To investigate the effects of infrared radiation (IR) pre-drying on the phenolic profiles and hypoglycemic activities of free and bound phenolics (FP, BP) in pecan kernels, fresh in-shell pecans were subjected to IR at 500 W, 600 W, and 700 W for 2 min, respectively, and then dried with 70°C hot air (HA) until their moisture contents reached about 4%. Results of HPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS indicated that detected FP accounted for more than 60% of the total phenolics in fresh or dried pecan kernels and that IR pre-drying reduced the contents of FP and BP in pecans (except IR600-FP) and changed their phenolic composition, as evidenced by the appearance of ferulic acid in FP and BP and vanillic acid in FP. With the increase of IR pre-drying power, the time required for HA drying of pecans to 4% moisture content, as well as the IC50 values of FP and BP against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, decreased; however, no significant differences were observed in the contents of FP and BP, while certain variations emerged in their phenolic compositions (e.g., rutin was absent in IR700-FP, and catechin hexoside was detected in IR700-BP). In vitro, the hypoglycemic activity of BP from IR pre-dried pecans was higher than that of their FP; oppositely, in vivo, the down-regulation of blood sugar level of BP was lower. Pecan phenolics may regulate blood glucose levels by inhibiting digestive enzyme activities via competitive, noncompetitive, and mixed inhibition. To ensure the bioactivities of pecan phenolics, optimal IR conditions are needed.

Sesame paste is an attractive condiment, but it is high in fat and prone to oil-sauce separation during storage. Sesame seeds were infrared roasted, pressed to remove partial oil, and then ground to produce sesame paste with 35%-55% oil content. The physicochemical properties of the partially de-oiled sesame paste, including texture, particle size distribution, rheological properties, colloidal and oxidative stability, appearance, and microstructure, were analyzed. Additionally, its antioxidant profile, comprising phenolic composition, total phenolic content, lignans content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), was examined. Moreover, the molecular traits of sesame paste protein isolates (SPPI) in the partially de-oiled sesame paste, such as secondary structure, surface hydrophobicity, and free sulfhydryl contents, were also analyzed. Results showed that compared to the non-infrared radiation (IR) roasted paste, the IR roasted sesame paste had a more homogeneous structure, smaller particle size, and better oxidation stability. The contents of total phenolics, sesamol, β-sheet, and free sulfhydryl groups in the IR roasted paste increased by 42.44%-81.86%, 1.12-1.48 mg/g, 18.84%-51.45%, and 20.29%-40.93%, respectively; however, the α-helix content of SPPI decreased by 42.34%-55.47%. The increase of the unfolded protein and phenolic compounds in the sesame paste may determine the rheological properties and antioxidant profiles of the IR roasted sesame paste and hence its storage stability by preventing the oil from separating and oxidizing during long-term storage. The IR roasted sesame paste with 40% oil content, labeled as SPIR40, is acceptable for its good spreadability, appropriate fluidity, and high storage stability.

This study investigated the structural features and anti-fatigue mechanisms of TPS4-1, a homogeneous polysaccharide derived from Tianzhu Xianyue roasted green tea. Structural analysis revealed that TPS4-1 was primarily composed of arabinose, galactose, glucuronic acid, glucose, and mannose. Its backbone structure was characterized by the repeating units →1)-α-L-Araf-(3→, →1)-α-L-Araf-(5→, →1)-β-D-Manp-(4→,→1)-β-D-Galp-(3→, and →1)-β-D-Galp-(4 → with a side chain connected to the C-6 position of the →1)-β-D-Glcp-(3,6 → residue. In an exhaustive swimming mouse model, TPS4-1 extended swimming duration by 71.2 %, alleviating fatigue through enhanced hepatic (52.7 %) and muscle glycogen (47.1 %) levels, reduced blood lactate (24.3 %) and urea nitrogen (28.6 %) concentrations, and oxidative stress mitigation via increased SOD (25.1 %) and GSH-Px (53.3 %) activity with decreased MDA (33.1 %). Emerging evidence indicated that physical fatigue was influenced by central fatigue mechanisms mediated by serotonin (5-HT). Notably, TPS4-1 suppressed exercise-induced 5-HT elevation in the brain, correlating with improved endurance. This dual regulatory mechanism involved: (1) the promotion of gut-derived short-chain fatty acids, and (2) the regulation of tryptophan metabolism to restrict 5-HT synthesis. The findings highlight the unique dual-action potential of TPS4-1, targeting both peripheral metabolic regulation and central fatigue pathways, thereby positioning it as a promising functional anti-fatigue agent.

BACKGROUND:Camellia oleifera is a woody oil-bearing crop, and the quality of its seeds and pressed oil is affected by the postharvest drying. In order to find a suitable drying method for camellia seeds maintaining their good qualities, effects of three drying methods, including room temperature (RT) drying, 60 °C hot-air (HA) drying, as well as 600-800 W infrared pre-drying and sequential 60 °C hot-air (IR-HA) drying, on the drying efficiency, qualities and storage stabilities of camellia seeds were compared. RESULTS:Compared with HA drying, IR-HA drying shortened the drying time of fresh camellia seeds by 42-47%. The IR-HA dried seeds showed brighter color, higher contents of α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, β-sterol and squalene, and better oxidation stability than the RT dried and the HA dried seeds. Heat treatments with HA and IR-HA slightly destroyed the microstructure of camellia kernels, changed the compositions and contents of the free phenolics, decreased the activities of lipoxygenases, polyphenol oxidase and lipase, increased the sulfhydryl contents of the enzyme proteins while reduced the α-helix contents of enzyme proteins. However, except for arachidonic acid, the fatty acid profiles of the HA and IR-HA dried camellia seeds were similar to that of the RT dried ones. The obvious decrease of enzyme activities in IR-HA dried seeds could be related to the changed secondary structures of enzyme proteins and the increase of sulfhydryl groups. CONCLUSION:The results indicate that IR-HA drying is suitable for obtaining camellia seeds with better quality and higher storage stability. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Hepatic VLDL overproduction, tightly modulated by insulin signaling, plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). The present study aimed to investigate whether inhibition of hepatic VLDL overproduction is a novel therapeutic strategy for the homogeneous tea polysaccharide (TPS3A) to ameliorate AS under insulin resistance (IR) conditions and the potential molecular basis involved. Results showed that TPS3A supplementation effectively alleviated systemic IR and delayed atherosclerotic plaque progression in HFD-exposed ApoE-/- mice. Additionally, TPS3A markedly down-regulated the expression of TG synthesis markers (SREBP-1, ACC1, and FAS) and apoB lipidation markers (apoB, apoCIII, and MTP), while up-regulating the expression of apoB degradation maker (sortilin) and VLDL clearance maker (LDLR), thereby inhibiting VLDL overproduction in insulin-resistant ApoE-/- mice and HepG2 cells. The IRS-mediated PI3K-AKT-mTORC1/FoxO1 insulin signaling cascades are central pathways regulating VLDL production. We found that TPS3A significantly abolished insulin-induced activation of PI3K, AKT, mTORC1, and nuclear FoxO1 in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the suppression effects of TPS3A on VLDL overproduction were synergistically strengthened by inhibitors targeting PI3K (Wortmannin), AKT (GSK690693), mTORC1 (Rapamycin), and FoxO1 (AS1842856). Overall, TPS3A holds promise in ameliorating AS by inhibiting hepatic VLDL overproduction through the IRS-mediated PI3K-AKT-mTORC1/FoxO1 insulin signaling pathways.

The development of nanocarriers utilizing macromolecules as targeted delivery systems has received significant interests. In this study, chondroitin sulfate (CS), quinoa protein isolate (QPI), and dihydromyricetin (DHM) were selected to form ternary polysaccharide-protein-polyphenol complexes (DHgQC). The DHgQ/CS mass ratio of 2:1 and pH of 6.0 were optimized for fabricating nanocomplexes. We further investigated the potential of DHgQC nanocomplexes as carriers for encapsulating and delivering hydrophobic substance naringenin (Nar), achieving a high encapsulation efficiency (90.64 %) and loading capacity (13.27 %). Meanwhile, the Nar-encapsulated nanocomplex (Nar@DHgQC) demonstrated excellent photothermal stability, and controlled release characteristics. Furthermore, Nar@DHgQC exhibited remarkable capabilities in clearing RONS, maintaining cell viability, and mitigating oxidative stress. Importantly, cellular uptake assays confirmed the targeting of inflammatory macrophages by Nar@DHgQC nanoparticles, resulting in strong anti-inflammatory activity. This work presents a novel paradigm for the development of food-grade biopolymer nanoparticles as functional carriers for applications in the food and biomedicine fields.

The aim of this study was to identify novel antioxidant peptides from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa wild.) protein hydrolysates, which were prepared using enzyme combination methods. Eleven novel antioxidant peptides were screened through in silico evaluation, and their structure-activity relationships were further investigated. Molecular docking studies indicated that GPGGGGKGEMF (GF-11) exhibited a higher binding affinity and interaction capacity. GF-11 significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels to 43.20 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels to 1.92 nmol/mg protein in oxidatively damaged RAW264.7 cells, while also significantly enhancing SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities to 25.33, 133.99, and 43.20 U/mg protein, respectively. Furthermore, GF-11 competed with Nrf2 for the binding site on Keap1, promoting the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 proteins, which ultimately activated the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and mitigated oxidative damage. These findings provide a scientific basis for the application of quinoa antioxidant peptides in the development of functional foods.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-fatigue efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide (PCP) in chronic sleep-deprived mice. Following three weeks of oral administration, PCP demonstrated significant efficacy in alleviating fatigue symptoms. This was evidenced by the prolonged swimming and rotarod time in the high-dose group of PCP, which increased by 73 % and 64 %, respectively. Additionally, serum activities of CAT, GSH-Px, and SOD enzymes rose by 53.56 %, 37.69 % and 53.67 %, respectively, while MDA, lactic acid and BUN levels decreased by 22.90 %, 17.48 % and 24.61 %. The crosstalk between bone and brain is crucial for maintaining energy homeostasis. Molecular docking studies indicated a spontaneous and strong mutual binding between PCP and the bone-promoting target protein BMPR1A. Furthermore, it was observed that PCP enhanced osteogenic differentiation via the BMP-2/Smad1 pathway, leading to an upregulation of osteocalcin expression, which in turn regulated neurotransmitter balance and improved central arousal capacity. Moreover, PCP treatment stimulated neurogenesis by activating the CREB/BDNF/Akt signaling cascade, exhibiting neurotrophic effects. Additionally, PCP increased AMPK phosphorylation and destabilized TXNIP, facilitating astrocyte glucose uptake, glycolysis, and lactate conversion to support neuronal activity. These findings suggested that PCP could effectively respond to energy demands through bone-brain crosstalk, ultimately exerting anti-fatigue properties.

Naringenin (Nar) is a natural flavonoid with diverse health-promoting benefits. However, the bioavailability of Nar is significantly restricted due to its poor water-solubility, instability under physiological conditions, and limited absorption profile. In this study, a shellac-quinoa protein isolate (QPI) binary nanocomplex (SQP) was fabricated using the pH-shifting method for effectively delivering Nar. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and analysis of inner interactive forces revealed that the complexation between QPI and shellac was primarily driven by electrostatic and hydrophobic forces. Subsequently, Nar was successfully encapsulated within the stable and uniform SQP nanocomplex (Nar@SQP), achieving a high encapsulation capacity (94.52 % encapsulation efficiency and 14.68 % loading capacity). Meanwhile, the Nar@SQP nanoparticle exhibited excellent stability against pH, ionic strength, and long-term storage. Moreover, it also demonstrated sustained and slow-release characteristics during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Compared to free Nar, the safe Nar@SQP nanoparticle effectively facilitated the cellular uptake of encapsulated Nar by Caco-2 cells, suggesting that Nar@SQP has a good potential to improve the bioavailability of Nar. Hence, these findings indicated that the developed Nar@SQP nanoparticle might hold significant promise as a nano-delivery system for hydrophobic bioactive nutrients, like Nar.

Ice cream is popular but contains high amounts of saturated fats and few health-promoting ingredients. In the presence of xanthan gum (0.25%), blueberry peel particles prepared through ball-milling treatment (BMPs) were used to prepare ice cream containing camellia oil as a fat replacer. The BMPs possessed smaller particle sizes, larger contact angles, and higher contents of anthocyanin aglycone compared with commonly milled blueberry peel particles. BMPs with the largest contact angle (66.30°) were obtained by ball-milling the blueberry peel at 15 Hz for 6 h (BMP15Hz6h). The ice cream mixes were depicted as linear viscoelastic gel-like solids, and their apparent viscosity, G′ and G′, increased with the increase in the BMP15Hz6h concentration. Ice cream with strong antioxidant activity and good freeze–thaw stability was acceptable and desirable in the presence of 0.5% BMP15Hz6h.

This study aims to investigate the ameliorative effect of Codonopsis lanceolata polysaccharide (PCL) on mice with hypogalatia induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and the potential underlying mechanism. We found that oral administration of PCL demonstrated significant benefits in countering the negative effects of HFD, including weight gain, hepatic steatosis, mesenteric adipocyte hypertrophy, and abnormal glucose/lipid metabolism. In addition, PCL improved mammary gland development and enhanced lactogenesis performance. Histologically, PCL ameliorated the retardation of ductal growth, reduced mammary fat pad thickness, improved the incomplete linear encapsulation of luminal epithelium and myoepithelium, and increased the proliferation of mammary epithelial cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that PCL mitigated the detrimental effects of HFD on mammary gland development by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that PCL upregulated the levels of prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLR) in the mammary gland, activated JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway, and increased the expression of p63, ERBB4, and NRG1. Overall, PCL can ameliorate HFD-induced hypogalactia by activating PRLR-mediated JAK2/STAT5 signaling. Our findings offer a methodological and theoretical foundation for investigating the functional constituents of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of hypogalactia.

Naringenin (Nar) showed diverse biological activities as well as limited stability and bioavailability. In this study, polyphenol-grafted quinoa protein isolate (QPI) nanoparticles were synthesized and utilized for encapsulating Nar to improve its stability and enhance its antioxidant capacity. Initially, the study investigated the effects of different types of polyphenols (dihydrocaffeic acid [DA] and dihydromyricetin [DHM]) and different QPI/polyphenol mass ratios (10:1, 10:2.5, 10:5, 10:7.5, 10:10) on the structural properties and conformational changes of the conjugates. Results from polyphenol binding equivalents, SDS-PAGE analysis, and reactive group changes confirmed the covalent binding between QPI and polyphenols, with DHM showing higher reactivity and binding strength to QPI. Subsequently, Nar was encapsulated in QPI-polyphenol nanoparticles (Nar@conjugates), with Nar@DHMgQ displaying a spherical structure and higher EE (82.33%) and LC (8.98%). Furthermore, Nar@conjugates exhibited superior thermal stability, free radical scavenging ability, and controlled release characteristics. Nar@conjugates effectively maintained cell viability, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and restored intracellular antioxidant enzyme activity under oxidative stress conditions. These findings suggested a promising approach for delivering hydrophobic bioactive compounds like Nar in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

In the present study, we investigated the intervention effects of a purified Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerosis in male and female LDLr−/− mice. Results showed that HFD caused severe dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic lesions, oxidative damages and inflammation in male and female mice, and these effects seemed to be more pronounced in males than in females. However, the above variations could be dose-dependently reversed by PCP treatment, and the intervention effects on males were greater than those on females. Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) and protein kinase B (Akt) are 3 pivotal signaling pathways mediating the development of atherosclerosis. Consistently, PCP was also found to significantly decrease the phosphorylation of p65, p38, extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Akt, and increase the protein expression of inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) in the aortas of male and female mice induced by HFD. Taken together, these findings indicated that PCP could be effective for the prevention of atherosclerosis, and the intervention effect of PCP on male mice was more obvious than that of female mice.

Naringenin (Nar) is an important natural flavonoid compound with multiple health functions, but stability issues and poor solubility greatly limit its bioavailability. To enhance the water-solubility, chemical stability and bioavailability of Nar, quinoa protein isolate (QPI)-Nar and pH-shifted QPI (PQPI)-Nar nanoparticles were constructed in this study. The results of ultraviolet–visible and fluorescence spectra showed there existed the interactions between QPI or PQPI and Nar, with stronger interaction between PQPI and Nar. Thermodynamic analysis indicated the molecular interactions between QPI or PQPI and Nar were mainly driven by hydrogen bonds. Circular dichroism (CD) and surface hydrophobicity results revealed that the binding of Nar changed the secondary structures and reduced surface hydrophobicity of QPI and PQPI. The measured DLS, LC and EE results suggested that PQPI-Nar nanoparticles formed a more stable system with higher encapsulation capacity. Additionally, PQPI-Nar nanoparticles exhibited higher antioxidant activity, superior slow-release property and biocompatibility, as well as better thermal and ultraviolet stability than QPI-Nar nanoparticles. These results indicated that PQPI-Nar nanoparticles could effectively improve the bioavailability of Nar. This study may provide a theoretical basis for the promising application of PQPI-Nar nanoparticle delivery systems in the food industry.

A new homogeneous polysaccharide (TPS3A) was isolated and purified from Tianzhu Xianyue fried green tea by DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephacryl S-500 column chromatography. Structural characterization indicated that TPS3A mainly consisted of arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid and rhamnose in a molar ratio of 5.84: 4.15: 2.06: 1, with an average molecular weight of 1.596 x 104 kDa. The structure of TPS3A was characterized as a repeating unit consisting of 1,3-Galp, 1,4-Galp, 1,3,6-Galp, 1,3-Araf, 1,5-Araf, 1,2,4-Rhap and 1-GalpA, with two branches on the C6 of 1,3,6-Galp and C2 of 1,2,4-Rhap, respectively. To investigate the preventive effects of TPS3A on atherosclerosis, TPS3A was administered orally to ApoE-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice. Results revealed that TPS3A intervention could effectively delay the atherosclerotic plaque progression, modulate dyslipidemia, and reduce the transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from contractile phenotype to synthetic phenotype by activating the expression of contractile marker alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and inhibiting the expression of synthetic marker osteopontin (OPN) in high-fat diet-induced ApoE-/-mice. Our findings suggested that TPS3A markedly alleviated atherosclerosis by regulating dyslipidemia and phenotypic transition of VSMCs, and might be used as a novel functional ingredient to promote cardiovascular health.

To evaluate infrared radiation (IR) blanching in comparison to conventional hot water (HW) blanching in inhibiting the browning and extending the shelf life of pecan kernels, the technology of IR blanching at 500-700 W for 90-45 s or HW blanching at 90°C for 60 s, and subsequently drying with hot air at 60, 70, and 80°C, respectively, was used, and then the activities of lipoxidase (LOX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), antioxidant capacities, color change, microscopic structure, and the shelf life of kernels were analyzed. Results showed that IR blanching not only significantly decreased the subsequent drying time but also effectively inactivated the activities of LOX and PPO, showing a lower residual activity of 15.74%-40.41% and 16.75%-56.25%, respectively. A higher retention of total phenolics was observed in kernels subjected to IR blanching, from 25.03 ± 0.04 to 29.50 ± 0.96 mg GAE/g compared with HW blanching (14.43 ± 0.07 mg GAE/g). Meanwhile, IR-blanched samples showed lower peroxide values, p-anisidine values, total color difference values, browning index, quinones contents, and lipofuscin-like pigments levels but had higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl inhibition rate and better storage stabilities than HW-blanched samples. The technology of IR blanching at 600 W for 60 s followed by drying with hot air at 70°C for 40 min is suitable for producing pecan kernels with better qualities and a longer shelf life, through inactivating the endogenous enzymatic reactions and inhibiting the formation of lipofuscin-like pigments. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Blanching is an essential pretreatment of food processing. Conventional blanching is achieved by hot water, which has some disadvantages of low-intensity enzyme inactivation, loss of water-soluble substances, etc. In this study, the potential of using infrared blanching, prior to drying, was studied to find solutions to improve the nutritional value, and the shelf life of pecan kernels. The results showed that infrared blanching at 600 W for 60 s followed by drying with hot air at 70°C for 40 min could inhibit the color degradation, improve the oxidation resistance, and prolong the shelf life of kernels.

The present work aimed to develop a novel bioactive edible film prepared by adding quercetin-encapsulated carboxymethyl lotus root starch nanoparticles (QNPs),gellan gum and lotus root starch. The physicochemical characteristics, preservation effect and mechanism on grapes of the prepared film were investigated. SEM results showed that QNPs (5 %) were dispersed uniformly within lotus root starch matrix, indicating the formation of a stable composite nanoparticle film. In addition, the incorporation of QNPs (5 %) effectively improved the mechanical strength, thermal stability, barrier property and antioxidant activity of QNPs/starch film. Moreover, compared with the control, the QNPs/starch (5 %) film showed effective preservation effect on grapes during 21 days of storage at room temperature, based on the characterization by grape appearance, weight loss, firmness, and titratable acidity. Further studies found that QNPs/starch (5 %) film could exhibit enhanced antioxidant activity and potent anti-fungal ability against Botrytis cinerea, , thus extending grape shelf life. In conclusion, the obtained QNPs/starch (5 %) film presented a promising application as an edible packing material for fruit preservation by antioxidant and preventing Botrytis cinerea contamination.

目的 探究红外漂烫(infrared radiation blanching,IR)联合热风干燥(hot-air drying,HA)对核桃仁的品质与贮藏稳定性的影响.方法 分别采用500、600、700 W功率对核桃仁进行IR处理,随后分别用60、70、80℃热风进行HA,再分析IR联合HA(IR-HA)的核桃仁的含水量、干燥速率、色泽、过氧化值(peroxide value,POV)、酸价(acid value,AV)、单宁和总酚含量、抗氧化活性、内源酶活性以及贮藏稳定性.结果 500 W需IR 120 s,600 W需65 s,700 W需45 s可使核桃仁的中心温度达到90℃;IR-HA相比HA对照组(control group-HA,CK-HA)具有更快的干燥速率,色泽变化更小(ΔE<6.00),POV和AV更低,单宁含量在40.00μg/g以下,总酚和抗氧化能力提高到50％以上,残余酶活力最低可在10％以下.在35℃、30％相对湿度条件下贮藏30 d,核桃仁的内源酶活性均逐渐下降,而POV和游离脂肪酸含量逐渐上升,但与CK-HA相比,IR-HA显示了更弱的脂氧合酶、过氧化物酶和脂肪酶活力,更低的POV及游离脂肪酸含量,以及更稳定的脂肪酸组成.结论 600 W IR 65 s接着60℃HA的加工工艺提高了核桃仁的干燥效率,提升了核桃仁的营养品质和贮藏稳定性.

The Ca2+-calpain signaling plays a pivotal role in regulating the upstream signaling pathway of cellular autophagy. The aim of the current work was to investigate the role of Ca2+-calpain signaling in the regulation of macrophage autophagy by a Laminaria japonica polysaccharide (LJP61A) in Ox-LDL induced macrophages and high fat diet fed atherosclerotic mice. Results revealed that the LJP61A markedly decreased the levels of intracellular Ca2+, calpain1, calpain2 and their downstream effectors (Gsα, cAMP and IP3), and simultaneously enhanced autophagy activity and lipid metabolism, thereby reducing lipid accumulation in the Ox-LDL stimulated macrophages and lipid-laden plaques in atherosclerotic mice. Moreover, BAPTA-AM (a Ca2+ chelator) and calpeptin (a calpain inhibitor) synergistically strengthened the beneficial effects of LJP61A on autophagy and lipid metabolism by decreasing the levels of intracellular Ca2+, calpain1, calpain2, and their downstream effectors (Gsα, cAMP and IP3) induced by Ox-LDL. These findings suggested that the LJP61A suppressed macrophage derived foam cell formation and atherosclerosis by modulating the Ca2+-calpain-mediated autophagy.