the foundation for the development of functional products.