Dissecting seed pigmentation-associated genomic loci and genes by employing dual approaches of reference-based and k-mer-based GWAS with 438 Glycine accessions.

The soybean is agro-economically the most important among all cultivated legume crops, and its seed color is considered one of the most attractive factors in the selection-by-breeders. Thus, genome-wide identification of genes and loci associated with seed colors is critical for the precision breeding of crop soybeans. To dissect seed pigmentation-associated genomic loci and genes, we employed dual approaches by combining reference-based genome-wide association study (rbGWAS) and k-mer-based reference-free GWAS (rfGWAS) with 438 Glycine accessions.

Comparative metabolic profiling of cultivated and wild black soybeans reveals distinct metabolic alterations associated with their domestication.

Generally, cultivated black soybean (CBS) has been used as a major source of various nutrients for humans and animals. To assess the metabolic alterations induced by domestication in soybean, we performed a comprehensive metabolite profiling of 56 soybean varieties, including 28 CBS and 28 wild black soybean (WBS) varieties. A total of 48 metabolites were characterized, including 45 primary and 3 secondary metabolites, from CBS and WBS.

Simultaneous roasting and extraction of green coffee beans by pressurized liquid extraction.

Green coffee extracted by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) was found to undergo a roasting process similar to traditional roasting. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to investigate the chlorogenic acid (CGA) composition and profiling changes by PLE under different extraction conditions and showed almost identical generation and degradation of CGAs occurring during traditional coffee roasting. Compared with the traditional extraction of roasted coffee, optimized PLE coffee showed three- and two-fold higher antioxidant activity and total CGA contents, respectively.

Anti-neuroinflammatory Effects of 12-Dehydrogingerdione in LPS-Activated Microglia through Inhibiting Akt/IKK/NF-κB Pathway and Activating Nrf-2/HO-1 Pathway.

Ginger, one of worldwide consumed dietary spice, is not only famous as food supplements, but also believed to exert a variety of remarkable pharmacological activity as herbal remedies. In this study, a ginger constituent, 12-dehydrogingerdione (DHGD) was proven that has comparable anti-inflammatory activity with positive control 6-shogaol in inhibiting LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, prostaglandin (PG) E₂, nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, without interfering with COX-1 in cultured microglial cells. Subsequent mechanistic studies indicate that 12-DHGD may inhibit neuro-inflammation through suppressing the LPS-activated Akt/IKK/NF-κB pathway.

Differences in the metabolic profiles and antioxidant activities of wild and cultivated black soybeans evaluated by correlation analysis.

Wild soybeans are considered a potential resource for soybean domestication and an important source of genetic diversity for soybean crop improvement. Understanding metabolite-caused bioactivity differences between cultivated and wild soybeans is essential for designing a soybean with enhanced nutritional traits. In this study, the non-targeted metabolic profiling of 26 soybean varieties, 15 wild black soybeans (WBS) and 11 cultivated black soybeans (CBS), using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in combination with multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in 25 differential metabolites.