Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a global health concern. Sichuan dark tea, a popular Chinese beverage, has been reported to have good health effects. In the study, Sichuan dark tea with a medicine-food-homology formula (TEA&MFH) has been created and evaluated for potential anti-ALD benefits. Our results exhibited that TEA&MFH treatment significantly decreased the mortality rate, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic steatosis in alcohol-induced mice. TEA&MFH treatment decreased serum ethanol levels and enhanced the expression of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes. Furthermore, TEA&MFH ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, maintained intestinal barrier integrity, and altered the composition of gut microbiota, particularly restoring the population of Akkermansia. Gene and metabolite integrated analysis revealed that TEA&MFH influenced these key pathways related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory response. These findings provide evidence that TEA&MFH synergistically improves alcohol-associated gut microbiota disturbance, liver steatosis, and death in mice. As a dietary formula, the TEA&MFH holds significant potential against alcoholic liver disease.
Active polysaccharides from food-medicine homologous sources are pivotal for the modernization of Food-Medicine Homologous substances. However, their clinical translation and efficacy exertion are hindered by three critical bottlenecks: inadequate targeting ability (prone to dispersion in non-target tissues, thus limiting efficient accumulation at lesion sites), low bioavailability (some polysaccharides with large molecular weights are susceptible to glycosidase degradation or unable to penetrate physiological barriers), and poor stability (vulnerable to pH fluctuations and enzymatic hydrolysis in the gastrointestinal tract). This paper proposes a "carrier adaptation-targeted modification-environmental response" synergistic strategy. Carrier adaptation provides a stable transportation foundation for polysaccharides, targeted modification achieves precise positioning, and environmental response ensures on-demand release at target sites. The synergistic effect of the three constructs a precise delivery system for active polysaccharides. This strategy not only addresses the delivery dilemmas of these polysaccharides but also enhances their targeting precision, bioavailability, and stability, advancing functional foods toward precision nutrition and aiding chronic disease prevention.
This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the importance of protein intake among older adults. With the global aging trend accelerating, adequate protein consumption is increasingly recognized as crucial for addressing the decline in muscle mass and function associated with aging. Research has shown that older adults require a higher protein intake (1.0u22121.3 g/(kgu2219day)) to maintain muscle health, although the optimal recommendation remains a topic of ongoing investigation. The review highlights that the protein needs of older adults are often unmet by the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), potentially leading to health issues such as sarcopenia, weakened immune function, and delayed wound healing. Additionally, it examines various factors influencing protein intake in older adults, including socioeconomic status, education level, geographic location, and individual health conditions. The review also explores dietary patterns and protein sources, including both animal-based and plant-based proteins, and their effects on muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Finally, it underscores the critical role of sufficient protein intake in preserving the health, functionality, and quality of life of older adults, emphasizing the need for public health initiatives to address inadequate protein consumption in this population.
The mussel has been used as Chinese traditional medicine for thousands of years. Over the past decades, bioactive function of mussel extracts, such as decreasing lipid, improving learning and memory, preventing obesity, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive and so on, have been investigated by many researchers. Nevertheless, there is no comparative information on the lipid ingredients, which is responsible for the beneficial health outcomes, in the male and female Mytilus edulis. This study was designed to clarify the lipid profile and fatty acid composition of total lipids from the male and female M. edulis using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography (GC). Moreover, the fatty acid composition of free fatty acid (FFA), triacylglycerols (TG), and phospholipids (PL) were further explored. It was determined that the M. edulis was rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), showing a more percentage in the male (41.30%) than the female (36.39%). Further exploration found that the TG and PL constituted the major part of the total lipids. Meanwhile, the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) were the major molecular types in M. edulis PL, while the phosphatidylcholine (PC) was minor. Besides, the lipids nutritional quality indexes of atherogenicity (AI) and index of thrombogenicity (TI) indicated a good lipid profile for human consumption. In particular, the results of this study will be of value in determining the dietary usefulness and providing more theoretical support for the development of functional food of the M. edulis from China.
Prinsepia utilis Royle, a plant native to China and the Himalayan region, remains underutilized despite its potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. This review examines the phytochemical composition and associated biological activities of P. utilis, underscoring its value as a multifunctional resource. The plant contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, terpenoids, and u03B3-hydroxynitrile glucosides, which demonstrate diverse biological effects, including antioxidant, antibacterial, lipase-inhibitory, anti-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia, and antiosteoporotic activities. These attributes position P. utilis as a promising candidate for functional food and cosmetic development. However, existing studies are predominantly limited to in vitro models, highlighting the need for in vivo validation. Further research is required to elucidate the bioavailability, health impacts, and mechanisms of its bioactive compounds, alongside optimizing extraction methods and formulating stable industrial applications.
Obesity, a major global public health issue, has become an increasingly urgent health crisis that cannot be ignored in recent decades. Unfortunately, conventional weight-loss methods suffer from poor compliance owing to the scarcity of scientific guidance, whereas medical weight-loss enables obese individuals to attain weight-loss and metabolic improvement through scientific precision medical methods. Lifestyle management and nutritional therapy are currently recognized as the basic treatments of the medical weight-loss, which possess the advantages of safety and effectiveness. Nonetheless, the crucial factor affecting weight-loss results included nutritional metabolism and compliance with significant individual differences. Herein, we proposed and elucidated a new approach to achieve sustainable weight management in accordance with the precise lifestyle interventions, personalized nutrition customization and comprehensive behavior management. Compared with those existing models, the “Medical Assessment-Nutritional Intervention-Behavioral Correction-Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulation” proposed in this paper has made a significant breakthrough in the core mechanism and practical effect.
Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at an increased risk of lipid perturbation. A diminished capacity of kidney beta-oxidation results in fatty acid accumulation, which drives CKD progression. Based on the publications in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from 1999 to 2023, this study conducted a bibliometric analysis of this field, aiming to understand its development trend and frontier and provide basic information and potential points for in-depth exploration. All articles on lipid metabolism in CKD published between January 1, 1999, and October 10, 2023, were collected and identified in WoSCC. Bibliometric analysis was performed using Excel 2019, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometricsx R package (R-Studio). A total of 1,201 articles in WoSCC met our criteria. Analysis results show that the number of publications and citations in this field has been increasing annually. The University of California, Irvine of the United States is the institution with the highest number of citations, and total link strength. Nosratola D. Vaziri is one of the most important scholars in this field, and Kidney International is the most authoritative journal. Keywords and references analysis indicate that dysregulation of lipid perturbation contributes to the progression of CKD. Inflammation and ferroptosis play a key role in regulating lipid metabolism. Furthermore, lipidomics is the principal tool for dissecting dysregulated lipid metabolism. This study revealed trends in research and public interest in lipid metabolism in CKD. Our findings suggest that the field is growing rapidly, and future research hot spots might focus on deeper exploration of the molecular mechanism, application of metabolomics, and clinical therapy, which may pave the way for further research.
Homologous substances of food and medicine (HSFM) are substances that are both food and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), implementing the TCM concept of u201Cfood and medicine homologyu201D. Due to the improvement of people's standard of living and the high demand for improving the quality of life, the usage of HSFM is becoming more and more common, and the legislative issue of HSFM is becoming more and more urgent. HSFM now have a clearer definition and related management policies, which are constantly being improved and updated. However, there is little research to sort out and analysis the current status of management in each country. Therefore, this paper aims to collect the relevant policies that are publicly available in several country and, in particular, elucidates explicitly the historical traceability of HSFM in China, the evolution of the relevant policies, and the catalogue of HSFM that has been updated to date. The data show that the management of HSFM is similar but not identical among different countries, and that there are areas that can be learnt from each other as well as areas that need to be improved. By analysing the policies of different countries, this paper finds that South Korea, Singapore and China have adopted a catalogue for the management of HSFM, which has avoided the current situation of market scrutiny through a clearer catalogue management.It also points out that there is no country that makes health claims on HSFM in terms of policy, which also limits the development of the HSFM industry to a certain extent. A comparison of policies in different countries shows that policymakers can optimise policies to meet consumer demand and stimulate product development in the market by accelerating the addition of substances to the catalogue of HSFM and attempting to make health claims, among other measures.
u201CMedicine and food homologyu201D (MFH) on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a term originated from u201CHuang Di Nei Jing-Su Wenu201D, and its theory with a long history in China. Some TCMs as functional food, which have been used for u201Cfood therapyu201D, and u201Cmedicineu201D, either acting as food on an empty stomach or as medication for administering to the patient. These are also known as u201Cfunctional foodsu201D for curing diseases or modulating human body functions. TCM has not just one, but rather multiple principles or concepts for food, which are based on the nutrition of organs (u201CYin and Yangu201D theory), warm and cold food (u201CFour propertiesu201D, and u201CFive flavorsu201D), season matters, body types, etc. There are different classifications of TCMs, such as seed, flower, and wood containing several active ingredients with a wide range of nutritional and medicinal values. There were nine electronic databases searched including WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link, SciFinder, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), about the u201CMedicineu201D, u201CFoodu201D, u201CHomologyu201D, without regard to language constraints. This article discusses the concept of MFH, its research cases, guidelines, regulations, and the pharmaceutical effect of MFH in daily life.
Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd. or Lithocarpus litseifolius (Hance) Chun., a natural functional food highly rich in trilobatin and phlorizin, is named “sweet tea” (ST) in the Chinese folk. The present study aims to explore the protective effects of ST and trilobatin against alcoholic liver injury and its potential mechanisms. Firstly, KM mice were given alcohol to establish an alcohol exposure model, and ST and trilobatin were administered for 3 weeks. The results of the animal experiment manifest that ST and trilobatin probably enhanced alcohol metabolism and inhibited oxidative stress activation to exhibit their hepatoprotective properties. Besides, the outcomes of 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing Analysis provided the first evidence that trilobatin enriched the beneficial microbiota abundance and decreased the bacterial community diversity and potential detrimental bacteria, thus modulating the gut microbiota and maintaining the integrity of barrier function. Overall, ST and trilobatin could alleviate alcohol-induced acute liver damage in mice via modulating gut microbiome. These findings laid the foundation for the further the development and application of ST and trilobatin in functional foods and nutraceutical supplements for preventing liver injury.
Arenicola cristata represents a classic type of seafood delicacy along the coast of China. The intestinal microbial communities within it play significant roles by engaging in both beneficial and pathological interactions with their hosts. In order to investigate the relationship between the diversity of the intestinal microbiome and the living environment of A. cristata, this research utilized 16S rDNA gene sequencing technology to analyze the microbial population in A. cristatas from shrimp ponds and tidal flats via the PacBio sequencing platform. Moreover, the metabolites of intestinal microorganisms in A. cristatas from shrimp ponds were also detected. The findings demonstrated that the intestinal samples A. cristata from shrimp ponds exhibited a greater number of features, higher richness, and more diverse species when compared to those from tidal flats. Additionally, there was a significant variation in microbial species between the two habitats. In the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, the top annotated metabolites were terpenoids and polyketides, while lipids and lipid-like molecules were most commonly encountered in the Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) database. The LIPID MAPS database indicated that glycerophospholipids (GP) were predominant. The analyses of gut symbiotic microorganisms and the habitat environment furnished evidence on the environmental adaptability of A. cristatas and laid the groundwork for the development of specialized functional strains in the intestinal tract of A. cristatas, as well as for the exploration and utilization of high-quality natural metabolites.
Selenium (Se)-enriched tea has gained growing global popularity due to its superior health benefits compared to normal tea. The sensory quality and health attributes of tea soup are determined by the dissolution patterns of selenium-enriched teas. This study compared the chemical profiles of selenium-enriched black tea (SeBT), selenium-enriched green tea (SeGT), normal black tea (BT), and normal green tea (GT). The dissolution patterns and sensory evaluation of SeGT and SeBT were investigated under different brewing conditions. Through establishing a daily tea drinking model, the antioxidant activity, hypoglycemic activity, and antibacterial activity of tea soup before and after simulated digestion were determined. In comparison, SeGT exhibited rapid dissolution of chemical components but was prone to bitterness in the tea infusion, which was best brewed at 100 degrees C for 5-7 min to optimize functional component release while avoiding bitterness, demonstrating stronger antioxidant, hypoglycemic and antibacterial potential. Meanwhile, SeBT showed a slower release rate of chemical components but greater stability across brewing conditions, which was well-suited for brewing at 85 degrees C or 100 degrees C for 3-7 min, with its inherent sweetness and mild flavor appealing to a broader consumer base. This study evaluated the quality of different selenium-enriched teas, explored the dissolution patterns, sensory evaluation, and in vitro bioactivities of tea soup, providing guidance for consumers in selecting optimal brewing conditions for different selenium-enriched teas that combine flavor and nutritional characteristics.
Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADEs) have emerged as green and sustainable options for the efficient extraction of bioactive components from natural plants. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of NADE-based microwave and ultrasound extraction techniques for sinomenine from Sinomenium acutum, screening nine different NADEs in the process. To optimize the extraction processes, a single-factor experiment was conducted alongside response surface methodology, utilizing a Box-Behnken design. An optimized high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was also developed to quantify the sinomenine content in various samples. The results revealed that chloride-lactic acid (ChCl-LA) was the most effective NADE for sinomenine extraction, with microwave extraction demonstrating superior efficiency compared to ultrasound extraction. For ultrasound extraction, the optimal parameters included a ChCl-LA ratio of 1:2, 30% of water content, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 1:20, an extraction time of 20 min, and an ultrasonic power of 240 W. In contrast, for microwave extraction, the optimal conditions were a ChCl-LA ratio of 2:1 with 57% of water content, an extraction time of 20 min, and a power level of 423.33 W. Under these conditions, the sinomenine content was found to be 16.03 mg/g for ultrasound extraction and 20.08 mg/g for microwave extraction, respectively. These findings provide a foundation for the further utilization of sinomenine from S. acutum .
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertension often coexist, sharing common etiological factors and pathological mechanisms. Both traditional and modern medicine have explored food and medicine products for their treatment This study examines the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of Achyranthis bidentatae radix and Saururus chinensis, two natural products used in food and medicine homology, in addressing HCM and hypertension. Bioinformatics and computer-aided drug design (CADD) approaches were utilized to identify active ingredients and mechanisms. In vivo and ex vivo experiments were performed to validate the pharmacological effects under conditions mimicking HCM and hypertension. Disease-related genes were identified using GeneCards and DisGeNET, while key components were identified via Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP). A total of 62 disease-related genes were identified, with 20 significant components for A. bidentatae radix and 5 for S. chinensis Intersection analysis highlighted 18 common target genes involved insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), insulin receptor (INSR), insulin (INS), Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT), were confirmed through real-time PCR in vivo. Molecular docking studies demonstrated direct interactions between quercetin and IGF1R, INSR, MMP9, and between inophyllum E and INS. Molecular dynamics simulations showed favorable binding of quercetin with INSR. Quercetin exhibited promising drug-likeness and therapeutic potential in angiotensin II-treated cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, quercetin, identified as active component in A. bidentatae radix and S. chinensis, shows promising therapeutic effects against HCM and hypertension. These findings highlight the potential of these natural products in cardiovascular disease management through targeted molecular interactions. Future research should explore the nature products with long-term effects in comprehensive cardiovascular disease treatment.
An aptamer affinity column (AAC) was constructed for alternariol (AOH) extraction and purification in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). AAC was constructed through loading aptamer functionalized Sepharose that conjugated through NHS-activated Sepharose and amino group modified aptamer into an extraction column. AOH could be captured efficiently when the sample solution flowed through AAC because of the affinity between aptamer and AOH, and the absorbed AOH was then eluted with the elution solvent for further high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The conditions that influence the extraction efficiency, including acetonitrile percentage, sample loading volume, washing, and elution solvents, were carefully studied. Under the best conditions, AAC exhibited a maximum adsorption amount of AOH at 5.0 mu g, also good specificity and excellent reusability (could be reused at least 10 times) were obtained. Finally, AAC was successfully applied in AOH extraction in six kinds of real TCM samples with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 90.2 to 105.7%, with RSD less than 7.5%. Moreover, the constructed AAC was compared with a commercial immunoaffinity column, and it exhibited significantly better recoveries. The proposed AAC, with its excellent properties, demonstrated potential for target purification and detection in TCMs analysis through the specific binding between aptamer and its related target.
The typical Aloe plant is well known for its dual role as food and medicine, possessing an array of immune-modulating, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor properties. Species of Aloe are widely used in cosmetics, therapeutics, and health products. Here, using the LC-QTRAP ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography platform, a total of 813 metabolites were identified in Aloe plants. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis were conducted on 15 typical medicinal Aloe species. An, enrichment analysis of the metabolites found was performed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Human Metabolome Database, and LipidMaps databases. Based on the metabolomic data, 105 key metabolites were selected for a heatmap analysis, including 34 flavonoids, 16 quinones, 13 phenolic acids, 13 amino acids and derivatives, 6 organic acids, 5 lipids, 3 alkaloids, 2 lignans and coumarins, and 13 other metabolites. Dendrogram-based chemodiversity classification grouped these Aloe species into three major clusters: Group 1 whose sole member is Aloe vera; Group 2 consisting of Aloe arborescens, Aloe kedongensis, Aloe secundiflora, Aloe greatheadii var. davyana, Aloe zebrina, and Aloe dewetii; and Group 3 comprising Aloe vera var. chinensis, Aloe marlothii, Aloe ferox, Aloe divaricata, Aloe rupestris, Aloe petricola, Aloe africana, and Aloe excelsa. Further, the partial least squares discrimination analysis uncovered significant chemodiversity among the Aloe species. The enrichment analysis revealed that Aloe species metabolites were enriched mainly in pathways related to aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, the citrate cycle, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation. Altogether, these findings suggest significant potential for advancing key Aloe species to meet various human needs. Ultimately, this study enhances our understanding of the metabolic profiles of different Aloe species for their potential improved use in future applications.
