Seaweeds are important marine resources that contain a great variety of beneficial compounds, including protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and carotenoids. Nutritional, functional, and industrial properties of these marine algae make them highly applicable to culinary, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and cosmetic sectors. Seaweeds are perishable as their quality gets highly influenced under certain conditions, such as high moisture content, enzymatic activity, and microbial presence. Parameters such as water activity, lipid indices, total volatile base nitrogen, microbial load, pathogen detection, pH, and sensory properties are used to determine the loss of quality and product stability over time, helping in the determination of the shelf life of seaweed during the post-harvest storage period. To extend the shelf life, several preservation methods have been explored. Traditional methods include sun drying, oven drying, salting, and fermentation, which provide easier and lower-cost conditions, but sometimes cause a compromise in quality. Modern techniques like high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, modified atmosphere packaging, and irradiation appear as solutions with lower loss of quality, higher nutrient retention, microbial safety, and sensory attributes. This review critically evaluates post-harvest deterioration mechanisms, quality assessment parameters, traditional and advanced preservation techniques, their impact on shelf life and product quality, and current consumer perceptions to promote sustainable utilization of seaweeds in response to rising global demand.
Microalgae are excellent bioaccumulators of selenium (Se) and iron (Fe), making them ideal for use in the fortification of food and feed supplements. This study aimed to investigate the effects of varying concentrations of Se and Fe on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris and its capacity to accumulate these microminerals. The optimal concentration of each micronutrient was determined by evaluating growth parameters and metal accumulation, and the effects of these metals on various bioactive compounds were then analyzed. The highest specific growth rate and final biomass productivity were found in 50 mg L-1 Fe. The maximum accumulation of Se and Fe in C. vulgaris cells reached 81.54 ± 0.46 mg kg-1 DW at 45 mg L-1 Se and 26798.51 ± 1.49 mg kg-1 DW at 150 mg L-1 Fe, respectively. Chlorophyll a content increased in C. vulgaris treated with 15 mg L-1 Se and 50 mg L-1 Fe. In contrast, the contents of β-carotene and lycopene were not significantly affected by Se and Fe treatments. Total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity significantly increased in 15 mg L-1 Se and 50 mg L-1 Fe. The fatty acid profile indicated that unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and palmitoleic acid, were the dominant components identified under Se and Fe treatments. This study suggested that C. vulgaris enriched with optimal levels of Se and Fe can be regarded as a promising candidate for the development of functional foods and nutritional purposes, due to its rich bioactive compounds.
High-intensity exercise improves aerobic and anaerobic performance, neuromuscular function, and sport-specific readiness but may also induce glycogen depletion, exercise-induced muscle damage, muscle soreness, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and temporary reductions in subsequent performance. Recovery nutrition is therefore essential to restore physiological readiness. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on nutritional strategies for recovery following high-intensity exercise, ranging from foundational macronutrients to functional foods and bioactive compounds. A structured narrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed literature retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Priority was given to position stands, consensus statements, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and human intervention studies published in English between 2011 and May 2026. Eligible studies involved athletes or physically active adults and examined biochemical, perceptual, or functional recovery outcomes after high-intensity, repeated-sprint, resistance, eccentric, or muscle-damaging exercise. Carbohydrate and protein remain the most consistently supported nutritional strategies for recovery. Carbohydrate facilitates glycogen resynthesis, particularly when recovery time is limited, whereas high-quality protein supports muscle protein synthesis and tissue repair. Functional foods and bioactive compounds may provide additional benefits as adjunct recovery strategies, although the available evidence varies considerably across exercise models, participant characteristics, supplementation protocols, and recovery outcomes. Among the functional foods reviewed, tart cherry currently has the strongest supporting evidence for selected recovery outcomes. Curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids, and beetroot have shown promising context-dependent benefits, whereas evidence for pomegranate, cocoa flavanols, and green tea remains more variable and is generally stronger for oxidative-stress modulation than for consistent improvements in functional recovery. Chronic high-dose vitamin C and E supplementation may impair training adaptations. Based on the synthesized evidence, we propose a hierarchical and periodized conceptual framework for recovery nutrition following high-intensity exercise, in which carbohydrate and protein adequacy remain the primary priorities. Within this framework, functional foods and bioactive compounds may serve as context-dependent adjuncts, and their application should be individualized according to recovery demands, competition schedule, adaptation goals, and the current strength and consistency of the available evidence.
Meat and its derivatives are susceptible to lipid and protein oxidation during processing and storage, negatively affecting product quality and stability. Oxidative processes can reduce nutritional value, flavor, texture, and shelf life. In this study, the effects of essential oils of two aromatic herbs [Echinophora platyloba DC. and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)] and their nanoencapsulation form (synthesized utilizing essential oils in conjunction with chitosan) on the physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant properties, microbial stability, and shelf life of burgers during storage at refrigeration temperatures were investigated. The particle sizes chitosan (without essential oil), chitosan nanocapsules with basil and E. platyloba essential oils were 500, 70.15, and 60.4 nm, respectively. The zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency of chitosan nanocapsules incorporating basil and E. platyloba essential oils were 63.61 and 65.18 mv, and 88.7% and 88.9%, respectively. The polydispersity index (PDI) values for chitosan nanocapsules, chitosan nanocapsules incorporating basil and E. platyloba essential oils were 0.711, 0.291, and 0.283, respectively. PDI of chitosan nanocapsules incorporating essential oils were lower than 0.5, indicating the uniform size distribution and thus the success of the nanoparticle production process. The chitosan nanocapsules with basil and E. platyloba essential oils could significantly enhance total phenolic content and antioxidant properties; however, pH, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values, color changes, total microbial counts, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, as well as mold, yeast, and psychrotrophic bacterial populations meaningfully decreased. The chitosan nanocapsules with basil and E. platyloba essential oils (1:1) had an effect on reducing the microbial count by 76%, 78%, and 69% at 4, 8, and 12 days of storage period, respectively, compared to the control. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated that the nanoencapsulation of essential oils with chitosan could improve antioxidant stability, limit microbial growth, and maintain the physicochemical characteristics of burgers during storage. In conclusion, the incorporation of the E. platyloba and O. basilicum essential oils within nanocapsule structures offers a feasible approach for the development of novel, functional, and nutritionally advantageous products. This approach may also enhance shelf life, attributable to the inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the essential oils. Further studies are necessary for sensory evaluation of burgers, isolation of secondary metabolites, as well as toxic effects of nanoencapsulated bioactive compound formulations.
Coix seed is a medicinal and nutritional resource, but its protective effects against acute lung injury (ALI) remain unclear. This study investigated the efficacy, active components, and mechanisms of Coix seed extract (CSE) against ALI, focusing on the NLRP3 signaling pathway. The therapeutic efficacy of CSE was evaluated in a murine model of ALI. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 32 components in CSE, which were then analyzed via network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations for target prediction and drug-likeness evaluation. In vivo effects on NLRP3 pathway proteins were also examined. CSE decreased serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, pulmonary levels of IL-1β and IL-18, indicating systemic and local inflammatory suppression. Furthermore, CSE downregulated the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD-N in lung tissues, suggesting inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome-driven pyroptosis. Network analysis screened 35 core targets and 4 NLRP3-related key targets involved in pathways regulating inflammation, proliferation, and oxidative stress. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations further corroborated the "component-target-disease" interactions within this network. Drug-likeness evaluation identified 12 promising compounds, including syringaldehyde, tangeretin, and eriodictyol. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CSE alleviates ALI by suppressing both inflammation and pyroptosis through multiple pathways, with NLRP3 as a central mechanistic hub. The identification of bioactive compounds with favorable pharmacokinetic properties provides a chemical basis for quality control and supports potential application of CSE as a functional food ingredient in the management of pulmonary inflammatory conditions.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine-metabolic disorder characterized by profound disturbances in energy metabolism, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying glycolytic dysfunction remain incompletely understood. Given the essential role of glycolysis in ovarian function and endocrine homeostasis, this study aimed to systematically characterize glycolysis-associated molecular alterations in PCOS and identify key metabolic regulators involved in disease pathogenesis. Transcriptomic datasets GSE34526 and GSE6798 were integrated to identify glycolysis-related differentially expressed genes (GRDEGs). Functional enrichment, immune infiltration, and regulatory network analyzes were performed to characterize the biological features associated with glycolytic dysregulation. Machine learning algorithms, including support vector machine, random forest, logistic regression, and LASSO regression, were applied to prioritize key glycolysis-associated regulators for downstream biological characterization. The functional role of GPT2 was further examined in KGN granulosa cells under PCOS-like conditions. Twelve GRDEGs were consistently dysregulated in PCOS and were predominantly enriched in glycolytic metabolism, ATP generation, and transcriptional regulatory processes. Integrative machine learning analyzes prioritized four key glycolysis-related genes (AMPD3, C5AR1, MLXIPL, and PDLIM7) associated with glycolytic remodeling in PCOS. Immune infiltration analyzes further revealed coordinated metabolic and immune remodeling, while regulatory network analyzes highlighted extensive interactions between hub genes and miRNA-, transcription factor-, and RNA-binding protein-mediated regulatory networks. Functional experiments demonstrated that GPT2 knockdown impaired glycolytic activity, reduced ATP production and aromatase activity, disrupted steroid hormone homeostasis, and exacerbated metabolic dysfunction in granulosa cells, whereas pharmacological activation of glycolysis partially reversed these alterations. Our findings provide a comprehensive characterization of glycolytic dysregulation in PCOS and identify GPT2 as a potential metabolic regulator linking altered energy metabolism to ovarian dysfunction. These findings provide a molecular framework for future studies investigating metabolism- and nutrition-based intervention strategies in PCOS.
In clinic, once the ovulated oocytes cannot be fertilized timely, they begin to undergo post-ovulatory aging, which impacts the embryo development and offspring health. Until now, there are no better methods to delay post-ovulatory oocyte aging. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant bioactive component of tea polyphenols that are beneficial for alleviating the deleterious influence of environmental factors on oocyte quality. In the present study, we examined the role of EGCG in delaying oocyte aging after ovulation in vitro. Ovulated oocytes were treated with EGCG at different concentrations, and the fragmentation rate, induced by aging, was significantly reduced by EGCG at 50 μM in vitro. To further elucidate the influence of EGCG on the quality of post-ovulatory aged oocytes, we examined the spindle morphology of aged oocytes. The results showed that EGCG significantly decreased the abnormal rate of spindle morphology in post-ovulatory aged oocytes. The high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction in post-ovulatory aged oocytes were also improved by EGCG, which might be a reason for the reduced apoptosis. The reduced sperm binding capacity of aged oocytes was increased by the addition of EGCG. These suggest that EGCG can improve the quality of post-ovulatory aged oocytes.
Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) are pseudocereals that stand out due to their high nutrient density and functional component content. Their richness in protein, dietary fiber, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive phytochemicals makes them important dietary components with potential roles in metabolic processes and inflammation-related mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chia and quinoa seeds, included at 5%, 10%, and 20% in isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets, on serum adipokines (omentin, visfatin, resistin, chemerin), insulin, anthropometric measurements, and body mass index (BMI) in healthy, normal weight male Wistar rats, relative to a control diet. Seventy male Wistar albino rats were divided into seven groups: control diet, 5%, 10%, and 20% chia seed diets (LD-CD, MD-CD, HD-CD) and 5%, 10%, and 20% quinoa seed diets (LD-QD, MD-QD, HD-QD). After 6 weeks, serum adipokine and insulin levels were measured. Weekly body weight, body length, abdominal circumference, and chest circumference were recorded, and BMI values were calculated. Chia and quinoa supplementation altered serum adipokine and insulin levels, with the observed responses varying according to the supplementation level. High-dose (20%) supplementation decreased serum chemerin, resistin, and insulin levels while increasing omentin levels compared with controls. Moderate (10%) and high (20%) supplementation altered serum visfatin levels. Chia and quinoa supplemented diets reduced BMI compared with controls. The HD-CD group also showed lower body weight gain and abdominal circumference. Including chia and quinoa seeds as dietary alternatives may positively affect serum adipokine levels and anthropometric parameters.
Cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug, inevitably causes damage to the liver and kidneys while exerting its anti-tumor effects. Carboxymethylated Poria cocos polysaccharides (CMP) have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and organ-protective properties, and also exhibit significant anti-tumor activity. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of CMP on cisplatin-induced hepatorenal damage in mice. The results showed that CMP treatment significantly mitigated abnormalities in hepatorenal function indicators and tissue damage induced by cisplatin. Furthermore, CMP significantly suppressed the increase in levels of inflammatory factors in peripheral and hepatorenal tissues, as well as the infiltration of immune cells induced by cisplatin. Additionally, CMP significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of hepatorenal tissues and inhibited oxidative damage caused by cisplatin. In vitro, CMP have also been shown to protect renal tubular epithelial cells and hepatocytes from cisplatin-induced damage. Mechanistically, our studies indicated that CMP activate Nrf2 through a phosphorylation pathway that is independent of Keap1 and reliant on PLC-PKC signaling. In conclusion, our findings suggest that CMP has the potential to serve as an adjunctive agent in cisplatin chemotherapy to protect the kidneys and liver from damage.
Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. extract, as a natural bioactive compound, possesses a wide range of health benefits; however, its inherent instability limits practical applications. To overcome this limitation, nanoparticle-based delivery systems, particularly chitosan-gum arabic nanoparticles, were employed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varying concentrations of chitosan (3-9 mg/mL), Z. clinopodioides L. extract (3-9 mg/mL), and gum arabic (0.5-1.5 mg/mL), on the physicochemical characteristics of chitosan-gum arabic nanoparticles containing the extract, using a two-step emulsion-ionic gelation approach. Key parameters, including particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency, were assessed by examining both individual and interactive effects. The process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design. The FTIR and XRD analyses were conducted to characterize the nanoparticles. Nanoparticle sizes ranged from 13.90 to 1722.75 nm, while the zeta potentials ranged from 1.63 to 46.67 mV, and the encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 20.51% to 63.66%. Notably, increasing the extract concentration reduced the encapsulation efficiency, while increasing particle size and zeta potential. Higher chitosan concentrations increased nanoparticle zeta potential. In contrast, increasing gum arabic concentration enhanced the encapsulation efficiency. The results demonstrated significant interaction effects among the formulation parameters across all measured responses. Optimal concentrations of chitosan, extract, and gum arabic were determined to be 9, 4.90, and 1.5 mg/mL, respectively, yielding a particle size of 50 nm, a zeta potential of 5.86 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 60.63%. The FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed proper encapsulation of the extract. These findings highlight the critical effects of studied parameters on practical characteristics of chitosan-gum arabic nanoparticles loaded with Z. clinopodioides L. extract.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory bowel disease globally, driven mainly by immune dysregulation and gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study focused on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BF_15, an infant-derived strain with potential to alleviate UC. Four experimental groups were established, including the control group, DSS group, BF_15 group, and LGG group. Probiotics were administrated at a dosage of 1 × 109 CFU/mL and 0.1 mL/10 g body weight (BW) for 21 days. The therapeutic effects and mechanisms of BF_15 against UC were explored based on physiological indicators, gut microbiota, and tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics. The results showed that BF_15 intervention significantly reduced the disease activity index (DAI) from 3.00 ± 0.50 to 1.16 ± 0.36 (p < 0.05) and mitigated UC-related symptoms including body weight loss and colon shortening, with colon length restored from 4.43 ± 0.32 cm to 5.41 ± 0.26 cm (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, BF_15 downregulated the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin IL-6 and IL-17A, and upregulated the levels of IL-10 (from 565.92 ± 79.40 pg/mL to 656.84 ± 66.01 pg/mL) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA, from 9.75 ± 1.29 μg/mL to 12.79 ± 1.77 μg/mL) (p < 0.05), with a therapeutic effect comparable to that of LGG. Further, gut microbiota analysis demonstrated that BF_15 restored the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (from 28.02% to 30.85%) and regulated gut microbiota homeostasis. Finally, TMT-based proteomic analysis indicated that BF_15 regulated 528 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and exhibited a superior regulatory effect on the antigen presentation and processing (APC) pathway compared with LGG. The above findings provide potential novel therapeutic targets and probiotic strain resources for the treatment of UC.
This study examined how the inoculation sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) and Wickerhamomyces anomalus (Wa), along with Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (D. nobile) addition, affects rice wine quality. Sequential inoculation with D. nobile yielded the highest levels of polysaccharides, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenols. While simultaneous inoculation raised alcohol proportion, sequential inoculation increased ester content. D. nobile reduced total flavor concentration but enhanced its diversity. Metabolic analysis indicated that both factors alter metabolites mainly via amino acid and sugar pathways. Thus, sequential Sc-Wa inoculation with D. nobile is an effective strategy for modulating wine composition, providing a reference for improving fermented rice wine quality.
The appearance of the "oxidation band" in the fluorescence spectrum of anthocyanins is an indicator of oxidative deterioration of anthocyanins and can be a useful preliminary index of food freshness. Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) fruit, rich in anthocyanins, can be subject to drying or lyophilization for domestic or industrial applications. The study was aimed at determining whether the measurement of fluorescence of dried chokeberry extracts can provide information on the extent of anthocyanin oxidation during prolonged drying at 60°C, and if fluorescence of fruit extracts can monitor anthocyanin oxidation during storage of the lyophilizates at various temperatures under air exposure. The increase in the fluorescence intensity of the extracts of chokeberry fruits or their lyophilizates at the "oxidation band" was a regular function of the time of fruit drying and the time of lyophilizate storage at 22°C and 37°C, confirming the usefulness of this parameter for estimation of oxidative changes in dried fruits and their lyophilizates. However, fluorescence of whole fruits, pulverized fruits and pulverized lyophilizate did not show a regular increase as a function of the time of fruit drying and lyophilizate storage, apparently due mainly to the effects of light scattering. The results point to the necessity of controlling the drying process of chokeberry fruits and storing their lyophilizates at ambient or higher temperatures with air access to avoid anthocyanin oxidation.
Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is widely promoted in sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, for its contribution to vitamin A deficiency mitigation. However, its potential to improve mineral nutrition remains limited by low iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentrations and their restricted bioavailability, which may contribute to persistent micronutrient deficiencies affecting 42% of children under 5 years and 37% of women of reproductive age in Senegal. In this context, organic waste products (OWPs) and microbial inocula (MIs) represent promising agroecological alternatives to conventional fertilizers for enhancing the nutritional quality of OFSP while valorizing locally available resources. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of various OWPs and MIs on tuber yield and Fe/Zn concentrations in OFSP within an agroecological production system. Field experiments were conducted across two contrasting seasons: a rainy season (June 2021-November 2021), followed by a dry season (December 2021-May 2022). The OFSP variety used was "Apomudem". Two types of MIs were tested: local beneficial microorganisms (BMs), a bacterial-fungal consortium derived from fermented forest litter, and mycorrhizal fungi (MF; Glomus mosseae). A factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with four replications was employed. Results revealed several combinations that significantly improved both yield and micronutrient content. The treatment combining poultry litter (PL) with BMs yielded 21 t ha-1 of tubers-a 2.6-fold increase compared to the unfertilized control-and doubled Zn concentration to 20 mg kg-1 DM. Additionally, the combination of PL, BMs, and MF increased Fe concentration to 44 mg kg-1 DM, a 1.7-fold increase. These effects varied with OWP and inoculum type, confirming that their interactions strongly influenced nutrient enrichment. Overall, combining OWPs with microbial inocula provides an effective agroecological approach for enriching crops with essential micronutrients and opens promising avenues for improving staple crop productivity and nutritional quality by effectively valorizing locally available resources, supporting agroecological transition, and food security.
Obesity causes chronic kidney damage. This study investigated the renoprotective effects of Gochujang, a Korean traditional fermented food, despite its high salt content. Gochujang extract (GE) significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced inflammation-related proteins, including TNF-α, in renal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells. Additionally, Gochujang markedly attenuated kidney injury-associated changes by lowering blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels, and by improving histopathology in high-fat diet (HD)-induced obese mice. Moreover, Gochujang altered HD-induced gut microbiota changes by increasing diversity and reducing the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio, whereas table salt had no effect. Importantly, alterations in the gut microbiota were strongly correlated with improvements in renal injury and inflammatory indicators, implying an association between the renoprotective effects of Gochujang and gut microbiota modulation. These findings highlight the potential of Gochujang to attenuate obesity-related kidney injury-related changes despite its high salt content.
This study aimed to optimize chlorophyll extraction from Ceratophyllum submersum L. and develop a stable spray-dried chlorophyll powder. Microwave-assisted extraction was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (Box-Behnken design) with MgCO3 concentration, microwave power, and extraction time as variables. The optimal conditions (0.763% MgCO3, 372.1 W, 5.28 min) yielded 0.187 mg/g dry mass, which closely matched the predicted value. Spray drying parameters were optimized at 25% maltodextrin, a feed rate of 6 mL/min, and an inlet temperature of 160°C. SEM revealed spherical particles with typical surface wrinkling; FTIR showed spectral features consistent with the chlorophyll-maltodextrin matrix, without allowing specific differentiation between chlorophyll and its degradation products, while XRD revealed a predominantly amorphous structure. The resulting powder exhibited a low moisture content (3.25%), high solubility (83.72%), and acceptable flowability, with a Carr index of 23.45% and a Hausner ratio of 1.30. The measured microbiological, heavy-metal, and residual-solvent levels met the evaluated safety criteria. These findings demonstrate the potential of C. submersum as an underutilized source of natural chlorophyll and provide laboratory-scale processing conditions for further compositional, storage-stability, application, and scale-up studies.
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by substantial metabolic and molecular heterogeneity, but the disease-relevant programs associated with acteoside, a dietary polyphenol, remain poorly understood. We integrated predicted acteoside targets with bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomic data from ccRCC and combined molecular subtyping with cross-cohort machine-learning analysis. Acteoside-related signatures were preferentially enriched in malignant compartments and increased with tumor grade and stage. Consensus clustering identified two molecular subtypes with distinct biological and clinical features. C1 was associated with immune activation, metabolic activity, and more favorable survival, whereas C2 showed greater genomic instability, reduced renal epithelial differentiation, and poorer outcomes. We further benchmarked multiple machine-learning strategies and established a 10-gene prognostic model that retained predictive performance across independent cohorts, with IMPDH1 emerging as the strongest risk-associated feature. Functional experiments confirmed the biological relevance of IMPDH1: its knockdown suppressed ccRCC cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, colony formation, and migration, whereas overexpression produced the opposite effects. Together, these findings indicate that acteoside-related molecular signatures capture clinically relevant heterogeneity in ccRCC and provide a framework for linking dietary-polyphenol-related molecular space with tumor biology. The identification and functional validation of IMPDH1 further highlight its potential importance in ccRCC progression.
This study investigated a patented two-stage lyophilization technique to encapsulate phenolic extract from pomegranate peel using orange peel and commercial pectin as carrier materials. The aim was to improve the stability of bioactive compounds during storage and thermal processing in baked products. Pomegranate peel extract was encapsulated using two approaches: a two-stage lyophilization method with orange peel at a 7:1 extract-to-wall ratio and a conventional single-stage freeze-drying method with pectin. Encapsulated and non-encapsulated extracts were characterized by HPLC, evaluated for color stability during accelerated storage (60°C for 45 days), and incorporated into crackers (1000 ppm) to examine thermal stability, lipid oxidation, fiber enrichment, and sensory attributes. HPLC analysis identified 17-18 phenolic compounds across the different extracts, with punicalagin as the predominant phenolic compound. Compared with commercial pectin, the orange peel-based encapsulation system showed superior retention of phenolic compounds during storage. Following baking, phenolic loss was only 6.7% in the orange peel system, compared with 40.8% and 69.4% in the non-encapsulated and pectin systems, respectively. Encapsulation also improved color stability, reduced lipid oxidation, increased dietary fiber, and maintained sensory acceptability of fortified crackers. Overall, the patented orange peel-based encapsulation system demonstrated superior protection of pomegranate peel phenolic compounds compared with the conventional pectin-based system, highlighting the potential of citrus by-products as sustainable natural carrier materials for developing functional bakery products.
Osteoporosis remains a critical public health challenge worldwide, particularly for older adults. Dietary sodium intake is considered a potentially modifiable factor related to bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis risk, but existing findings remain inconsistent, and large-scale evidence is limited. This study combines cross-sectional analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the association and potential causal relationship between sodium intake and osteoporosis. Drawing on NHANES data from the 2005-2010, 2013-2014, and 2017-2018 cycles (n = 3350), we applied weighted multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association between sodium intake and osteoporosis risk. Leveraging sodium metabolism-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables, we performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. MR estimates were derived using inverse-variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression, and weighted median methods, with robustness assessed using pleiotropy tests and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. Cross-sectional analysis showed that each 1 mg/day increase in two-day average dietary sodium intake was associated with approximately 0.011% lower odds of osteoporosis (OR = 0.99989, 95% CI: 0.99979-1.0000). Compared with the lowest quartile (Q1), participants in Q3 (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30-0.78, p = 0.004) and Q4 (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.28-0.93, p = 0.028) had lower odds of osteoporosis (p-trend < 0.05). MR analysis using the IVW method provided genetic evidence supporting a potential inverse association (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.28-0.95), although the MR-Egger estimate was nonsignificant and had a wide confidence interval (p = 0.312). These findings support a potential inverse association between sodium intake and osteoporosis risk in this study population. Further prospective and experimental studies are needed to validate these findings, clarify the underlying mechanisms, and determine whether they have any implications for dietary recommendations.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding Jerusalem artichoke to the diet of fattening boars and the effects of polymorphisms in the CYP2E1 gene on skatole levels in back fat and feces and on CYP2E1 mRNA expression in pig liver. A total of 25 crossbreed boars (LWS × Pn) × (LD × LWD) were used in this study. All boars were genotyped for c.1423G > A. The pigs were divided into two different dietary treatment groups with 0% (C-control; n = 12) and 8.2% (E-experimental; n = 13) dried Jerusalem artichoke tubers, which were fed 14 days before slaughter. The results suggest that feeding Jerusalem artichoke decreased (p = 0.0236) the level of skatole in adipose tissue. In feces, a decrease in the skatole level was observed, but there was no statistically significant difference between the control and experimental groups. The influence of polymorphism on skatole levels in adipose tissue and feces were lowest for the AA genotype and highest for the GG genotype. Differences between genotypes for skatole levels in feces were statistically significant (p = 0.0242). Differences between genotypes in adipose tissue on skatole levels showed the same trend in favor of the A allele. However, these differences were not statistically significant. This study also confirmed the significant effect of Jerusalem artichoke on the liver CYP2E1 mRNA expression. The CYP2E1 gene expression level was significantly higher in the experimental group (p = 0.0086). No significant differences in mRNA expression between different genotypes were detected.
