Psyllium: A Nutraceutical and Functional Ingredient in Foods.

Psyllium is an excellent natural source of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. It has been used as a nutraceutical and functional ingredient in foods. Many efforts have been made to understand and improve its physicochemical, biological, and functional properties to promote its food applications.

Newly identified SpoVAF/FigP complex: the role in spore germination at moderate high pressure and influencing factors.

Unlabelled: The SpoVAF/FigP complex, a newly identified dormant spore ion channel, has been shown to amplify the response of germinant receptors (GRs) to nutrient germinants. However, its contribution to high-pressure-induced germination remains unexplored. In this study, we discovered that the 5AF/FigP complex played an important role in the GR-dependent germination of spores under moderate high pressure (MHP) by facilitating the release of ions, such as potassium (K), a mechanism in parallel with its role in nutrient-induced germination.

The ant that may well destroy a whole dam: a systematic review of the health implication of nanoplastics/microplastics through gut microbiota.

Since the widespread usage of plastic materials and inadequate handling of plastic debris, nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) have become global hazards. Recent studies prove that NPs/MPs can induce various toxicities in organisms, with these adverse effects closely related to gut microbiota changes. This review thoroughly summarized the interactions between NPs/MPs and gut microbiota in various hosts, speculated on the potential factors affecting these interactions, and outlined the impacts on hosts' health caused by NPs/MPs exposure and gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Identification of novel xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides from Takifugu obscurus: Peptidomic analysis, molecular docking, and dynamics simulation.

Hyperuricemia, caused by abnormal purine metabolism, is commonly treated with xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitors, uricosuric, and dietary adjustments. Recently, marine-derived bioactive peptides have gained attention as potential functional food ingredients due to their therapeutic potential. Takifugu obscurus, an economically significant offshore fish rich in crude proteins was explored in this study as a source of XOD inhibitory peptides.

Utilization of structure-specific lignin extracted from coconut fiber via deep eutectic solvents to enhance the functional properties of PVA nanocomposite films.

This study utilized deep eutectic solvents (DES) based on choline chloride/lactic acid (ChCl/LA) to deconstruct coconut fibers. The effects of DES with different temperatures and molar ratios on the yield of lignin, recovery rate of residues, structural changes in lignin and solid residues, and saccharification efficiency were investigated. The results showed that acidic DES treatment effectively deconstructed the coconut fibers, resulting in a high lignin yield of 68.

Effects of brown seaweed oligosaccharides on obesity and constipation managements.

Brown seaweed oligosaccharides (BSO) have demonstrated potential as nutraceuticals with cholesterol-lowering, anti-obesity, and anti-constipation properties. In this study, we initially examined how BSO impact body weight, blood lipid levels, and adipose tissue in a rat model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet. Our findings revealed that BSO administration significantly attenuated body weight gain, ameliorated dyslipidemia, and reduced visceral adiposity.

The Effects of Adding Extruded Highland Barley Flour on the Thermomechanical Properties of Wheat Flour Dough and the Overall Quality of Fresh Wet Noodles.

This study examined how adding extruded highland barley flour (EHBF) affects the thermomechanical properties of wheat flour dough and the overall quality of fresh wet noodles. EHBF increased the gel strength and pasting temperature of wheat flour compared to regular highland barley flour. Moreover, higher EHBF levels reduced dough development time and stability time.

Preparation of pectin/carboxymethyl cellulose composite films via high-pressure processing and enhancement of antimicrobial packaging.

This study investigated the impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) treatment on the structure and physicochemical properties of pectin (PEC)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composite films, along with the development of new active films incorporating emodin as an antibacterial agent. The results showed that 500 MPa/20 min HPP treatment significantly improved the tensile strength (from 45.91 ± 4.

Understanding of formation, gastrointestinal breakdown, and application of whey protein emulsion gels: Insights from intermolecular interactions.

Whey protein emulsion gel is an ideal model food for revealing how the multilength scale food structures affect food digestion, as their structure and mechanical properties can be precisely manipulated by controlling the type and intensity of intermolecular interactions between protein molecules. However, there are still significant understanding gaps among intermolecular interactions, protein aggregation and gelation, emulsion gel formation, gel breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and the practical use of whey protein emulsion gels, which limits their GIT-targeted applications. In this regard, the relationship between the structure and digestion behavior of heat-set whey protein emulsion gels is reviewed and discussed mainly from the following aspects: (1) structural characteristics of whey protein molecules; (2) how different types of intermolecular interactions influence heat-induced aggregation and gelation of whey protein in the aqueous solutions and the oil-in-water emulsions, and the mechanical properties of the final gels; (3) functions of the mouth, the stomach, and the small intestine in processing of solid foods, and how different types of intermolecular interactions influence the breakdown properties of heat-set whey protein emulsion gels in GIT (i.

Mechanistic understanding of changes in physicochemical properties of different rice starches under high hydrostatic pressure treatment based on molecular and supramolecular structures.

The molecular and supramolecular structures of japonica and waxy rice starches under high hydrostatic pressure treatment (450 MPa) were studied and the changes in physicochemical properties were analyzed based on these structures. The molecular structures of japonica and waxy rice starch cause differences in the lamellar structure and physicochemical properties. The thickness of amorphous lamella of japonica rice starch increased at 5 min (2.

βAR-mTOR-lipin1 pathway mediates PKA-RIIβ deficiency-induced adipose browning.

Enhancing white adipose tissue (WAT) browning combats obesity. The RIIβ subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is primarily expressed in the brain and adipose tissue. Deletion of the hypothalamic RIIβ gene centrally induces WAT browning, yet the peripheral mechanisms mediating this process remain unexplored.

Exploration of the Family in the Gut Microbiota: Diversity, Metabolism, and Function.

The gut microbiota are mainly composed of and and are crucial for metabolism and immunity. are a family of bacteria within the order . produce short-chain fatty acids via endogenous (mucin glycans) and exogenous polysaccharides (dietary fibres).

Natural Gastrointestinal Stable Pea Albumin Nanomicelles for Capsaicin Delivery and Their Effects for Enhanced Mucus Permeability at Small Intestine.

Natural nanodelivery systems are highly desirable owing to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, these delivery systems face challenges from potential degradation in the harsh gastrointestinal environment and limitations imposed by the intestinal mucus barrier, reducing their oral delivery efficacy. Here, gastrointestinal stable and mucus-permeable pea albumin nanomicelles (PANs) with a small particle size (36.

Alanine and glutamate catabolism collaborate to ensure the success of Bacillus subtilis sporulation.

Sporulation as a typical bacterial differentiation process has been studied for decades. However, two crucial aspects of sporulation, (i) the energy sources supporting the process, and (ii) the maintenance of spore dormancy throughout sporulation, are scarcely explored. Here, we reported the crucial role of RocG-mediated glutamate catabolism in regulating mother cell lysis, a critical step for sporulation completion of Bacillus subtilis, likely by providing energy metabolite ATP.

Identification, screening and molecular mechanisms of natural stable angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from foxtail millet protein hydrolysates: a combined and study.

The stability of bioactive peptides under various food processing conditions is the basis for their use in industrial manufacturing. This study aimed to identify natural ACE inhibitors with excellent stability and investigate their physicochemical properties and putative molecular mechanisms. Five novel ACE inhibitory peptides (QDPLFPL, FPGVSPF, SPAQLLPF, LVPYRP, and WYWPQ) were isolated and identified using RP-HPLC and Nano LC-MS/MS with foxtail millet protein hydrolysates as the raw material.

Effects of Chlorogenic Acid on Lowering IgE-Binding Capacity of Soybean 7S: Comparison between Covalent and Noncovalent Interaction.

Allergenicity of soybean 7S protein (7S) troubles many people around the world. However, many processing methods for lowering allergenicity is invalid. Interaction of 7S with phenolic acids, such as chlorogenic acid (CHA), to structurally modify 7S may lower the allergenicity.

Synergistic effects of superfine grinding and high hydrostatic pressure on the contents, distribution, digestive behaviors and antioxidant activities of polyphenols in barley leaves.

Barley leaves (BLs) naturally contained abundant phenolics, most of which are hardly completely released from food matrix during gastrointestinal digestion. Superfine grinding (SFG) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) are generally used to treat the functional plants due to their effectiveness to cell wall-breaking and improvement of nutraceutical bioavailability. Thus, this study investigated the synergistic effects of SFG and HHP (100, 300, 500 MPa/20 min) on the bioaccessbility of typical phenolics in BLs during the simulated in-vitro digestion.