Cold plasma (CP)-induced covalent conjugation between ovalbumin (OVA) and three rosemary-derived phenolic acids (RDPAs), namely chlorogenic acid (CGA), caffeic acid (CA), and rosmarinic acid (RA), was investigated to elucidate how phenolic acid molecular architecture governs the structure, functionality, in vitro digestibility, and allergenicity of OVA. After 45 s of CP treatment (40 kV, 13 kHz), the covalent grafting efficiency of OVA-RDPAs conjugates showed a clear structure dependence, following the order OVA-RA (86.55 ± 2.39 μmol/g) > OVA-CA (79.27 ± 1.62 μmol/g) > OVA-CGA (53.07 ± 2.16 μmol/g). This distinct hierarchy is attributed to RA's dual aromatic rings and four evenly distributed hydroxyl groups, which provide more accessible reactive sites, in contrast to the substantial steric hindrance imposed by CGA's bulky cyclohexane moiety. Multi-spectroscopic and SDS-PAGE analyses revealed that RDPAs grafting induced pronounced conformational unfolding and intermolecular cross-linking in OVA. Consequently, these structure-driven changes translated into remarkably augmented emulsifying and antioxidant properties and lower allergenicity of OVA. Among the conjugates, OVA-RA exhibited superior improvements, achieving 5.1-fold and 14.6-fold increases in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities, respectively. Notably, RDPAs incorporation effectively masked antigenic epitopes, and OVA-RA exhibited the greatest reduction in IgE-binding capacity (65.81 ± 0.74%). Furthermore, covalent grafting of RDPAs, particularly RA, effectively promoted gastrointestinal digestive trajectories of OVA, and the resulting digests substantially reduced IgE-binding affinity. These findings suggest that CP-mediated covalent RDPAs conjugation is a mild and effective, structure-guided approach that holds potential for the development of egg protein ingredients with enhanced functionality and reduced allergenicity.
The fermentation behavior of sorghum influences the distilled spirits quality, yet the differences among cultivars cannot be explained by amylopectin content alone. Six cultivars were studied to investigate how starch structure relates to fermentation. Fermentation stability was associated with supramolecular structure, correlating positively with single helix content (r = 0.81, p < 0.001), crystal heterogeneity (r = 0.62, p < 0.01), and retrograded crystal stability (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), which support sustained substrate release. The average fermentation rate was associated with gelatinization properties, correlating with amylose (r = 0.58, p < 0.05), short amylopectin chains (r = 0.74, p < 0.001), and long amylopectin chains (r = −0.74, p < 0.001). Principal component analysis revealed that gelatinization properties dominated PC1 (60.2%) and supramolecular structure dominated PC2 (23.2%), separating rapid, slow, and medium fermentation types. This study links starch structure to fermentation behavior, providing a basis for selecting sorghum cultivars for liquor production.
Protein foams are governed by interfacial adsorption kinetics and film stability, yet the subunit-specific regulation of wheat gliadins by polysaccharides remains unclear. Here, the differential responses of α- and ω-gliadin to Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) were systematically elucidated by integrating interfacial tension kinetics, foaming performance, multiscale structure, and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Under the matched solvent conditions, α-gliadin exhibited higher foaming capacity and stability than ω-gliadin. LBP significantly enhanced the foam stability of both systems but through distinct mechanisms: α-gliadin exhibited β-sheet enrichment and altered aggregation behavior, accompanied by prolonged foam half-life and reduced drainage, whereas ω-gliadin showed increased conformational flexibility, surface charge, and dispersion stability, accompanied by faster apparent interfacial adsorption, prolonged foam half-life, and suppressed drainage. MD simulations further suggested that LBP was associated with a more compact and less solvent-exposed α-gliadin conformation, whereas ω-gliadin retained greater conformational variability and more transient protein–polysaccharide contacts within the sampled trajectories. Together, these results indicate subunit-dependent structural and interfacial responses of gliadin to LBP and provide molecular-level insights into the differential regulation of α- and ω-gliadin in plant protein foams.
Late lactation is frequently accompanied by changes in goat milk composition and volatile-related quality, which may reduce its commercial value. This study investigated whether Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), a plant-derived bioactive polysaccharide from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, is associated with milk quality responses distinct from those induced by probiotic supplementation. Late lactation Saanen dairy goats were assigned to probiotic or APS supplementation for 30 days, and milk samples were analyzed using conventional composition testing, electronic nose (E-nose) profiling, proteomics, untargeted metabolomics, and lipidomics. APS supplementation reduced milk urea nitrogen by 6.20 mg/dL and decreased milk fat percentage, while electronic nose (E-nose) profiling revealed a distinct sensor-level volatile fingerprint dominated by W5S, W2W, and W1S responses. At the molecular level, APS generated a broader metabolomic response than probiotic supplementation, with 904 versus 587 differential metabolites, and was associated with a milk proteomic signature featuring higher ATP citrate lyase abundance (2.52-fold). Lipidomics further showed selective remodeling of milk lipid subclasses, including increased phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and ceramide abundance by approximately 1.4-fold, 1.5-fold, and nearly 5-fold, respectively. Together, these milk-based data indicate that APS supplementation was associated with a distinct quality signature involving nitrogen-use indicators, volatile-related sensor profiles, lipid-related protein features, and lipid subclass redistribution. The findings support APS as a potential non-microbial nutritional strategy for modulating late lactation goat milk quality.
Light spectral quality strongly influences volatile formation, yet its effects on celery petioles remain unclear. Celery petioles grown under natural greenhouse light (CK), warm-white (3000K), cool-white (6500 K), and red-blue (RB) LEDs were evaluated using HS-SPME-GC–MS-based volatile metabolomics and relative odor activity values. A total of 1789 VOCs were detected and tentatively identified, dominated by terpenoids, esters, ketones, heterocyclic compounds, and alcohols. Among the four light treatments, RB produced the clearest multivariate separation and the largest number of up-accumulated aroma-related volatiles, whereas the two white LEDs generated comparatively similar profiles. Red-blue light responsive volatiles were associated with terpenoid, phenylalanine, amino acid, and central carbon metabolism. The rOAV analysis highlighted (5Z)-octa-1,5-dien-3-one, 2-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, limonene, and ocimene isomers as candidate odor-active markers of celery-petiole aroma. These results support red-blue spectral management for flavor-oriented celery production in controlled environments.
Whey contains abundant nutrients and bioactive compounds with health benefits, but functional peptides and metabolites in Dairy fan whey (Whey generated during dairy fan processing, DFW) remain underexplored. Therefore, this study identifies DFW nutritional profile and bioactivity via peptidomics, nontargeted metabolomics, and in vitro experiments. The results showed that a variety of bioactive peptides were identified, including antioxidant peptides and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides. Four antioxidant peptides interact with Keap1 via hydrogen bonds and salt bridges, thereby exerting antioxidant effects and regulating the Keap1-Nrf2/ARE pathway. In vitro assays confirmed that DFW scavenged DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals, demonstrating strong antioxidant activity. Additionally, 919 metabolites were identified in DFW and conventional whey (W), including 15 characteristic compounds such as 4-aminobutyric acid, histamine, and pyridoxine. These characteristic metabolites exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory activities. Compared with W, DFW contains more characteristic nutrients. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of DFW.
This study evaluated the effects of maltodextrin with different dextrose equivalent (DE) and pea protein isolate (PPI) ratios in the wall material on the physicochemical characteristics and storage stability of freeze-dried Flacourtia jangomas seed oil (FJSO) powder. Among the formulations tested, the capsules prepared with maltodextrin DE5 and a PPI ratio of 50% exhibited the highest encapsulation yield and efficiency, at 91.86 ± 0.93% and 88.11 ± 0.99%, respectively. Physical properties of oil powders were not significantly affected by the DE of maltodextrin, while particle size decreased with increasing DE. The PPI ratio influenced powder flowability, which was greatest at intermediate PPI levels (33–50%). Compared with the unencapsulated oil, all microcapsule powders showed significantly improved oxidative stability under accelerated storage conditions, with maltodextrin DE5 and a PPI ratio of 50% samples exhibiting the highest stability. Overall, the suitable PPI-maltodextrin wall system showed potential for producing stable seed oil capsules with enhanced oxidative protection.
Oxidation and interactions of components in porcine milk (PM) and bovine milk (BM) during 6-day storage at 4 °C were investigated. Compared to BM, PM exhibited higher levels of lipid oxidation products, protein carbonyl and surface hydrophobicity (P < 0.05), with protein aggregation, indicating PM underwent more extensive lipid and protein oxidation. In contrast, BM showed higher 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) and D-glucosone (GLO) accumulation, greater sulfhydryl loss, enhanced fluorescence, and fluctuating particle size, suggesting carbohydrate oxidation and glycation reaction. Orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis identified surface hydrophobicity, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), particle size and sulfhydryl groups as discriminators of PM and BM oxidation states. TBARS in PM correlated with particle size, carbonyl and sulfhydryl groups (P < 0.05), whereas BM surface hydrophobicity correlated with 3-DG and GLO contents (P < 0.05). Thus, lipid oxidation in PM was associated with protein changes, whereas in BM such changes paralleled glycation driven by carbohydrate oxidation and glycation reaction.
A new adsorbent, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modified silica achieves 98.7% of phospholipid removal and 92.3% of total phenol retention for degumming of crude rapeseed oil at 45 °C for 30 min with dosage of 1% wt. The key indicators of oil quality for APTES-SiO2 degummed sample improved significantly, including peroxide value, acid value, color, and clarity. Moreover, E-nose and two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis results revealed that APTES-SiO2 degummed oil had little change of the flavor. FTIR results suggested no trace of APTES molecule residence in the degummed oil, which guaranteed the oil safety. Combined with the correlations of zeta potential, XPS results, and degumming performance, the adsorption mechanism revealed that the hydrophobic surface of APTES-SiO2 adsorbent worked synergistically with protonated amino groups to promote dephosphorization rate. Our findings provided high interest for rational design and preparation of highly dispersed and efficient adsorbent for degumming of crude oil.
Coffee grounds were utilized as a sustainable biomass precursor to synthesize carbon dots (CG-CDs), providing a value-added route for agro-industrial waste reutilization. The as-prepared CG-CDs were incorporated into a zein/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix, and multifunctional composite nanofiber membranes were fabricated by electrospinning. The influences of CG-CDs incorporation on membrane morphology, thermal behavior, mechanical performance, surface wettability, antioxidant activity, and photodynamic antibacterial properties were systematically evaluated.. The results indicated that the incorporation of CG-CDs increased fiber diameter while maintaining a continuous fibrous morphology. In addition, the composite membranes exhibited improved thermal stability and increased hydrophilicity, while mechanical testing revealed a clear strength–flexibility trade-off, characterized by decreased tensile strength and increased elongation at break. More importantly, CG-CDs significantly strengthened the radical-scavenging activity of the membranes and enhanced the light-responsive antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. ESR spin-trapping analysis further confirmed the light-induced generation of O₂•− and •OH by CG-CDs, providing direct evidence for their ROS-generating capability. These findings indicate that coffee ground-derived carbon dots can simultaneously modulate the physicochemical and functional properties of Zein/PVDF electrospun membranes, providing a resource-valorization strategy for the development of multifunctional fibrous materials.
This study investigated the effects of guar gum, tara gum, and linseed gum at different addition contents (0%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, 2.0%, and 2.4%) on the quality of low-fat emulsified sausages. Polysaccharide addition significantly affected cooking loss, texture, water distribution, and sensory quality, while fat content in low-fat formulations was reduced from 28.35% to 9.83%–11.65%. Regarding physicochemical stability, tara gum at 1.6% showed the most favorable effect on reducing cooking loss, reaching the minimum value of 4.52%. Appropriate polysaccharide addition improved textural properties, with tara gum showing the greatest increase in hardness. LF-NMR analysis showed that polysaccharide addition altered water distribution. Sensory evaluation further indicated that appropriate addition contents improved texture, flavor, juiciness, and overall acceptability. Notably, linseed gum at 1.6% achieved the highest overall sensory score of 43.15. These findings provide technical support for the application of polysaccharides as fat replacers in low-fat meat products.
Alternative approaches for shelf life evaluation of food based on accelerated shelf life testing (ASLT) assisted with principal component analysis-based machine learning (ML-ASLT), and hyperspectral imaging integrated with ML-ASLT (HSI-ML-ASLT) were developed and compared with the conventional ASLT (C-ASLT). Dried shrimp was stored at 15, 30, and 40 °C and monitored for changes in sensory characteristics including odor, color and overall acceptability during the storage. Physicochemical properties of the dried shrimp were monitored to describe the changes in sensory attributes. Volatile compounds of initial and unacceptable dried shrimp were analyzed using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The samples were also analyzed using HSI in the wavelength range of 400–1000 nm. PCA-based machine learning was applied with ASLT and HSI-ASLT to determine quality degradation rate constant and shelf life. The ML-ASLT gave the predicted shelf life of 9.87, 6.13, and 3.34 wk., while HSI-ML-ASLT gave the shelf life of 9.71, 6.51 and 3.31 wk. for dried shrimp stored at 15, 30, and 40 °C, respectively, which were more accurate than C-ASLT (10.29, 6.80 and 3.49 wk), when compared to the actual shelf life (10, 6 and 3 wk). By simultaneously evaluating diverse quality attributes, the PCA-based machine learning model enabled the ASLT approach to practically predict dried shrimp shelf life. Moreover, HSI-ML-ASLT provided a rapid, simple, and chemical-free technique to unravel food shelf life assessment.
This study employed the growth curve of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) to reveal the mechanism by which Tremella polysaccharides (TP) concentration affects SeNPs. At TP concentrations of 0.25–3.0 mg/mL, TP-stabilized SeNPs (TP-SeNPs) prepared with 1.5 mg/mL TP showed the smallest size (56.8 nm) and optimal stability, as this concentration sufficiently limited the diffusion of Se0 species and nuclei. The increased particle size (71.8 nm) at 3.0 mg/mL TP was due to TP self-aggregation, evidenced by marked rises in viscosity and hydrodynamic diameter, along with atomic force microscopy-detected aggregates. This aggregation was probably correlated with uronic acid content (17.1%) and the rigid conformation of TP. Thermogravimetry, zeta potential, and storage modulus further confirm that self-aggregation diminishes coating effectiveness. This work provided a theoretical basis for determining stabilizer concentrations in SeNP preparation. Moreover, TP-SeNPs maintained a stable, monodisperse spherical structure under simulated gastrointestinal digestion, showing great potential as a low-toxicity, high-bioavailability Se supplement.
The growing demand for selenium (Se)-enriched products highlights the need for accurate and accessible Se speciation analysis. In this study, a cost-effective orthogonal liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LC-AFS) method was developed for the determination of seven Se species (SeO32−, SeO42−, SeLan, SeMet, SeCys2, MeSeCys, and γ-GluMeSeCys), providing an alternative to ICP-MS-based approaches. Differences in Se accumulation mechanisms between hyperaccumulator Cardamine hupingshanensis and non-hyperaccumulator wheat significantly affected extraction efficiency. The sequential aqueous-enzymatic extraction increased SeLan recovery in C. hupingshanensis from 5.06 to 143.74 μg Se g−1, a 28.4-fold increase, while anaerobic extraction enhanced SeMet recovery in wheat from 98.73 to 112.17 μg Se g−1. Consequently, matrix-specific strategies improved Se recoveries from 20.82% to 80.65% in C. hupingshanensis and from 34.11% to 90.02% in wheat. These findings highlight the importance of matrix-specific extraction for accurate Se speciation analysis.
This study articulated the intestinal metabolome of Apostichopus japonicus, one of the most geographically indicated high-value aquatic products in China. Through untargeted UHPLC-MS/MS metabolomic analysis, 645 metabolites were annotated from a total of 6333 detected spectral features in the body wall and intestinal tissues of A. japonicus. These substances constituted the primary metabolic profile of the body wall and intestines. Statistical analysis identified 208 differential metabolites and seven significantly enriched metabolic pathways. Among them, 172 metabolites were upregulated in the intestine, accounting for a proportion of 82.69%. The use of integrated bioaccessibility response method allowed for a quantitative and concise gauge of metabolic alterations including upregulation and downregulation of metabolites between intestinal and body wall samples. The work helped understand the nutritional aspects of A. japonicus intestine and support its potential utility in food processing and health-related applications.
This study integrated metabolomics and proteomics to uncover core metabolic pathways underlying variation in meat quality among three cuts of Pingliang Red cattle: topside, striploin, and clod. The pH value and b* value of the topside were significantly higher than those of the two muscles (P < 0.05). Metabolomics identified 29, 15, and 13 notably abundant metabolites in topside, striploin, and clod, respectively, including 5-diphosphate, PS(18:0/20:4), and L-threonine (P < 0.05). Proteomics illustrated that there were 35, 64, and 19 differentially expressed proteins in topside, striploin, and clod, respectively. Integrated correlation and protein-protein interaction analyses verified that energy metabolism, amino acid turnover, and lipid biosynthesis served as central regulatory modules dominated by hub molecules such as NME1 and MYH7. These findings elucidate the multi-omics basis of meat quality divergence in Pingliang Red cattle and provide potential molecular markers for targeted breeding and the segmented utilization of this local breed's meat.
Onion skin is a phenolic-rich by-product, but practical preprocessing strategies for directing phytochemical recovery remain insufficiently defined. This study evaluated whether brief presoaking in water, 5% vinegar, 1% citric acid, a vinegar–citric acid mixture, or 0.3% H₂O₂ for 4–12 min altered subsequent methanol-reference and hot-water extracts. Extraction yield, phenolic and flavonoid indices, quercetin markers, UHPLC–Orbitrap HRMS profiles, DPPH activity, and RAW 264.7 responses were assessed. Presoaking solution affected all major variables more consistently than duration. Across treatments, yields ranged from 5.78 to 10.67% for methanol and 6.87–10.53% for hot-water extracts, yet higher yield did not indicate greater phenolic density. Methanol preferentially recovered quercetin aglycone, whereas hot water produced a more polar profile. The 0.3% H₂O₂ condition showed favorable antioxidant performance without marked loss of metabolic viability. However, mild oxidative preprocessing requires further validation of peroxide removal, safety, and regulatory compliance before practical food application.
The stir bar was prepared by coating biochar on a magnetic core using cellulose aerogel (CA) as support and adhesive. The stir bar is ideal for stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), since macroporous CA network provides accessible transport channels for analytes. Besides, raw materials of biochar and CA are natural, and the preparation process is organic solvent-free. The stir bar was applied to extract bisphenols in canned foods. Extraction parameters were studied, and our lab-made stir bars outperformed commercial ones in extraction speed and capacity. Coupled to UPLC-MS/MS, the established approach supported food safety surveillance. To our knowledge, this is the first application of biochar/CA in SBSE, introducing a green coating binder for SBSE. This rapid (extraction time: 8 min), sensitive (LOD: 1.0–3.5 ng/L and 11–44 ng/kg for liquid and solid foods), and reduced-solvent (volume of organic solvent in SBSE: 1 mL) SBSE method offers an innovative alternative for sample preparation.
Kiwifruit branches are abundant pruning residues with potential as plant-derived aroma materials. This study evaluated their feasibility for reconstructing the volatile profile of a commercial silver vine-associated aroma reference. Six kiwifruit branch samples and one commercial reference sample (G7) were analyzed using HS-GC-IMS. A total of 64 volatile compounds were tentatively annotated, and multivariate analysis showed that G7 had a distinct volatile profile compared with the individual branch samples. Twenty-six differential volatiles selected based on VIP > 1 and P < 0.05 were grouped into four odor-based aroma modules for blending optimization. A binary blend of Jintao and Jinyan branches at a ratio of 0.69:0.31 showed the highest module-level similarity to G7. ROAV analysis further identified eight key odor-active differential compounds associated with the characteristic aroma profile of G7. These results indicate that selected kiwifruit branches have potential as aroma materials for the reference-guided reconstruction of commercial silver vine-associated volatile profiles.
A fluorescence-based method was developed for rapid, non-destructive monitoring of olive oil oxidation. The fluorescence rancidity index (FRI) was introduced as a ratio-based optical indicator normalized to fresh oil fluorescence. Using a custom-built laser-induced fluorescence system (532 nm excitation), extra virgin and pomace olive oils were evaluated under thermal oxidation (180 °C), UV oxidation, and repeated frying. Oxidation caused progressive attenuation and a blue shift of chlorophyll-associated emission (~675 nm). Under thermal oxidation, FRI showed strong correlations with PAV (r = 0.92), TOTOX (r = 0.91), INTOX (r = 0.92), and CDV (r = 0.88), whereas no significant correlations were observed under UV oxidation. FRI also increased progressively during repeated frying. These findings support FRI as a rapid, reagent-free optical indicator of olive oil oxidation, particularly under thermal conditions, while highlighting its oxidation-pathway-dependent response.
