Diet therapy abates mutant APC and KRas effects by reshaping plasma membrane cholesterol nanodomains.

Cholesterol-enriched plasma membrane domains are known to serve as signaling platforms in a diverse array of cellular processes. However, the link between cholesterol homeostasis and mutant APC-KRas-associated colorectal tumorigenesis remains to be established. Thus, we investigated the impact of Apc-Kras on (i) colonocyte plasma membrane cholesterol homeostasis, order, and receptor nanoclustering, (ii) colonocyte cell proliferation, and (iii) whether these effects are modulated by select membrane active dietaries (MADs).

Comparative Effectiveness of Ascorbic Acid vs. Calcium Ascorbate Ingestion on Pharmacokinetic Profiles and Immune Biomarkers in Healthy Adults: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Previous trials have displayed augmented intracellular vitamin C concentrations in the leukocytes at 24 h after acute supplementation with 1000 mg calcium ascorbate (CA), compared to ascorbic acid (AA).

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate comparative leukocyte vitamin C accumulation kinetics over 32 h following acute 250 mg or 500 mg doses from the two sources. Secondary objectives were to evaluate neutrophil phagocytic function and lymphocyte differentiation between the two sources of vitamin C.

Continuous-Flow High-Pressure Homogenization of Blueberry Juice Enhances Anthocyanin and Ascorbic Acid Stability during Cold Storage.

Blueberries ( section ) have a wealth of bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins and other antioxidants, that offer significant health benefits. Preserving these compounds and maintaining the sensory and nutritional qualities of blueberry products such as juice during cold market storage is critical to meet consumer expectations for nutritious, safe, and minimally processed food. In this study, we compared the effects of two preservation processing techniques, high-temperature short-time (HTST) and continuous flow high-pressure homogenization (CFHPH), on blueberry juice quality during storage at 4 °C.

Bacterial diversity and composition on the rinds of specific melon cultivars and hybrids from across different growing regions in the United States.

The goal of this study was to characterize the bacterial diversity on different melon varieties grown in different regions of the US, and determine the influence that region, rind netting, and variety of melon has on the composition of the melon microbiome. Assessing the bacterial diversity of the microbiome on the melon rind can identify antagonistic and protagonistic bacteria for foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms to improve melon safety, prolong shelf-life, and/or improve overall plant health. Bacterial community composition of melons (n = 603) grown in seven locations over a four-year period were used for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and analysis to identify bacterial diversity and constituents.

The expression and function of growth hormone secretagogue receptor in immune cells: A current perspective.

The orexigenic hormone ghrelin and its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), have been extensively studied in the last two decades, revealing that ghrelin signaling has important implications in health and disease. Metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, are often accompanied by low-grade chronic inflammation, that has been coined as "meta-inflammation." Immune cells are key cellular mediators of meta-inflammation, controlling both initiation and resolution of inflammation.

Raman Spectroscopy Detects Changes in Carotenoids on the Surface of Watermelon Fruits During Maturation.

A non-invasive and non-destructive technique, Raman spectroscopy, was explored to distinguish different maturity stages (20, 30, 40, and 50 days after anthesis) of watermelon () fruits from four cultivars: Fascination, Orange Crisp, Amarillo and Crimson Sweet. Spectral acquisition from the fruit surface was carried out at the wavelength range of 400-2,000 cm using a handheld Raman spectrometer equipped with 830 nm laser excitation source. The spectra were normalized at 1,438 cm which was assigned to CH and CH vibration.

Separation of nordihydrocapsiate from capsiate and major capsaicinoid analogues using ultra high performance liquid chromatography.

Accurate, rapid quantitation of the capsaicinoid and capsinoid compounds produced by peppers (Capsicum spp.) is essential to assess quality. Here, we developed a rapid ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous separation of five major capsaicinoids and three major capsinoids from peppers.

Assessment and Classification of Volatile Profiles in Melon Breeding Lines Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

L is one of the most commercial and economical crops in the world with several health beneficial compounds as such carotenoids, amino acids, vitamin A and C, minerals, and dietary fiber. Evaluation of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in different melon ( L.) breeding lines provides useful information for improving fruit flavor, aroma, and antimicrobial levels.

Nutritional Composition and Health Benefits of Various Botanical Types of Melon ( L.).

Characterizing the diverse melon cultivars for nutrition aids in crop improvement and promoting a healthy diet. Here, we used in vitro assays to characterize the nutritional qualities and health-beneficial effects of 30 melon ( L.) genotypes, including 10 improved cultivars, 16 landraces, and 4 wild types collected from different parts of India.

Optimization of Extraction Solvent and Fast Blue BB Assay for Comparative Analysis of Antioxidant Phenolics from L.

Melon ( L.) fruits contain multiple health-promoting compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are antioxidants. Accurate measurement of antioxidant activities and total phenolic contents (TPCs) require an efficient solvent extraction.

Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles as Safer Seed Priming Agent to Improve Chlorophyll and Antioxidant Profiles in Watermelon Seedlings.

The use of nanoscale nutrients in agriculture to improve crop productivity has grown in recent years. However, the bioefficacy, safety, and environmental toxicity of nanoparticles are not fully understood. Herein, we used onion bulb extract to synthesize manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO-NPs).

Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiabetic Properties and In Silico Modeling of Cucurbitane-Type Triterpene Glycosides from Fruits of an Indian Cultivar of L.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and one of the fastest-growing health challenges of the last decades. Studies have shown that chronic low-grade inflammation and activation of the innate immune system are intimately involved in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis. L.

Production system influences tomato phenolics and indoleamines in a cultivar-specific manner.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit is a rich source of health-promoting compounds, and epidemiological studies show that tomato consumption may reduce the risk of chronic diseases. This study compared the effect of genotype, production system, and their interaction on eight tomato varieties grown in the open-field (OF) or net-house (NH), a structure completely covered with a 50-mesh screen to reduce pest and wind damage, in South Texas. The NH structure reduced solar radiation up to ~30% and decreased wind speed by 6.

Citrus limonoids induce apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells.

In our recent study, we demonstrated that certain limonoids isolated from citrus seeds induced apoptosis in human pancreatic (Panc-28) cells. In this study, limonin, nomilin and limonexic acid (LNA) were investigated for understanding the possible mode of cytotoxicity in cultured pancreatic cancer (Panc-28) cells. All three limonoids inhibited Panc-28 cell proliferation, with IC50 values less than 50 μM after 72 h of incubation.

Improved Sample Preparation and Optimized Solvent Extraction for Quantitation of Carotenoids.

Accurate, rapid quantitation of key antioxidants such as carotenoids is important for assessment of food quality. Carotenoids are lipid-soluble pigments that are susceptible to oxidation due to their highly conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds. Therefore, the present work focuses on improving sample preparation to facilitate rapid analysis of carotenoids.

Hormonal and metabolites responses in Fusarium wilt-susceptible and -resistant watermelon plants during plant-pathogen interactions.

Background: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON) causes Fusarium wilt in watermelon.

Effects of genotype and production system on quality of tomato fruits and in vitro bile acids binding capacity.

Tomato is an important source of health-promoting constituents, and researchers have focused on enhancing the content. In the present study, the influence of net-house (NH) and open-field (OF) growing conditions on physicochemical traits of tomatoes from eight different cultivars were evaluated. The tomato fruit qualities, such as color, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity (TA), and pH were measured.

Tomato Metabolic Changes in Response to Tomato-Potato Psyllid () and Its Vectored Pathogen Liberibacter solanacearum.

The bacterial pathogen ' Liberibacter solanacearum' (Lso) is transmitted by the tomato potato psyllid (TPP), , to solanaceous crops. In the present study, the changes in metabolic profiles of insect-susceptible (cv CastleMart) and resistant (RIL LA3952) tomato plants in response to TPP vectoring Lso or not, were examined after 48 h post infestation. Non-volatile and volatile metabolites were identified and quantified using headspace solid-phase microextraction equipped with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) and ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-HR-QTOFMS), respectively.

Comparative Metabolomics Profiling of Polyphenols, Nutrients and Antioxidant Activities of Two Red Onion ( L.) Cultivars.

Onion is among the most widely cultivated and consumed economic crops. Onions are an excellent dietary source of polyphenols and nutrients. However, onions phytonutrient compositions vary with cultivars and growing locations.

Multivariate Analysis of Amino Acids and Health Beneficial Properties of Cantaloupe Varieties Grown in Six Locations in the United States.

Cantaloupe is a good dietary source of amino acids, including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamine, and citrulline. However, the levels of these amino acids vary among different cantaloupe varieties grown in different locations. Understanding the variation in amino acid contents provides fundamentally important information for quality control and improving melon varieties.

Effect of production system and inhibitory potential of aroma volatiles on polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity in tomatoes.

Background: Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) are key enzymes associated with shelf life and defense responses. Thus, the activity of PPO and POD enzymes is usually assessed to check the quality of food samples and to understand the physiological responses of plants to different stresses. However, the outcomes of PPO and POD activity assessment studies are highly dependent on assay conditions.

UPLC-QTOF-MS fingerprinting combined with chemometrics to assess the solvent extraction efficiency, phytochemical variation, and antioxidant activities of Beta vulgaris L.

Accurate assays of plant antioxidants and other phytochemicals require efficient extraction conditions and enable rigorous assessments of crop varieties and production systems. This study assessed the extraction of phytochemicals and antioxidants from conventionally or organically grown red and golden beets (Beta vulgaris L.), using twenty solvent (S1-S20) mixtures containing water, methanol, and ethanol alone or with acids (ascorbic, formic, acetic).

H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics Reveal Enhancement of Growth-Promoting Metabolites in Onion Seedlings Treated with Green-Synthesized Nanomaterials.

Seed priming is a promising approach to improve germination, emergence, and seedling growth by triggering pre-germinative metabolism and enhancing seedling vigor. Recently, nanopriming gained importance in seed improvement as a result of the small size and unique physicochemical characteristics of nanomaterials. In the present study, silver and gold nanoparticles were synthesized using onion extracts as the reducing agent.

Nanoparticle-Mediated Seed Priming Improves Germination, Growth, Yield, and Quality of Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) at multi-locations in Texas.

Seed priming uses treatments to improve seed germination and thus potentially increase growth and yield. Low-cost, environmentally friendly, effective seed treatment remain to be optimized and tested for high-value specialty crop like watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in multi-locations. This remains a particularly acute problem for triploids, which produce desirable seedless watermelons, but show low germination rates.

CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED1 Controls Resistance to Aphids by Altering Indole Glucosinolate Production.

CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED1 (CCA1), a well-known central circadian clock regulator, coordinates plant responses to environmental challenges. Its daily rhythmic expression in Arabidopsis () confers host resistance to the caterpillar However, it is unclear whether CCA1 plays a role in defense against phloem sap-feeding aphids. In this study, we showed that green peach aphid () displayed an intrinsic circadian feeding rhythm.