Polyphenols are phytochemicals present in plants and their by-products. To use them as functional supplements, extraction should be carried out with non-toxic solvents. In this work, ChCl-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) combined with organic acids, polyols or carbamides were evaluated on pomegranate husk and hibiscus flowers. The chromatographic profile of DES 1 and DES 3 extracts from pomegranate showed punicalagin as the main compound. Also, the extract from hibiscus made with DES 3 presented characteristic anthocyanins and some phenolic acids. With pomegranate husk, DES 1 and 3 extracts presented a similar extraction yield when compared with a hydroalcoholic extract. With hibiscus flowers, the hydroalcoholic system was the most efficient, followed by DES 3. In the biological evaluation, DESs extracts showed a significant effect on the viability of triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBCc) in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 calculated for DES 3 extracts from pomegranate husk and hibiscus flowers were 0.21 and 0.87 mg/mL, respectively. For DES 1 extracts, 0.28 and 0.66 mg/mL. The selectivity index indicates a high selectivity in DES 1, DES 3 and hydroalcoholic extracts from pomegranate. Low selectivity in DES 1 extract from hibiscus flowers was also showed. Finally, TNBCc showed morphological changes compared to cells without treatments. Our research showed that the use of DESs for the extraction of polyphenolics from pomegranate and hibiscus, present an extraction efficiency similar to traditional solvents. In addition, in an in vitro evaluation, it can promote proliferation in non-cancerous cells and selectively decrease in viability of TNBC cells.
Xerophytic shrubs such as Corethrodendron fruticosum are increasingly used for ecological restoration in arid regions, yet knowledge of their seed production under cultivated conditions remains limited, particularly regarding the interactive effects of water and phosphorus fertilization. Taking Corethrodendron fruticosum as the target species, we conducted a three-year field trial in Zhangye, Gansu, with three irrigation treatments (W0: 0 times, 0mm; W3: 3 times, 225mm; W4: 4 times, 275mm) and four phosphorus application rates (0, 60, 120, 180 kg P2O5·ha-1). We systematically analysed the effects of water–phosphorus interactions on seed yield, yield components, yield stability, water use efficiency, phosphorus fertilizer use efficiency and economic returns. The results indicated that there is a significant interaction between irrigation and phosphorus fertilization on seed yield (P < 0.05). Seed yield increased with irrigation frequency and phosphorus rate, but no significant difference was observed between W3 and W4, and yield plateaued at 120 kg P2O5·ha-1. Structural equation modeling revealed that water–phosphorus synergy promoted seed yield indirectly by increasing the number of florets per branch and pods per branch, both significantly correlated with yield. The highest yield stability was achieved under the combination of W4 and 120 kg P2O5·ha-1, indicating that adequate water and phosphorus can buffer interannual environmental fluctuations. Water use efficiency (input-based) decreased as irrigation increased but increased with higher phosphorus application rates. The combination of W4 and 120 kg P2O5·ha-1 showed the best agronomic efficiency in 2022 and 2023. Partial factor productivity decreased with higher phosphorus rates. Economic analysis showed that W3 combined with 120 kg P2O5·ha-1 having the numerically highest estimated profit. In summary, the water-phosphorus synergy is a joint effects for the seed production of Corethrodendron fruticosum in arid regions. This study can serve as a reference for agronomic practices to increase seed yields in C. fruticosum and similar crops.
Pneumatic conveying is vital in aquaculture for delivering fish feed pellets, but unsuitable conditions often cause mechanical damage, leading to nutrient loss, higher waste, increased Feed Conversion Ratio, and economic losses. Systematic studies on suction-type conveying of aquafeed pellets across species and growth stages remain limited. This study examined 12 commercial pellet types (rainbow trout, common carp, sturgeon; four growth stages) in a 6 m suction pipeline to identify operating regimes that best balance mechanical damage, pressure drop, conveying stability, and energy consumption, and to build a predictive modeling framework. A hybrid methodology was used: experimental tests (60 mm pipeline, air velocities 10–25 m/s, mass flow rates 0.2–0.8 kg/s), coupled CFD-DEM simulations, and a surrogate ANN model for rapid prediction of pressure drop, particle velocity, damage, and power consumption. Four flow regimes were identified: dense, unstable, transition, and dilute. The dilute phase (15–16 m/s) provided the lowest pressure drop (785–970 Pa/m) and best suspension, but increased damage (up to 8.0% in pre-starter pellets) and power use. The dense phase minimized damage (1.2–4.2%) but raised pressure drop and blockage risk. The recommended window around 15–16 m/s represents a practical multi-objective compromise. The hybrid CFD-DEM + ANN model achieved high accuracy (R2 > 0.96, MAE < 5%) and identified inlet air velocity and mass flow rate as dominant factors. Because the experiments were performed on a short laboratory pipeline, the quantitative results should be validated on longer industrial lines before direct scale-up.
Organic cultivation is considered to improve crop quality, yet its effects on rice grain metabolome and the underlying association with rhizosphere microorganisms remain unclear. Here, we integrated untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS) with amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA and ITS) to compare conventional and organic rice cultivated in the Panjin region, and to examine metabolite-microbe associations. The results revealed that organic cultivation was associated with higher relative levels of antioxidant flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamin E, and a sugar alcohol, alongside lower accumulation of stress-responsive and several putatively undesirable metabolites. Organic management also enriched functionally beneficial bacteria (e.g., Halomonas) and saprotrophic fungi, whereas conventional cultivation favored taxa such as Gallionella. Functional predictions suggested enhanced ABC transporter and quorum sensing pathways in the organic rhizosphere, and correlation analysis showed that organic-enriched microorganisms tended to positively correlate with beneficial metabolites and negatively correlate with stress-responsive metabolites. Collectively, this study provides the first correlational evidence linking rice grain metabolome with rhizosphere microbiome in the Panjin region, and suggests that organic cultivation may influence rice quality through its associations with rhizosphere microbial community composition.
Adipose tissue exhibits pronounced depot-specific heterogeneity in pigs, yet the molecular basis underlying these functional differences remains largely unexplored. This study systematically compared the lipidomic and transcriptomic profiles of four adipose depots, including the abdominal fat (ABF), thoracic backfat (TBF), visceral fat (VEF), and leaf fat (LEF). Lipidomic results showed that VEF exhibited the highest lipid abundance. Ceramide alpha-hydroxy fatty acid-sphingosine (Cer-AS) combined with phosphatidylcholine (PC) could serve as signature differentially accumulated lipids (DALs) to distinguish TBF, VEF, and LEF, whereas triacylglycerol (TG) might serve as a marker metabolite to differentiate ABF from LEF. KEGG analysis of both DALs and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified depot-specific and common key pathways. Integrated analysis further identified key genes (ENPP6, PLD4, CA13, HDC, CBR2, SCD, and FGF7) and lipids (Cer-AS, PC) affecting fat deposition. Collectively, our findings provide a valuable multi-omics resource and a panel of depot-specific biomarkers, offering a molecular foundation for future investigations into the biological functions of distinct adipose depots and their potential implications for porcine fat quality and meat production.
Consumers often struggle to interpret nutritional and environmental information, particularly when multiple information cues are presented simultaneously. This study investigates whether the co-presence of a colour-coded multi-level environmental label (Umwelt-Fußabdruck) and a nutritional label (Nutri-Score), with and without an ingredient list, improves German consumers’ ability to identify product healthiness and environmental impact. In addition, predictors of effective label use in these identification tasks are examined.In an online experiment, 1,218 German consumers were randomly assigned to one of three information conditions: no labels, both labels, or both labels combined with an ingredient list. Participants identified the healthiest and least healthy as well as the most and least environmentally friendly products. A performance score reflecting label-consistent product identification was calculated. Treatment effects were analysed using analysis of variance, while binary logistic regression was applied to the label groups to identify predictors of high performance.Label co-presence significantly improved the identification of product healthiness and environmental impact compared with the no-label condition. Providing the ingredient list alongside the labels did not affect product identification performance. Higher label attention was consistently associated with better performance, whereas positive attitudes towards food labelling were positively associated with performance, although significance varied across tasks and label groups. Knowledge and sociodemographic characteristics were primarily associated with environmental impact identification performance.Overall, the findings suggest that co-present nutritional and environmental labels can support effective product identification without their effectiveness being compromised by additional product information, while individual characteristics contribute to differences in performance.
This study investigates the effect of pre-treatment with ultrasonication (US) on the degree of hydrolysis (HD), structural characteristics, thermal stability, and antioxidant properties in bighead carp protein hydrolysate produced using Protamex. The bighead carp meat was pretreated with US for 0, 7.5, and 15 min and then hydrolyzed with Protamex. Compared to the control (0 min US; HD of 22.4%, hydrolysate yield of 17.3%, total amino acids of 79.54 g/100g, and IC50 of 3.0 mg/mL), the optimized US pretreatment (7.5 min) led to an increase in the HD to 30.0%, the hydrolysate yield to 26.0%, and total amino acids to 85.12 g/100g. The 7.5-min pretreatment led to an improvement in ABTS radical scavenging activity to an IC50 of 2.5 mg/mL while displaying solubilities up to 94% (pH 8.0). On the other hand, the ultrasound pre-treatments resulted in noticeable differences in molecular weight distribution when compared to the control (which showed a low molecular weight peptide fraction below 1000 Da of 94.18%), where the proportion of low molecular weight peptides (<1,000 Da) increased up to approximately 95% following the 15-minute US pre-treatment. Circular dichroism spectra showed a change in protein secondary structure in the sonicated samples, reflecting an increase in α-helix and unordered fractions due to acoustic cavitation and peptide unfolding, which is fully consistent with the ATR-FTIR and DSC results. The results indicated that fractions derived from sonicated hydrolysates of bighead carp could serve as effective natural antioxidants, presenting a promising option to synthetic additives in both pharmaceutical and food industries.
This study investigated the protective effects of Hoveniae Semen Seu Fructus (HSF) extract against acute alcoholic liver injury (AALI) and evaluated its potential for developing a hangover-relieving beverage. Network pharmacology prioritized candidate hub targets, including AKT1 and SRC, while molecular docking suggested potential interactions between representative HSF constituents, such as quercetin, naringenin, and stigmasterol, and selected hub proteins and alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, including ADH, ALDH, and CYP2E1. In vivo, HSF reduced liver and spleen enlargement, decreased serum ALT and AST activities, enhanced ADH and ALDH activities, and reduced CYP2E1 levels. HSF also decreased serum TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels and improved hepatic antioxidant capacity by increasing SOD and CAT activities and reducing MDA levels. The honey-lemon-HSF beverage showed comparable hepatoprotective and alcohol-metabolism-promoting effects. Overall, HSF alleviated alcohol-induced liver injury and promoted ethanol metabolism, potentially through coordinated regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and alcohol metabolism. These findings support the potential application of HSF in functional beverages for alcohol-related liver protection.
Food security and poor-quality diets are major challenges within today’s global social–ecological crises. Access to markets and more diverse diets are linked to improved nutritional quality. Previous studies have shown positive relationships between food species richness and nutritional functional diversity (NFD), a measure of the variety of nutritional traits present across food species. These studies also suggest that considering social–ecological filters may provide a more comprehensive understanding of agrobiodiversity and nutritional traits. However, little is known about how these filters shape both taxonomic and nutritional functional diversity in local markets. To investigate this question, 238 ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with vendors from four local markets in southern Chile during two different seasons (warm and cold). For each vendor, sociodemographic profiles, agrobiodiversity (plants and fungi), and nutritional functional diversity’s index was characterized. In total, 227 species and 313 ethnovarieties were reported. A positive relationship between species richness and nutritional functional richness was found, which saturated at high species numbers due to redundancy in nutritional functional traits. Generalized linear mixed models show that having a fixed stand in the market, participating in seed exchanges, and different production and sales orientations (e.g., resellers, producers, etc.) were the most supported social–ecological filters that selectively remove plant/fungal species by influencing their nutritional functional traits in local markets. The opportunities for adapting this methodology to different contexts are discussed, alongside a better understanding of how social-ecological dynamics in local markets influence agrobiodiversity and people's diets. This becomes particularly important for the process of redesigning a more resilient agri-food system in the context of global change.
Regenerative agriculture (RA) is increasingly promoted globally as a pathway to improve smallholder livelihoods and food systems. However, empirical evidence on how RA implementation affects household nutrition outcomes, and through which pathways, remains limited. In this study, we examine the association between RA implementation and household dietary outcomes among smallholder farmers in Kenya. We use primary empirical data from 949 households across two contrasting agroecological contexts and apply a sequential mixed-methods approach integrating descriptive analysis, multivariable regression, and qualitative insights from 14 focus group discussions, 33 interviews and a stakeholder workshop. We measure dietary outcomes using household dietary diversity (HDDS 12 and HDDS 9) and food consumption scores (FCS). Results show that RA implementation is positively associated with household nutrition outcomes. Both peer-trained and NGO-trained implementers exhibit significantly higher dietary diversity relative to non-adopters, with robust associations across different model specifications. Additionally, NGO-trained implementation is associated with higher food consumption scores. In contrast, no significant differences are observed in food expenditure, indicating that dietary differences are not primarily driven by increased purchasing power. Post-estimation tests further show no significant differences between peer-led and NGO-led knowledge transfer pathways, implying nutrition benefits do not depend strongly on the modality of knowledge transfer. Instead, the findings were more consistent with production-based pathways, particularly greater on-farm diversity and reduced reliance on market purchases. Income-mediated pathways are also of less importance. These findings highlight the potential for scalable, cost-effective dissemination strategies leveraging farmer-to-farmer diffusion and locally embedded knowledge systems in smallholder contexts.
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a drought tolerant cereal and the fifth most produced grain in the world with an annual production of over 60 million tons. The grains provide calories, protein, dietary fiber and minerals, especially iron and zinc, in amounts equivalent to rice or maize. Sorghum is rich in phenolic compounds, with more than 90% of these compounds concentrated in the pigmented outer layers of the grain (pericarp and testa). The main phenolics include phenolic acids (gallic and ferulic acids) and flavonoids (including flavones and flavanones) existing in all cultivars, whereas pigmented cultivars are characterized by the unique accumulation of 3-deoxyanthocyanidin. Condensed tannins, also known as proanthocyanidins, are also largely found in the pigmented testa. These bioactive compounds have been associated with numerous health-promoting effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic activities, which are mediated through free radical scavenging, modulation of enzyme activity, and regulation of the gut microbiota. However, high levels of tannins may exert antinutritional effects by binding to proteins and minerals, which reduces nutrient bioavailability. Processing greatly influences phenolic content, including germination, fermentation, and extraction. Advanced extraction techniques have been developed to maximize the recovery of sorghum phenolic compounds. Sorghum phenolic extracts are increasingly incorporated into functional foods and nutraceutical products, including antioxidant supplements and natural colorants. Future research should focus on enhancing the stability, bioavailability, and sensory characteristics, particularly reducing tannin-associated bitterness, while promoting the breeding of high-phenolic sorghum cultivars with desirable phenolic profiles to optimize their health benefit potential.
The tuber of Gastrodia elata (GR), a traditional food and medicinal homologous substance, exhibits significant variation in quality and market value across geographical origins, highlighting the need for reliable authentication methods. This study established a high-precision classification model for the origin of the mainstream cultivated variety Gastrodia elata f. elata (Hongtianma) by integrating multi-element fingerprints and functional chemicals, while also examining the response of these factors to bioclimatic factors. A total of 270 batches of GR samples from 23 counties and cities across four major producing regions were analyzed for inorganic elements and functional compounds. Nine machine learning algorithms were systematically compared through repeated stratified sampling combined with nested cross-validation, and key discriminatory variables were further correlated with bioclimatic factors using Mantel tests and Redundancy Analysis. Results revealed distinct regional chemical patterns of GR, with the Support Vector Machine (SVM) model demonstrating the best overall performance, achieving a test set accuracy of 92.53% alongside superior generalization capability (Kappa = 0.88, F1 = 87.16%). Key discriminant variables included elements such as Cd and Ca, as well as compounds such as p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and parishin C. Environmental factors, particularly temperature regimes (e.g., MTCO, AMT) and precipitation (AP), significantly correlated with chemical characteristics and contributed to the geographical differentiation of GR quality. This integrated data strategy provides a reliable tool for GR origin traceability, elucidates environmental driving mechanisms, and offers scientific support for its quality standardization, market regulation, and sustainable cultivation.
This study investigated whether the dietary substitution of soybean oil with camelina oil affects the metabolic profile, meat quality and sensory properties of pigs during the fattening–finishing phase. Twenty male Apulo-Calabrese Black Pigs (∼7 months old, 65 ± 2.7 kg) were divided into two groups differing only in dietary oil (soybean vs. camelina, 2%). Serum biochemistry was analyzed at the start and end of the trial, along with meat physical properties, chemical composition, fatty acid profile, antioxidant status and sensory properties. Pigs fed the diet containing soybean oil showed higher blood cholesterol at the end of the trial (p = 0.034). Meat from the camelina oil group exhibited higher L* and b* values, lower Warner Bratzler shear force and cooking loss, and reduced malondialdehyde content (p < 0.05), indicating better tenderness and oxidative stability. Protein concentration was higher in raw and cooked meat from the camelina oil group, which also showed lower cholesterol content (p = 0.031). Individual fatty acids and food risk factors were not significantly affected by dietary treatment. The camelina oil diet improved the sensory evaluation of meat, resulting in higher scores for appearance and overall liking (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that camelina oil may be an interesting and worth alternative to soybean oil in diets for finishing pigs.
Excessive maize canopy dominance can restrict peanut performance in maize/peanut strip intercropping, but the long-term effects of regulating maize canopy structure on component-crop light use and system productivity remain unclear. This study evaluated whether EDAH-mediated regulation of maize canopy dominance could alter crop light interception (LI), improve light use efficiency (LUE), and enhance system productivity. A five-year field experiment (2020-2024) was conducted in Liaoning Province, China, with sole maize, sole peanut, and maize/peanut strip intercropping treatments. Maize canopy regulation was achieved by applying a compound plant growth regulator (EDAH; 27% ethephon and 3% diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate) to maize at the V7 stage. Light interception was estimated using a strip-intercropping light interception model. Across five growing seasons, EDAH reduced the maximum plant height and leaf area index of intercropped maize by 7.9% and 14.7%, respectively, resulting in a more compact maize canopy. This canopy adjustment slightly increased peanut LI by 5.2% and reduced maize LI by 5.4%, relative to the non-sprayed intercrop, although neither difference was statistically significant. Meanwhile, canopy regulation increased dry matter-based and grain-based LUE of intercropped peanut by 18.0% and 12.0%, respectively, and increased grain-based LUE of intercropped maize by 17.8%. These responses were accompanied by yield increases of 10.1% for intercropped maize and 21.9% for intercropped peanut. For 2020-2023, EDAH increased the land equivalent ratio (LER) by 11.9% relative to the untreated intercrop. The results indicate that EDAH-mediated canopy regulation improved component-crop LUE and system productivity, while the modeled LI responses suggest that changes in crop light distribution may contribute to these benefits. These findings show that regulating maize canopy dominance can improve maize/peanut strip intercropping productivity by modifying canopy structure and balancing competition and complementarity between component crops.
Crop production systems play a crucial role in providing the food needed for healthy diets globally. The availability of a diverse range of crop products is a prerequisite for an adequate, diverse, and balanced supply of macro- and micro-nutrients to support healthy diets. While Ethiopia launched its first food-based dietary guidelines (EFBDG) in 2022, there is no evidence on whether current crop production supplies the crops required to meet the EFBDG and nutrient requirements. We conducted a descriptive analysis comparing crop production quantities and the nutrients provided by crops with the population's nutritional requirements. Our results show that cereals are overproduced, while insufficient quantities of vegetables, fruits, pulses, and nuts and seeds are produced to meet the EFBDG. Consequently, there is a surplus of total dietary energy supply, and especially that of cereals, compared to the population’s requirements. Although 14 of the 18 nutrients are supplied in sufficient amounts to meet Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), crop production fails to provide enough fat (-28%), vitamin A (-86%), vitamin E (-47%), and calcium (-4%) to meet the nutritional requirements. To address these shortages, Ethiopia needs to shift its focus from cereals to more nutrient-dense crops. We conclude that Ethiopia has the potential to align with national and international dietary guidelines by shifting its focus from cereal-based to nutrient-dense crop production systems. To make this possible, investments in agricultural infrastructure, building financial capacity, and institutional coordination for implementing nutrition-sensitive agriculture will be key to steering Ethiopian agriculture towards ensuring the availability of food to support healthy diets.
Cocoa fermentation is a critical determinant of the physicochemical and functional quality of cocoa derivatives, yet filamentous fungi remain an underexplored option as starter cultures. This study evaluated the potential of Neurospora sitophila as a fungal starter culture for cocoa fermentation, assessing its effects on fermentative dynamics, bioactive compounds, and structural properties of cocoa beans and liquor across three inoculum concentrations (5 × 103, 5 × 104, and 5 × 105 spores/mL) and a non-inoculated control. Physicochemical, colorimetric, chromatographic (HPLC), and spectroscopic (FTIR) analyses were performed throughout fermentation, drying, roasting, and liquor production, while thermal properties (DSC) were assessed in the resulting liquor. Fermentation time, rather than inoculum concentration, was the principal factor associated with pH decline (∼6.0 to ∼4.9–5.0), fermentation index progression, colorimetric changes, and bioactive compound dynamics, as indicated by multivariate (PCA, HCA) and FTIR analyses. N. sitophila inoculation produced compound-, parameter-, and stage-specific effects without a uniform dose-dependent pattern. NS5 showed the most pronounced spectral changes during fermentation, greater retention of epicatechin, catechin, theobromine, and caffeine in the liquor, and thermal behavior within the range commonly associated with the β(V) cocoa butter polymorph. Treatment effects on color were limited relative to processing stage, and no treatment performed consistently better across all parameters. Overall, N. sitophila shows potential as a fungal starter culture, but further studies incorporating microbiological monitoring, shorter fermentation times, sensory evaluation, and formal optimization are needed before establishing technological application.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) dynamics are strongly influenced by land-use systems (LUS) and topographic variability, particularly in fragile Himalayan ecosystems, where climate and vegetation interact across steep environmental gradients. However, information on SOC fractions and N pools in the wet temperate northwestern Himalayas remains limited. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of LUS (agriculture, agroforestry, horticulture, and barren land), topography (valley and mountain), and soil depth (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) on SOC fractions, carbon pool index (CPI), carbon management index (CMI), and N fractions in the high-hill wet temperate region of Himachal Pradesh, India. The results revealed significant (p<0.05) variation in SOC fractions and nitrogen pools among LUS and topographic positions. Agroforestry had the highest total organic carbon, active carbon pool, passive carbon pool, and soil nitrogen density, followed by horticulture, whereas barren land exhibited the lowest values. Among the topographies, the valley ecosystem had the highest active carbon pool (9.08 mg g-1), whereas the mountainous topographies had the highest passive pool (9.04 mg g-1). Soil depth significantly (p < 0.05) influenced carbon distribution, with Cfrac1, Cfrac2, and Cfrac3 decreasing by 45.7%, 45.8%, and 34.5%, respectively, whereas Cfrac4 increased by 84.8% from D1 to D3. The CPI and CMI were significantly (p<0.05) higher under agroforestry and horticulture systems, indicating greater carbon accumulation and changes in carbon lability. Overall, the findings indicate that land-use system, topographic position, and soil depth jointly influenced soil carbon and nitrogen distribution, with tree-based systems showing greater carbon and nitrogen accumulation than conventional agriculture. These findings highlight the potential of agroforestry as a sustainable land-use option for maintaining soil carbon and nitrogen in wet temperate Himalayan ecosystems.
Insomnia and related neurological disorders have emerged as major global public health problems. Although mulberry fruit exhibits neuroprotective properties, its underlying mechanisms in sleep regulation remain poorly understood. This study systematically investigated the therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of mulberry fruit anthocyanin extract MFE by using an integrative approach of animal experiments, multi-omics analyses, and network pharmacology in an insomnia mouse model. We evaluated behavioral changes, neurotransmitter levels, inflammatory cytokines, gut microbiota composition via 16S rRNA sequencing, and serum metabolomics, and further validated key regulatory pathways and genes through RT-qPCR. MFE treatment significantly attenuated insomnia-related behavioral abnormalities, as evidenced by improved locomotor activity and attenuated body weight loss in model mice. Mechanistically, MFE restored the GABA/Glu balance and elevated 5-HT levels in brain tissue while mitigating neuroinflammation. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that MFE improved the gut microbiota composition, reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and enriching beneficial taxa such as Akkermansia and Muribaculaceae. Serum metabolomic analysis identified marked elevations in multiple metabolites, including amino acid derivatives, glycosides, organic acids, and aliphatic compounds. Network pharmacology predictions, corroborated by RT-qPCR, implicated the involvement of the TNF and IL-17 signaling pathways and the serotonergic synapse pathway. Consistently, MFE intervention downregulated the hippocampal mRNA expression of key pro-inflammatory genes (PTGS2, IL-6, and IL-1β) in insomnia model mice. These results reveal multifaceted association mechanism by which MFE modulates insomnia-associated neurochemical and behavioral alterations, concurrently involving the modulation of neurotransmitter homeostasis, neuroinflammation, gut microbiota ecology, and systemic metabolism. The findings suggest a potential involvement of the gut-brain axis as a mechanistic hypothesis that warrants further causal validation that warrants further causal validation. This study provides mechanistic insights and a scientific rationale for developing MFE as a functional food for promoting sleep health.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) imposes a significant health burden due to estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss. Auricularia auricula polysaccharide (AAP), a traditional edible fungal component, has shown anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its potential osteoprotective effects remain insufficiently characterized. Here, ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of AAP was optimized using a Box-Behnken design. Following slight practical adjustment of the response-surface-predicted optimal conditions, the experimental extraction yield of AAP reached 30.15 ± 0.48%. Physicochemical characterization identified AAP as an acidic heteropolysaccharide with molecular weights ranging from 976 to 1.5 × 106 Da, enriched in glucose and uronic acid residues. In the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, high-dose AAP (500 mg/kg) attenuated bone loss under the tested conditions, while no increase in uterine index was observed. Mechanistic studies provided evidence that the IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling axis is involved in AAP-induced osteogenic differentiation, as supported by increased phosphorylation of IGF-1R and its downstream signaling molecules and by IGF-1R knockout experiments. In vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion further showed that AAP retained measurable osteogenic activity after digestion. These findings support the potential of AAP as a functional food ingredient for supporting bone health.
Centella asiatica (L.) is an important medicinal herb valued for its wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and cognitive-enhancing properties. However, information on its physiological responses to drought stress and the application of hyperspectral remote sensing for drought assessment in this species remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of four soil moisture regimes (control, mild, moderate, and severe drought) on plant growth, physiology, and leaf spectral reflectance in two trials. Drought stress significantly reduced gas exchange, growth, and biomass production. Under severe drought, stomatal conductance decreased by 88%, accompanied by a 37% increase in canopy temperature. Net photosynthetic rate declined by 69% and was positively correlated with soil moisture content (R = 0.80). Marketable fresh weight declined from 6.5 under control to 1.0 kg m-2 under severe drought, while dry biomass decreased from 0.64 to 0.26 kg m-2 in trial 1 and from 0.57 to 0.28 kg m-2 in trial 2. Drought stress also altered leaf spectral reflectance, particularly in the visible region, resulting in significant changes in several vegetation indices that were strongly correlated with key morpho-physiological traits. Additionally, functional relationships between soil moisture and major physiological and growth traits were established through environmental productivity indices, providing a quantitative framework for predicting plant responses to water availability. These findings demonstrate the potential of hyperspectral sensing for early, non-destructive drought detection and provide practical tools for improving irrigation management and precision cultivation of C. asiatica under field and greenhouse conditions.
