The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different feeding patterns (grazing alone and combined with barn feeding) on the fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi, the abundance of intestinal flora, facel short chain fatty acid and plasma lipid parameters in Sunit sheep aged 12 months by high throughput sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that at the genus level, the abundance of Bacteroides, Alistipes, and Phocaeicola in the grazing plus bran feeding group was significantly higher, while the abundance of Fibrobacter and Ruminococcus was significantly lower than in the grazing group (P < 0.05). The contents of fecal acetate and butyrate in the grazing group were significantly lower (P < 0.05), whereas the content of fecal propionate was significantly higher than in the grazing plus barn feeding group (P < 0.05). The plasma concentrations of triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in the two groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). The contents of α-linolenic acid, eicosapntemacnioc acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in muscle from the grazing group were significantly higher than those in the grazing plus bran feeding group (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that α-linolenic acid and CLA of longissimus dorsi muscle were positively correlated with the abundance of Fibrobacter, Ruminococcus and Alistipes (P < 0.05) but negatively correlated with Bacteroides (P < 0.05). Fecal acetic acid was negatively correlated with α-linolenic (P < 0.05) while fecal propanoic acid content was positively correlated with EPA and DHA (P < 0.05). This study concluded that meat from grazing sheep has better nutritional value and that the combination of grazing with barn feeding can change the intestinal flora of sheep to improve meat quality.

The recombinant plasmid pUC57-α-gliadin was subjected to homology analysis in this study. The target gene was inserted into the expression vector pET-22b. The recombinant α-gliadin was successfully expressed and purified with 70% ethanol. This α-gliadin was then deamidated with citric acid. The deamidated α-gliadin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Meanwhile, its effect on the texture of noodles was investigated with a texture analyzer. Results showed that α-helix content decreased while β-sheet content increased; α-helix/β-sheet ratio decreased from 1.00 to 0.64 after the deamidation of α-gliadin indicating that the molecular flexibility of the deamidated α-gliadin increased. The endogenous fluorescence spectrum showed a red shift in λmax, implying that the structure of α-gliadin was extended, leading to exposure of tryptophan residues. The hardness and adhesiveness of noodles were respectively decreased and increased by adding deamidated α-gliadin, which had a lump-like structure with a smooth and uniform surface as observed under SEM.

There are many reasons for the quality changes of egg. One of the major factors is its respiration, which is closely related to eggshell ultrastructure. In order to determine the relationship between the ultrastructure of eggshell layers and respiratory intensity of eggs, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the eggshell were obtained, and the relevant parameters were obtained by MATLAB software. The relationship between eggshell thickness, effective layer thickness, mammillary layer thickness, the average size of mammillary cones and porosity and respiratory intensity of eggs was studied by SPSS 19.0 software. The experimental results showed that respiration intensity of eggs was significantly negatively correlated with eggshell thickness (R = -0.36, P < 0.05) and effective layer thickness (R = -0.47, P < 0.05) but was significantly positively correlated with the average size of mammillary cones (R = 0.57, P < 0.01) and porosity (R = 0.66, P < 0.01). In addition, there was a low correlation between mammillary layer thickness and respiratory intensity. The higher respiration intensity of eggs, the more rough the surface of eggshell. Therefore, eggshell thickness, effective layer thickness, the average size of mammillary cones and porosity can pronouncedly affect respiratory intensity of eggs.

The application of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii in conjunction with Aspergillus spp. was proposed to ferment soy sauce with rice dreg protein as a substrate. The effect of Z. rouxii on the flavor and antioxidant activity of soy sauce was evaluated. Results revealed that co-fermentation with Z. rouxii significantly improved the contents of glutamic acid, 2-ethyl-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone and 4-vinylguaiacol, and antioxidant activities in vitro such as reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl free radical scavenging capacity and total antioxidant capacity (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, TEAC) in soy sauce. The best quality of soy sauce was obtained by inoculating 0.025% of Z. rouxii when Aspergillus spp. fermentation reached pH 5.0. After 45 days of fermentation, the contents of total amino acids and antioxidant amino acid increased by 24.76% and 40.73%, respectively compared with the soy sauce without Z. rouxii fermentation, and the reducing power was 5 830.43 μg VC/mL. Furthermore, obvious DPPH radical scavenging activity was detected in volatile oils, pigments and retenate with molecular mass less than 10 kDa from the soy sauce produced by co-fermentation, which was concentration dependent.

Fish scale storage methods affect the quality of fish scale gelatin. In this study, we investigated the effect of different fish scale storage methods (storage at room temperature, 4 and ?20 ℃ after sun drying, and storage at room temperature after hot air (60 ℃) drying) on gel strength, emulsifying activity and foaming ability of fish scale gelatin from bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis). The structural characteristics of gelatins from fresh and stored fish scales were measured by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Our results indicated that none of the storage methods for fish scales destroyed the characteristic molecular mass distribution (α chain, β chain and high molecular mass polymers) and FTIR peaks (amide A, amide I, amide II and amide III) of gelatin. All storage methods, especially 1 month storage at ?20 ℃, improved emulsifying activity and foaming ability of fish scale gelatin. All storage methods except 60 ℃ hot air drying could enhance gel strength, which may be related to the change of structural characteristics. Compared with fresh and hot air dried samples, sun drying and low temperature storage of fish scale increased the contents of α chain, β chain and high molecular mass polymers in fish scale gelatin, decreased the wavenumber of amide A, and made the network structure of gelatin gels more compact.

Northeast China, an important soybean-producing region in the country, produces a wide range of soybean varieties. In order to establish criteria to select suitable soybean varieties for food processing and to breed new varieties, 32 soybean varieties from the northeast part of China were investigated in the present study. The contents of crude protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus and soluble protein in each variety were analyzed. In addition, the yield, water-holding capacity, water content and texture properties of tofu produced from each variety were tested. The results indicated that softer tofu was produced with a higher yield from soybean varieties with higher soluble protein content of soybean milk (> 26 mg/mL), fat (18–22 g/100 g), calcium (> 200 mg/100 g) and phosphorus (> 700 mg/100 g), and vice versa. This illustrated that the physiochemical composition of soybean, especially soluble protein and phosphorus, could make critical contributions to tofu quality.

As one of the important phytohormones in plants, gibberellin plays a great regulatory role in the whole growth and developmental stages of higher plants. Focusing on the problems of the wine grape cultivar Syrah (Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah) in Linfen, Shanxi such as too dense clusters and low phenolic contents, this study investigated the application of gibberellin to elongate the grape clusters. For this purpose, three different concentrations (3, 5 and 7 mg/L) of gibberellin were used to dip the clusters 15 and 20 days before flowering. After maturation, the contents and compositions of anthocyanins and nonanthocyanins in grape berries were analyzed. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Gibberellin treatment had a significant effects on cluster elongation and fruit ripening (P < 0.05); 2) The contents of individual anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin monophenols increased with gibberellin concentration. For each gibberellin concentration, the contents of individual anthocyanins in grapes with gibberellin treatment 20 days before flowering were higher than 15 days before flowering; 3) Among all treatments, dipping in 7 mg/L gibberellin solution 20 days before flowering was the most effective in significantly increasing the contents of most individual anthocyanins and non-anthocyanin monophenols (P < 0.05) and facilitating the accumulation of acylated anthocyanins and flavonoid compounds.

Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were prepared from oyster enzymatic hydrolysate and glucose. To optimize reaction conditions for the production of MRPs with strong antioxidant activity, the effects of glucose addition, temperature, pH and reaction time on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, metal chelating ability and reducing power of MRPs were studied by one-factor-at-a-time and orthogonal array design methods. The results showed that the best reaction conditions were determined as addition of 4% glucose, reaction temperature of 120 ℃, pH 7.0, and reaction time of 120 min. The antioxidant activity of MRPs prepared under the optimized conditions was 93.2%, 22.5% and 1.436 in DPPH radical scavenging capacity, metal chelating ability and reducing power assays, respectively.

The effect of hot water blanching and steam blanching treatments on the activity of endogenous browning-related enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD), and the microstructure of lily pieces were investigated. Results showed that PPO activity was higher than POD activity in fresh lily bulbs. The thick outer pieces (TKO) show the highest PPO activity, while the lowest one was observed in the thin inner pieces (TNI). POD activity was highest in the thin outer pieces (TNO) but was lowest in TNI. The activity of PPO and POD was effectively inhibited by both thermal treatments. The microstructure of the cross section and the adaxial epidermis of lily bulb pieces was changed after the blanching treatments. PPO in the TNO and the TNI was inactivated after more than 30 s of thermal treatments, while POD was inactivated when the blanching time was more than 60 s. The blanching time required to inactivate PPO and POD in the TKO and the thick inner pieces was more than 60 and 120 s, respectively. Blanching resulted in gelatinization of lily starch granules with surface textures changing from smooth to coarse, blurring the interface between starch granules. The degree of gelatinization increased with blanching time and the time required to completely gelatinize lily starch granules was 3 min. No stomatas were distributed in the adaxial epidermis. The surface of lily bulb pieces became more smooth and showed membranous and granular structures after blanching treatments.

Olive fruits are widely used as medicinal herbs and vegetables. The varieties and maturity of olive fruits have significant impacts on its medicinal and edible value. The functional composition (total phenols, total flavonoids, total flavan-3-ol, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol) and antioxidant capacity (Fe3+ reducing power, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylquinone, hydroxyl and superoxide anion free radical scavenging capacity) of ten different cultivars (Baiganlan, Douguo, Europaea, Frantoio, Kalinjot, Coratina, Koroneiki, Picnal, Yuntai, and Pendollin) with different maturities (I, II and III) were determined in the present study. The correlations of the investigated parameters with cultivar and maturity were investigated by principal component analysis. Results indicated that cultivar and maturity level had different effects the bioactive components of olive fruits with the effect of the former being greater. The antioxidant capacity except for superoxide anion free radical scavenging capacity of olive fruit extracts increased with the increase of maturity. The analysis of bioactive components and antioxidant capacity of different varieties of olive fruits with different maturities can provide an important theoretical basis for the breeding, harvesting, processing and application of olive fruits.

In the case of tea beverage, the quality of tea raw materials is an important fundamental that determines final product quality. Currently, screening of tea raw materials for tea beverage is usually achieved by quality evaluation after processing them into beverage. The evaluation of tea raw materials is a complicated process involving tea infusion making, sterilization and sensory evaluation before and after sterilization and during storage. This process is time consuming and laborious when used for large-scale sample screening. In this study, we aimed to establish a rapid and efficient approach for screening tea raw materials for tea beverage based on C&R decision tree. We examined the dynamic changes in the sensory color score, brightness, color difference (?a, b and ?a/b) and turbidity of tea infusion at different processing stages of tea beverage. When screening was performed using this method, the range of tea raw materials was reduced by 29.0% (from 62 to 44), increasing the screening efficiency by 40.7% (from 0.226 to 0.318). Moreover, we proposed ?a/b > 0.475 as a major selection criterion for screening of tea raw materials for tea beverage. The approach presented in this study can provide a theoretical basis for establishing a rapid screening method for tea raw materials for tea beverage.

The effects of Dhabiha (non-electrical stunning, NEST) and electrical stunning slaughter (EST) with different voltages (90, 127 and 220 V) on meat quality of Xinjiang Duolang sheep were investigated. The results showed that the EST 90 group had the fastest pH-declining rate. The blood concentrations of cortisol, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in the EST 90 group were highest (P < 0.05), which showed the strongest stress response to pre-slaughter handling. At 1 and 7 days after slaughter, cooking loss was significantly higher in the EST 90 group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). The EST 127 group showed the best water holding capacity (WHC). Electrical stunning had some impact on meat tenderness. After postmortem aging for 7 days, meat tenderness was improved in all groups, and the EST 127 group presented the best meat tenderness. The sheep in the EST 220 group had insufficient bloodletting leading to the appearance of many blood spots in the skin of the carcass. The different slaughter methods had no significant effects on meat color (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the EST 127 group showed the best WHC and tenderness and lowest pre-slaughter stress as well as best meat quality. Therefore, electrical stunning at 127 V was suitable for the pre-slaughter treatment of Duolang sheep.

This study was undertaken to explore the effects of processing methods on the quality of purple sweet potato juice. Raw, boiled and steamed purple sweet potato juices from the cultivar Yuzi 7 were prepared, and their sugar, anthocyanin ad total phenolic contents, browning index, antioxidant activity, color, sensory evaluation and aroma composition were compared. The experimental results showed that the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (72.26%) and hydroxyl radical (81.27%) scavenging capacities of the raw juice were significantly higher than those of the boiled and steamed juices (P < 0.05), but it exhibited the highest browning degree and its color and aroma were not good. The content of anthocyanins (0.78 mg/100 g) in the steamed juice was significantly higher than that in the boiled and raw juices (P < 0.05), but its color was darker and its sensory and aroma quality were worse than that of the boiled juice. Although the antioxidant activity of the boiled juice was at a moderate level, its browning index (0.63) was significantly lower than the steamed and raw juices (P < 0.05). The boiled juice had better color and the highest comprehensive sensory score. It showed a translucent dark purple color and a soft taste as well as the best aroma quality. Totally 40 aroma components were identified, 21 of which were found in the boiled juice, accounting for 82.38% of the total peak area. Esters (28.19%) and alcohol (20.14%) were the major aroma components. Overall, the quality of the cooked juice was the best.

This work studied the chemical components of Neurospora crassa spores by national standard methods, and it also observed the morphology and size by scanning electron microscopy. Meanwhile, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and metal chelating assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of carotenoids in Neurospora crassa spores, and total carotenoid content was determined spectrophotometrically. The effects of in vitro digestion and different storage conditions on the stability of carotenoids were studied as well. The results showed that the contents of water, crude fiber, crude fat, protein and chitin in the spore wall of Neurospora crassa were (17.70 ± 0.63)%, (29.90 ± 0.03)%, (0.32 ± 0.11)%, (28.32 ± 0.89)% and (0.66 ± 0.13)%, respectively. Total carotenoid content in the spores was (776.42 ± 2.05) μg/g. After oral, gastric and intestinal digestion, the spores became more collapsed and had closely spaced small holes in cell walls when compared to the control group. In addition, the release rate of carotenoids significantly increased during the entire digestion process: oral (9.35%) < gastric (18.78%) < small intestinal digestion (32.58%), so did the antioxidant capacity of digests. After 9-day storage at 4 ℃ in darkness, at 25 ℃ in darkness and at 25 ℃ in light, the amount of carotenoids decreased by 2.24%, 3.19% and 5.79%, respectively. All these data indicated that cell wall of Neurospora crassa spores could be a suitable wall material for encapsulation of unstable substances and be beneficial to digestion and absorption.

Glycinin was isolated from defatted soybean meal by alkali solubilization and acid precipitation method in this study. The antigencity of glycinin was determined by indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and investigated as a function of pressure, pressurization time and glycinin concentration. The immunogenicity and structural characteristics were analyzed after high hydrostatic pressure treatment. The indirect competitive ELISA showed that high hydrostatic pressure treatment could significantly affect the antigenicity of glycinin. The results of immunoblotting showed that the immunogenicity of glycinin was reduced but not completely eliminated after the treatment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the contents of α-helix and β-sheet in the treated sample decreased whereas β-turn and random coil increased. Non-reduced electrophoresis and fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated that the spatial structure of glycinin was depolymerized and the hydrophobic amino acid residues were exposed on the surface of the protein. Moreover, its tertiary and quartenary structures were destroyed. The change in the spatial structure of the protein may mask its antigenic epitopes, thereby reducing its antigenicity.

This paper reports the results of a comparative study of the effects of three different drying methods (hot air drying, freeze drying and vacuum drying) on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of water-soluble polysaccharides (WSP) from the aerial part of Trifolium repens L. The aim of the study was to find out the best drying method for WSP. The results showed that the yield of freeze-dried polysaccharides was significantly higher than that of hot air-dried and vacuum-dried polysaccharides (P < 0.05). Different drying methods had significant influence on the total sugar and sulfate and uronic acid contents of polysaccharides (P < 0.05) and the total sugar and uronic acid content of dried polysaccharides was in the decreasing order: freeze drying > vacuum drying > hot air drying. On the other hand, the drying methods had no significant effect on the contents of proteins, amino sugars or moisture, pH or relative viscosity of polysaccharides (P > 0.05). The dissolution time of freeze-dried polysaccharides was significantly shorter compared with those dried by two other drying methods (P < 0.05). The polysaccharides from Trifolium repens L. contained a small amount of proteins or polypeptides, and exhibited a triple-helix conformation. The freeze-dried polysaccharides showed stronger reducing power and radical scavenging capacity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2’-azino-bis(3- ehtylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radicals than the two other dried samples (P < 0.05). Therefore, freeze drying was the best drying method for polysaccharides from Trifolium repens L. because it maintained their antioxidant activity.

Objective: In this study, sodium alginate and chitosan as a coating were chosen for the preparation of ellagic acid microspheres, and the effect of the microspheres on the growth and adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes was evaluated. Methods: Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra and release rate analysis were used to identify the formation of ellagic acid microspheres. Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide method was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of ellagic acid microspheres on preadipocyte growth at 6, 12, 24 and 36 h, and the cell morphology and quantity were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Oil red O staining was used to observe the effect of ellagic acid microspheres on adipogenic differentiation of preadipocyte cells, and lipogenesis was detected by isopropanol extraction. Results: Ellagic acid microspheres were successfully prepared. Ellagic acid microspheres at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 g/L could inhibit the growth and adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, and showed 80% inhibition on lipid droplet formation. Conclusion: It is feasible to prepare ellagic acid microspheres with sodium alginate and chitosan, and ellagic acid microspheres have potential therapeutic value for obesity.

The application of natural cassava starch in food, medicinal, textile and other fields is greatly limited due to its insolubility in cold water, easy of retrogradation and other defects. In order to optimize the characteristics of cassava starch and consequently to expand its scope of application, this study investigated the modification of cassava starch by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment in the pressure range of 200–600 MPa. The results showed that the morphology of cassava starch granules changed significantly after HHP treatment; the light transmittance, solubility and swelling force decreased, the retrogradation value increased, especially at 600 MPa, and the birefringence was lost. In addition, a more obvious shear-thinning phenomenon was observed for cassava starch after HHP treatment, and the apparent viscosity was lower than that of the original starch. The crystal of cassava starch after HHP treatment changed, but it did not form a new group.

The effect of different drying methods on sensory qualities (appearance, aroma, taste and infusion color) of loquat flower tea was studied, and its subacute toxicity and genotoxicity in mice were assessed. The results showed that the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) were destroyed by microwave pretreatment. The loquat flower tea prepared by freeze drying had the best appearance and taste, while that prepared by microwave drying at 420 W had the best aroma. In general, sensory quality of the loquat flower tea prepared by freeze drying was the best, followed by microwave drying. The loquat flower tea prepared by vacuum drying and hot-air drying did not reveal any significant difference in their sensory scores. The effect of drying methods on color parameters such as L*, a* and b* values of the tea infusion was consistent with that on other sensory indexes. Negative results were obtained in the subacute toxicity and genotoxicity test. It was concluded that among the drying methods investigated, sensory quality of loquat flower tea prepared by freeze drying was the best. Sensory qualities of loquat flower tea by microwave drying at 420 W, hot-air drying at 80 ℃ and vacuum drying at 50 ℃ were better relatively. Loquat flower tea was found to be non-toxic.

Objective: To investigate the pro-apoptotic mechanism of soy isoflavones on transplanted H22 hepatoma cells in mice. Methods: Kunming mice were subcutaneously inoculated with mouse hepatoma H22 cells and then divided into model, soy isoflavone-treated and 5-fuorouracil-treated groups. The apoptosis of transplanted tumor tissue was detected by DNA ladder assay, and the expressions of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (caspase)-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, B cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cytochrome c (Cyt c), apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), p53, survivin and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the model group, the growth of transplanted tumor was suppressed, and the intensity of DNA ladder was increased; the active fragments of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 were increased; the expression of Bcl-2 protein was decreased, while the expression of Bax was increased; and the cytoplasmic levels of Cyt c and AIF in transplanted tumor tissue were elevated in the soy isoflavone group. In addition, soy isoflavone treatment elevated p53 protein expression, and reduced STAT3 activation and survivin protein expression in transplanted tumor tissue. Conclusion: Soy isoflavones can induce the apoptosis of H22 transplanted tumor cells, and the pro-apoptotic mechanism may be related to the regulation of p53 and STAT3.

In the present study, Camellia japonica bee pollen from five geographical origins in China were analyzed for total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. We also evaluated the antioxidant capacity and hepatoprotective effects of C. japonica bee pollen on acute alcohol-induced liver damage in mice. The results showed that C. japonica bee pollen from Zhejiang province exhibited the highest total phenolic (8.97 mg/g calculated as gallic acid equivalent) and total flavonoid content (3.01 mg/g calculated as rutin equivalent) and strong antioxidant capacity. Oral administration of mice with crude C. japonica bee pollen for 7 consecutive weeks significantly increased serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (P < 0.05), lowered the levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase as well as lipoprotein oxidation in serum (P < 0.05), enhanced the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in liver (P < 0.05), and decreased the formation of malondialdehyde in liver (P < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that C. japonica bee pollen is efficacious for the prevention and treatment of alcohol-induced hepatic injury in mice. This study concluded that C. japonica bee pollen exhibits hepatoprotective properties and may be used as an ingredient of functional foods.

In the present study, we investigated the anti-aging effect of procyanidin B2 in D-galactose-induced aging in mice and explored the changes of characteristic metabolites. Four week-old mice were used in this study and randomly divided into normal control group, D-galactose-induced aging group, and procyanidin B2 group. After six weeks of administration, learning and memory capacity in each group were tested by open field maze, Y-maize and Morris water maze and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the brain, liver and kidney of mice were evaluated. The metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS). The results showed that procyanidin B2 improved learning capacity and it increased significantly T-AOC, SOD and GSH-Px activity, and decreased significantly the content of MDA in liver, brain and kidney tissues when compared with the aging model mice (P < 0.05). Moreover, procyanidin B2 changed the levels of 17 characteristic metabolites, including pantothenic acid, pyruvic acid, linoleic acid, and alpha ketoglutarate, as detected by LC-Q-TOF-MS combined with multivariate statistical analysis. These results indicated that procyanidin B2 was a potential nutrition supplement with anti-aging effect and its underlying mechanism may be associated with a series of metabolism pathways, such as glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism.

Objective: To investigate the effect of taraxerol on the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer MCF-7 cells and to explore its possible mechanism of action. Methods: The effect of taraxerol on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells was detected by methylthiazolyldiphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and colony formation assay; cell apoptosis was tested by Hoechst 33342 fluorescence staining, and apoptosis-related protein expression was detected by Western blot. Results: Taraxerol significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells (P < 0.05). Hoechst staining revealed a series of morphological changes in MCF-7 cells associated with apoptosis, and Western blot data indicated that taraxerol significantly increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 (P < 0.01) and up-regulated cleaved caspase-3/9 expression (P < 0.01), and down-regulated PARP expression (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Taraxerol can inhibit the proliferation, and induce the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells via the mitochondrial signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate immune modulation and inflammatory inhibition of soybean protein and soybean oligopeptides on Staphylococcus aureus-induced epidermal trauma in aged mice with negative nitrogen balance. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups: blank control group (positive nitrogen balance), model group (negative nitrogen balance), soybean protein group (administration with soybean protein plus negative nitrogen balance), soybean oligopeptides group (administration with soybean oligopeptides plus negative nitrogen balance), among them, the total nitrogen content of the liquid in the soybean protein group and the soybean oligopeptides group was equal, calculated as body mass of 650 mg/kg. The mice were orally administered after back epidermal wound infection with Staphylococcus aureus. The effects of soybean protein and soybean oligopeptides on humoral immunity level, inflammation inhibition and rectus muscle mass were investigated. Results: Low protein diet significantly reduced body mass, nitrogen intake and total serum protein in mice (P < 0.05). Soybean protein and soybean oligopeptides significantly increased the serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG and IgA (P < 0.05), and significantly reduced the contents of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and RANTES (P < 0.05), decreased the contents of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α but without any significant difference, and significantly augmented the ratio of rectus femoris to body mass (P < 0.05). Compared with soybean protein, soybean oligopeptides significantly increased serum IgG level, and significantly reduced MIP-2 level (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Soybean protein and soybean oligopeptides can significantly enhance humoral immune function, inhibit inflammatory response and restore muscle atrophy. Soybean oligopeptides can enhance humoral immune function and inhibit early inflammatory response more significantly than soy protein.

The antioxidant capacity of Panax ginseng hairy root culture homogenate was measured by Cu2+ chelating ability, polyphenol oxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity assays, and its antimelanoma activity was evaluated by determining the cell apoptosis and cycle in melanoma cells A375 using flow cytometry. The results showed that the ginseng hairy root culture had Cu2+ chelating ability in a concentration-dependent manner, which was not significantly different from that of VC at a concentration of 100 mg/mL (P > 0.05). No significant difference in polyphenol oxidase activity was found between the presence of the homogenate and VC at 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/mL (P > 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity of the homogenate was concentration dependent, 0.877 4 mmol FeSO4/g at 100 mg/mL. Compared with the control group, the ginseng hairy root culture significantly increased the cell apoptosis rate (P < 0.05), improved the percentage of cells in the S and G2/M phases and decreased the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase. These findings led to the conclusion that Panax ginseng hairy root has antioxidant and antimelanoma effects.

Ethyl carbamate (EC) that is commonly found in fermented foods is regarded as a Group 2A carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Our previous study indicated that EC could induce apoptosis in human HepG2 cells; however, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanisms of EC-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting to examine the effects of 100 mmol/L EC treatment on the expression of apoptosis-related genes at both the mRNA and protein levels. The results showed that 4 h EC treatment increased the mRNA and protein levels of decoy receptor (TNFRSF10D), pro-survival (GADD45B), and apoptosis-related gene from the mitochondria mediated intrinsic and endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathways. In addition, 12 h EC treatment up-regulated significantly the mRNA levels of apoptosis-related genes, but down-regulated significantly the protein levels of most tested genes, indicating that long-term EC treatment can inhibit protein synthesis. This study can lay a solid foundation for further risk assessment of food-borne EC.

The protective effect of D-chiro-inositol-enriched tartary buckwheat bran extract (TBBE) on endothelial dysfunction was investigated in the current study. Endothelial cells and the aorta of rats were treated with palmitic acid (PA) alone or in combination with TBBE, and mice were fed a high fat diet (HFD) and then were either orally administered or not with TBBE. Results showed that TBBE at 0?50 μg/mL had no harmful effect on cells. TBBE at different concentrations inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) activity in PA-stimulated cells. TBBE also reduced NOX4 over-expression and improved endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aorta of PA-treated rats. In HFD mice, oral administration of TBBE reduced blood free fatty acid, but had no effect on blood glucose, epididymal fat coefficient, liver coefficient or body mass. TBBE also prevented NOX4 activity in the aorta endothelium, confirming the beneficial effect of TBBE on endothelial function in vivo under lipid-challenged conditions. Lipid disorder significantly induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells. However, TBBE ameliorated endothelial dysfunction through NOX4/ROS signal pathway.

Objective: The effect of Lonicera caerulea anthocyanin on the expression of liver X receptor α (LXRα), scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), ATP-binding cassette transporter G5 (ABCG5), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7a1) in hyperlipidemic rat liver were investigated in this study. Methods: Totally 60 male Wistar rats at the age of two months were randomly divided into 6 groups including 10 rats with normal feed and 50 rats with high-fat diet for the diabetic model establishment. After model establishment in 30 days, the diabetic rats were divided 5 groups with basic diet group (ND, 1.2 g/(kg·d) physiological saline intragastric administration), high-fat diet group (HFD, 1.2 g/(kg·d) physiological saline intragastric administration), 10 mg/(kg·d) simvastatin tablet intragastric administration group as the positive control, and low dose, middle dose and high dose of Lonicera caerulea anthocyanin groups (HFD + L, HFD + M, HFD + H, Lonicera caerulea anthocyanin at 4.0, 40.0 and 120.0 mg/(kg·d). The intragastric administration was last for 28 days. The expression levels of LXRα, SB-BI, ABCG5, PPARγ and CYP7a1 were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Compared with HFD group, the mRNA expression levels of SR-BI and ABCG5 mRNA were not significant after the intervention of L. caerulea anthocyanins (P > 0.05); the mRNA expression levels of LXRα and CYP7a1 of HFD + M and HFD + H group in liver tissue were increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); the mRNA expression levels of PPARγ of HFD + L, HFD + M and HFD + H group in liver tissue were decreased. Conclusion: The L. caerulea anthocyan can improve LXRα and CYP7a1 and can decrease PPARγ in liver tissue of hyperlipidemic rats; and regulate blood lipid level of hyperlipidemic rats, thereby preventing arteriosclerosis.

Purpose: To investigate the hypoglycemic effect of different doses of dietary fiber from a 1:1:1 mixture of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), black soybeans [Glycine max (L.) merr)] and mungbeans (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) on diabetic rats. Methods: A diabetic rat model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of strepozotocin solution (150 mg/kg). After successful model establishment, the animals were administered by gavage with the dietary fiber for 42 successive days. Body mass, pancreas to body mass ratio, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and the levels of serum hepatic glycogen, insulin (INS) and glycosylated serum protein (GSP) were measured, and pathological observation of pancreatic tissue sections was carried out by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: Compared with the model group, body mass was highly significantly higher in all treatment groups except for the low-dose dietary fiber group (P < 0.01); FBG level was significantly lower in the low-dose dietary fiber group (P < 0.05) and highly significantly lower in the intermediate- and high-dose dietary fiber and glibenclamide groups (P < 0.01). Pancreas to body mass ratio was higher in rats in the treatment groups than that of rats in the model group; the intermediate- and high-dose dietary fiber and glibenclamide groups showed a significant increase in pancreas to body mass ratio (P < 0.05). All dose groups presented an increase in hepatic glycogen and serum INS levels and a decrease in GSP level compared with the model group. Histopathological examination showed that pancreatic injury was significantly alleviated in all dose groups, with increased number of islet cells and decreased degree of edema. Conclusion: Dietary fiber from the bean mixture can reduce blood glucose level and alleviate pancreatic injury in diabetic rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of the predominant serotypes of Salmonella isolated from retail fresh meat and the relationship between the pathogenicity and virulence genes. The pathogenicity of the dominant serotypes including S. agona, S. derby, S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium against specific pathogen free (SPF) Kunming mice was evaluated by improved Karber’s method, and the distribution of 9 virulence genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results demonstrated that four predominant Salmonella serovars showed high mortalities of up to 40%?70%. S. enteritidis, S. agona and S. derby had similar pathogenicity, while weaker pathogenicity was observed for S. typhimurium. The pathogenicity of Salmonella was associated with the sseL gene on Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI-2).

Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on cadmium-induced intestinal damage in rats. Methods: A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into normal control (CON) group, cadmiuminduced damage model group (CdCl2, Cd), cadmium damage model + chlorogenic acid treatment group (Cd + CGA) and cadmium damage model + sunflower seed extract treatment group (Cd + SSE). CdCl2 was daily administered by gavage at a dose of 6 mg/kg to the animals, and both chlorogenic acid and SSE (calculated as CGA) at 50 mg/kg. On the other hand, the control group was given an identical volume of distilled water. The administration lasted for 14 d. Body mass and feed intake were regularly recorded during this period. All animals were sacrificed to collect blood, liver, kidney and intestinal tissues. Intestinal mucosal morphology was observed and intestinal mucosal injury score was evaluated. In addition, intestinal villus height and crypt depth were measured and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum albumin level were determined. Results: CGA and SSE could significantly increase body mass in the rats with cadmium-induced damage and CGA significantly enhanced feed intake (P < 0.05). CGA and SSE could significantly alleviate abnormality of liver index and ileum index in response to cadmium-induced damage (P < 0.05). Moreover, CGA also significantly alleviated abnormality of kidney index and jejunum index (P < 0.05). CGA and SSE significantly inhibited the activities of AST and ALT and increased the intestinal villus height and crypt depth of the rats with cadmium-induced damage (P < 0.05). Morphological observation showed that CGA could effectively inhibit mucosal cell death caused by cadmium. Conclusion: Chlorogenic acid can effectively alleviate cadmium-induced intestinal injury.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the anti-obesity efficacy of white, green and black tea extract (GTE, BTE and WTE) and white tea infusion (WTI) in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity and to investigate their mechanisms of action. Methods: For this study, GTE, BTE and WTE were prepared from Shoumei green tea, Bailin Gongfu black tea and Anji Bai white tea, respectively. C57BL/6J mice were fed on a high-fat diet or a normal diet supplemented with WTE, GTE, BTE, WTI or distilled water. After 8 weeks of feeding, body mass, wet mass of adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipocyte diameter and serum lipid levels of mice were determined. The pathological changes of liver and adipose tissues were observed. The differential expression profiles of lipid metabolism-related genes in liver tissues of mice were also determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: GTE and WTE reduced body mass gain in high-fat diet-fed rats by 22.49% and 21.23%, respectively, and they also significantly decreased the wet mass of adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipocyte diameter (P < 0.05). BTE reduced body mass gain by 9.03%, but had no significant effect on the wet mass of adipose tissue or subcutaneous adipocyte diameter (P > 0.05). The BTE, WTI and model control groups showed hepatic steatosis, whereas the liver of mice in the GTE and WTE groups was kept in good condition. GTE and WTE could improve lipid metabolism disorder induced by high-fat diet at the transcription level. Conclusion: At the dosages used in this study, hepatotoxicity and growth inhibition have not been found in the WTE, GTE and BTE groups. GTE and WTE can regulate the transcription and expression of lipid metabolism-related genes, inhibit fatty acid synthesis and enhance liver fatty acid oxidation, thus effectively preventing the occurrence of obesity and fatty liver in high-fat diet-fed mice. The effect of GTE is slightly better than that of WTE (P > 0.05). However, BTE has little anti-obesity efficacy and no protective effect on the liver. In addition, WTI can not prevent the occurrence of obesity and fatty liver in high-fat diet-fed mice.

The changes of epicuticular wax content and major chemical components in Korla fragrant pear and their relationship with storage quality were studied during normal temperature and cold storage. The changes of major waxy components were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the storage quality was evaluated in terms of fruit mass loss percentage, decay incidence, hardness, soluble solids, titratable acid and total phenol contents. The results showed that the initial increase and subsequent decrease in waxy content were inhibited during storage at (0 ± 1) ℃ compared with at normal temperature. Alkanes, fatty acids and olefins were most abundant, followed by alcohols, aldehydes and esters for both storage temperatures. The content of alkanes showed an initial increase followed by a decrease, the content of fatty acids and olefins gradually increased, while the contents of alcohols, aldehydes and esters showed a downward trend with storage time. The refrigerated condition inhibited the increase of fatty acids, olefins and alkanes (during the early stage of storage), the decrease of aldehydes and alkanes (during the early stage of storage), while it had no significant impact on alcohols or esters. For both normal temperature and refrigerated storage, the contents of wax, olefins and fatty acids were significantly correlated with mass loss percentage, decay incidence, hardness, soluble solids and titritable acid contents (P < 0.01) and the contents of wax and total phenols were significantly correlated with each other (P < 0.01). While ester content had no significant correlation with other parameters for normal temperature storage, a significant or extremely significant correlation was noted for cold storage (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

The effect of 1 μL/L 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the softening of Nanguo pear fruits during postharvest storage at room temperature (23 ± 1) ℃ was studied. The results showed that 1-MCP treatment delayed the occurrence of ethylene peak and decreased its peak value, slowed down the decrease in fruit firmness and the increase in malondialdehyde content, significantly inhibited the activities of cellulase, polygalacturonase, pectin methyl esterase and amylase, retarded the increase in soluble pectin content, and simultaneously delayed the decrease in cellulose, protopectin and starch contents. Therefore, 1-MCP treatment could effectively slow down the softening process of postharvest Nanguo pear fruits and prolong its storage life.

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Yujinxiang ) was analyzed for changes in the contents of amino acids and aroma esters derived from amino acid metabolism and the activities of glutamate pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) during postharvest storage at room temperature. This study examined the influence of postharvest benzothiadiazole (BTH) treatment on the amino acid mechanic pathways for the production of aroma esters, and it also elucidated the underlying mechanism. The results showed that the peak time of aroma esters was delayed and the release amount was inhibited by 19.10% by BTH treatment as compared to the untreated control. A total of 15 free amino acids were separated and identified; total free amino acid content in the control group reached its peak (14 597 μg/g) on the 6th day of storage, whereas the peak for the BTH treatment group appeared on the 8th day, 9.47% lower than that of the control (P < 0.05). BTH treatment inhibited the activities of GOT, PDC and PDH during storage and reduced these enzyme activities by 31.80%, 16.86% and 24.30% for peel and by 19.10%, 14.70% and 25.56% for pulp, respectively and it significantly inhibited GOT activity in peel (P < 0.05). On the other hand, no significant difference in GPT activity existed between the groups (P > 0.05). Total amino acid content and GOT activity were highly significantly positively correlated with the content of aroma esters (P < 0.01). Water treatment affected amino acid contents, metabolic enzyme activities and the release of aroma esters as metabolites, but this effect was irregular. Therefore, BTH treatment can reduce amino acid contents, and inhibit the activities of related metabolic enzymes, thereby affecting the release of aroma esters.

The effect of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) treatment at different concentrations ranging from 1?500 mmol/ L on the induction of disease resistance in postharvest grape berries and the resistance responses were investigated in the present study. The results showed that BABA treatment could effectively induce disease resistance against Botrytis cinerea infection in grape berries during storage at 20 ℃. Both mock-inoculated and B. cinerea-inoculated grape berries treated with 100 or 500 mmol/L BABA exhibited typical resistance responses, namely H2O2 burst, enhanced expression of defenserelated genes including VvNPR1.1, VvChit4 and VvPR2, and increased activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase as well as the accumulation of stilbene phytoalexins such as trans-resveratrol and its oligomer ε-viniferin. BABA at a concentration of 10 mmol/L had no effect on inducing disease resistance in grape berries directly. However, in grape berries pretreated with 10 mmol/L BABA and then inoculated with B. cinerea, H2O2 production, the transcription levels of pathogenesis-related genes and the contents of phytoalexins significantly increased among all treatments. Meanwhile, 10 mmol/L BABA-treated grape berries maintained higher contents of soluble sugars and higher sweetness index when compared with those treated with BABA at 100 and 500 mmol/L. These results implied that high concentration of BABA (100 and 500 mmol/L) could directly activate defense responses, while low concentration of BABA (10 mmol/L) could trigger a priming defense to prevent substrate overconsumption and maintain fruit quality.

Bacterial cellulose-tea polyphenol composite films were prepared by soaking bacterial cellulose hydrogel in tea polyphenol solution and then thermally drying it. The optimization of tea polyphenol concentration and soaking time was done based on the antimicrobial activity, mechanical properties, light transmittance, water absorption, water vapor permeability and structure of bacterial cellulose-tea polyphenol composite films. Our aim was to obtain composite films with strong antibacterial activity and good flexibility. The results showed that the concentration of tea polyphenols was positively correlated with the antibacterial ability of the composite films. When tea polyphenol concentration was greater than 0.2%, the inhibition zone diameter was significantly changed (P < 0.05), indicating strong antimicrobial activity. With increasing concentration of tea polyphenols, the tensile strength, light transmittance, water absorption and water vapor transmission rate declined gradually, while the elongation at break, thickness and flexibility increased. To cut down the cost of the composite film and at the same time not to affect its quality, the optimum concentration of tea polyphenols was determined to be 0.2%. All the parameters of the composite film changed with soaking time similarly as with tea polyphenol concentration; they did not change significantly (P > 0.05) when soaking time exceeded 4 h. Four hours was therefore selected as the optimal soaking time. The cellulose-tea polyphenol composite film had a characteristic absorption peak of bacterial cellulose. Compared with the pure film, the composite film was more compact, closely linking tea polyphenols to bacterial cellulose molecules.

In the present study, to extend shelf-life, we investigated the changes in the physicochemical and microbiological qualities of fresh ginseng packaged in nitrogen atmosphere during storage at 4, 37 and 45 ℃. Further, the changes in total saponin content and moisture content during storage at different temperatures were monitored and a first-order kinetic model was established describing the effect of storage temperature on total saponin content. The results showed that moisture and total saponin contents in fresh ginseng generally decreased with increasing storage temperature. At 37 ℃, the total number of colonies on the surface of fresh ginseng increased with storage time, while the opposite was observed at 45 ℃. The proposed first-order kinetic model had good fitness (R2 > 0.94) and the temperature-dependent variation of total saponin content was well described by the Arrhenius equation. The shelf-life of nitrogen-packed fresh ginseng at different temperatures could be predicted based on the changes in total saponin content. The validation experiments showed that the relative error of the prediction was less than 10%.

The effects of the treatment of young fruits with 20 mg/L of 1-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-3-phenylurea (CPPU) and mass loss during room-temperature storage on the quality and electrical characteristics of two kiwifruit varieties, ‘Qinmei’ and ‘Hayward’ were investigated. Results showed that CPPU treatment and mass loss during storage could lead to a significant decline in fruit quality. For ‘Qinmei’ and ‘Hayward’ kiwifruits, the greatest impact came from mass loss and CPPU treatment, respectively. Out of 24 frequencies tested, 3 980, 2 510, 251 and 631 kHz were selected respectively as the characteristic frequencies for CPPU treated and untreated ‘Qinmei’ and ‘Hayward’ kiwifruits, and the sensitive electrical parameter for all four samples was equivalent parallel inductance (Lp). Based on the relationship between VC content and Lp, described by a regression equation, CPPU treated kiwifruits could be non-destructively tested and distinguished from the untreated ones. There was no significant correlation between percentage mass loss and electrical characteristics, and it was impossible to establish a mathematical model to achieve non-destructive testing of kiwifruit freshness.

To prepare pomelo peel based antimicrobial films by the tape casting method, carvacrol was added as an antimicrobial agent to the film-forming solution. The effects of carvacrol addition on the color, light transmittance, microstructure, water vapor permeability, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the films were investigated. The results indicated that the films gradually turned yellow, and the light transmittance, water vapor permeability and tensile strength were decreased with the addition of carvacrol, whereas the thickness, elongation at break, and antibacterial efficiency were increased. Based on the measurement results, pomelo peel based antimicrobial films with 1.0% of carvacrol had good overall performance, whose thickness, tensile strength, elongation at break water vapor permeability, light transmittance, and inhibition zone areas for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were (0.125 ± 0.021) mm, (12.53 ± 0.72) MPa, (16.29 ± 0.60)%, (4.06 ± 0.25) × 10?12 g·cm/(cm2·s·Pa), (49.97 ± 0.38)%, (377.62 ± 19.63) mm2 and (506.82 ± 11.28) mm2, respectively. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the application of pomelo peel based antimicrobial films added with carvacrol.

The thermal properties and microstructure of five edible composite films (CW10/Z0, CW10/Z1, CW10/Z2, CW10/Z3 and CW8/Z3) consisting of two layers: corn and wheat starch layer and zein layer were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), different scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (X-RD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the differences in the physicochemical properties of these composite films were also studied. The results showed that after adding a layer of zein, the water resistance was enhanced and the mechanical properties were improved. Meanwhile, tightly coupled bilayer films were observed by SEM. TG and DSC analysis showed that the thermal stability of the bilayer films was improved. X-RD indicated good compatibility between the biological macromolecules, and FTIR spectroscopy revealed that new hydrogen bonds were formed between the two film layers. The results of this study can provide an important basis for the application of corn and wheat starch/zein bilayer films in food packaging.

Monascus spp. has a long history of use in food additive, fermented food, winemaking and traditional Chinese medicine in China. At present, although the problem of the presence of citrinin in Monascus pigments produced by liquidstate fermentation has been substantially solved, high levels of citrinin produced by Monascus spp. during solid-state fermentation are one of the main technical difficulties in the production of pigments by Monascus spp. In this paper, the toxicity, national standard limit, analytical methods, synthesis pathway and regulatory genes of citrinin as a secondary metabolite of Monascus spp. are summarized. Also, the main strategies for controlling the biosynthesis of citrinin by Monascus spp. are reviewed including traditional and biological methods. This review aims to provide guidance for effectively reducing the content of citrinin in Monascus pigments and promoting the healthy development of Monascus industry.

With the development of nuclear industry, radiation technology has been increasingly widely used in medical diagnosis and treatment, and radiation has become increasingly close to people’s lives. However, radiation is greatly harmful to the hematopoietic, immune, and nervous systems. As non-toxic and harmless radiation protection agents, natural products have great application prospects. In this paper, we review the recent progress made in understanding the radoiprotective effect of natural products such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, alkaloids and saponins, which will provide valuable information for studying the radiation protection of natural products.

Freezing is an important food preservation technique in the food industry; however, it has negative effects on food quality. Ultrasound-assisted freezing is a novel food freezing technique that can accelerate freezing rate, refine ice crystal size, and improve the quality of frozen foods. This review elucidates the mechanism of ultrasound-assisted freezing and the effect of ultrasound on ice crystal formation. Meanwhile, it summarizes the effects of ultrasound-assisted freezing on the quality of frozen foods and the commonly used technical parameters of ultrasound-assisted freezing. Moreover, future development directions are discussed. Hopefully, this review can provide theoretical support for the application of ultrasound-assisted freezing in the food industry.

An excipient itself has no bioactivity, but can increase the efficacy of bioactive ingredients in foods when ingested together. An increasing number of bioactive ingredients have recently used in foods, medicines and dietary supplements; however, the development and utilization of bioactive ingredients are limited principally by their low bioavailability. Since the concept of excipient foods was put forward, improving the bioavailability of bioactive food ingredients through excipients has become an increasingly hot research topic. In this paper, we review the recent progress in improving the bioavailability of different bioactive food ingredients by combining with excipients with different structures in order to provide a theoretical basis for the research and development of excipient foods.

Some polysaccharides have immune-enhancing, anti-tumor and other pharmacological effects, but contain a large number of hydroxyl groups that easily form intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, thereby making them difficult to dissolve in water, and consequently restricting their application. Thefore, it is necessary to modify those polysaccharides. As a new type of green solvent, ionic liquid has a good ability to dissolve a variety of organic and inorganic macromolecules, and can be used as a medium for physical and chemical modification of polysaccharides. In this paper, the solubility and underlying mechanism of polysaccharides in different ionic liquids are reviewed. The effects of modification with ionic liquid on the structure and physicochemical properties of polysaccharides are discussed. Problems currently existing in this field of research are pointed out and future trends are dicussed. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretical basis for improving the physicochemical properties of polysaccharides and broadening their scope of application.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a major cellular energy regulator. The activation of AMPK can initiate a cascade of reactions, involved in regulating energy glucose, lipid and protein metabolisms, thereby affecting meat quality. AMPK and its downstream signaling pathways may be an important target to improve meat quality. In this article, we elucidate the activation mechanism and cascade effect of AMPK as well as its effect on meat quality, with the aim of providing a theoretical foundation for the improvement of meat quality.

Due to the rapid growing number of allergic people, food allergy is a growing public health concern. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in immune system development and function. Increasing evidences have suggested that the alteration in the composition of the microbiota caused by factors such as antibiotic use and changes in diet can contribute to increased sensitization to dietary antigens. This review presents the current understanding of the immunological mechanisms for oral tolerance establishment and food allergy development due to the loss of oral tolerance at the cellular and molecular level, discuss the potential pathways activated by commensal bacteria to protect against allergic sensitization, and provides an overview of some probiotics reported in the literature for the alleviation of food allergy. By understanding the interplay between the intestinal microbiota and the host mucosal immune system, this review aims to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of food allergy, thereby reducing its prevalence.

Foodborne pathogenic bacteria are recognized as one of the major causes of food-borne diseases. With the fast development of modern food industry, higher requirements have been placed on the rapid detection of pathogens in foods. Considered as the most abundant organism on Earth, bacteriophage can infect bacterial hosts naturally. Current research has documented that phage not only has the characteristics of simple structure, high specificity and low price, but also has the ability to distinguish between living and dead bacteria and is easy to combine with traditional methods for detecting bacterial pathogens in foods. Phages and phage-encoded products can provide a new tool for the detection of foodborne pathogens. More recently, many rapid phage-based detection methods have been developed, especially the application of phage in conjunction with immunology, molecular biology and nanoscale science. In this paper, the principles and applications of phage-based methods for the detection of foodborne pathogens are reviewed and analyzed.