Abstract Enhancing calcium bioavailability through food-derived peptide-mineral complexes represents an important strategy for improving intestinal calcium absorption. This study converted peptides from day 9 embryonic egg white into a novel peptide–calcium chelate, EEWNPs-Ca. The results showed that calcium successfully coordinated with the functional groups of the EEWNPs (shifting the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) amide I band from 1632 to 1641 cm⁻¹), which transformed the amorphous lamellar matrix into highly crystalline spherical aggregates (novel X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks at 28.32° and 40.54°). In addition, EEWNPs-Ca exhibited sustained calcium release, especially in the intestinal phase. Using a Caco-2 cell monolayer model, EEWNPs-Ca significantly enhanced calcium transport compared with CaCl₂ (6.33 μg vs. 5.09 μg, P < 0.05). Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that EEWNPs-Ca broadly activated the cellular energy metabolism pathways (e.g., oxidative phosphorylation) and increased intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and amino acid levels, creating a favorable microenvironment for calcium absorption. Western blot analysis further verified that EEWNPs-Ca upregulated the expression of TRPV6, calbindin-D9k, and PMCA1b more effectively than CaCl₂. Collectively, while these in vitro findings provide promising mechanistic insights into the design of food-derived peptide-mineral complexes, further in vivo validation is required to confirm their physiological efficacy.
Abstract Postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables caused by microbial spoilage and physiological disorders remain a significant challenge to global food security. Selenium (Se), particularly ionic Se and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), has demonstrated significant potential for the preservation of postharvest fruits and vegetables. This review summarizes the roles of ionic Se and SeNPs in maintaining the postharvest quality of horticultural produce. Furthermore, it highlights recent advances in SeNPs synthesis and the fabrication of SeNPs-based edible coatings using natural polymers for postharvest preservation applications. Both ionic Se and SeNPs improve postharvest quality by inhibiting microbial decay, delaying fruit ripening, and maintaining the nutritional properties of stored fruits and vegetables. Compared with ionic forms, SeNPs offer greater stability, controllable Se release, and low toxicity, making them ideal candidates for edible coating fabrication. Integrating SeNPs into natural biopolymers, such as chitosan (CT), alginate, and starch, improves coating strength, gas barrier properties, and overall preservation performance. These coatings effectively suppress microbial growth, reduce oxidative damage, delay senescence, and extend shelf life while maintaining sensory quality. Notably, postharvest Se application is a valuable source of Se micronutrient biofortification, further enhancing the nutritional value of stored fruits and vegetables. In addition, green-synthesized SeNPs are safer and more sustainable compared with chemically synthesized SeNPs, minimizing potential environmental risk. Despite their potential as multifunctional nanotechnology for postharvest management, further studies on toxicity, safety regulations, and large-scale production are required to ensure their practical and commercial applicability.
Abstract Zanthoxylum armatum DC. var. novemfolius, a traditional medicinal and culinary plant, is known for its unique flavor and significant properties. However, its flavor and quality are negatively affected by premature harvest. Brassinosteroids (BR) are a group of important plant hormones that significantly affect fruit growth and development. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of exogenous BR on fruit flavor quality in Zanthoxylum armatum at six different maturity stages (days after flowering and pollination (DAF): F1 (45 DAF), F2 (60 DAF), F3 (75 DAF), F4 (90 DAF), F5 (105 DAF), and F6 (120 DAF)). Using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) analysis, we identified 58 volatile compounds, with terpenes and alcohols as the primary categories. Meanwhile, key findings demonstrate that BR treatment significantly increased the relative abundance of main flavor components and increased total sanshool content at the critical F3 stage, implying that after BR treatment, the F3 stage might be a key period for flavor formation in Zanthoxylum armatum fruit. Moreover, BR also enhanced morphological traits and quality-related indicators of Zanthoxylum armatum fruits during harvest maturity stages. Collectively, exogenous BR exerts positive effects on the flavor quality of Zanthoxylum armatum fruits during harvest maturity stages, with the most significant effect observed at the F3 stage. This study provides novel insights into BR-regulated aroma formation characteristics during Zanthoxylum armatum fruit maturity and highlights a theoretical basis for optimizing harvest strategies and improving the fruit quality of Zanthoxylum armatum.
Abstract Broccoli is characterized by vigorous postharvest metabolism, making the flower heads prone to fading green and turning yellow, as well as the loss of nutrients, which seriously compromises its commercial quality. Therefore, it is essential to develop safe and effective preservation methods. The present study found that 100 µmol/L melatonin (MT) effectively mitigated oxidative stress by inhibiting the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby preventing the occurrence of postharvest yellowing of broccoli. Further research showed that the inhibitory effect of MT on ROS accumulation primarily stemed from the improvement of the contents of antioxidant compounds such as ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) and the activities of related antioxidant enzymes. Correlation analysis revealed that the yellowing index is highly significantly negatively correlated with the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), underscoring the crucial role of the AsA–GSH cycle in MT-mediated antioxidant defense. Analysis of gene expression levels further revealed that MT predominantly regulates the activities of related enzymes by increasing the expression levels of BoCAT, BoAPX2, BoAPX3, and BoGR, thus achieving ROS balance and contributing to the preservation effect.
Abstract Hyperuricemia (HUA) has become a prevalent metabolic disorder worldwide, attracting widespread attention from society. Existing uric acid (UA)-lowering medicines have substantial side effects in clinical practice, whilst long-term dietary therapies may result in nutritional imbalance. Therefore, how to efficiently extract and develop high-performance substances with UA-lowering activity from nature has gained growing research attention. This review examines the types, mechanisms of action, and structure–activity relationships of compounds with UA-lowering activity from terrestrial and marine sources. Terrestrial compounds primarily exert their effects by inhibiting xanthine oxidase (XOD) and regulating UA transporters. In contrast, marine-derived bioactive compounds generally display greater structural diversity and interact with a broader range of functional targets, particularly those related to gut microbiota regulation, inflammation, and UA transport. Emerging pre-clinical evidence also suggests their potential for multi-target regulation of metabolic syndrome-related disorders, although further clinical validation is required. Comparative analysis reveals that many phenolic acids and terpenoids from terrestrial and marine sources possess similar structural characteristics, such as conjugated planar frameworks as well as hydroxyl and methoxy functional groups, which enhance their binding affinity towards XOD and thereby contribute to their UA-lowering activity. The above finding not only indicates that marine organisms may be an important source of anti-HUA substances but also provides references and ideas for the screening, development, and design of novel UA-lowering components for future research.
