Bioactive peptides are promising candidates in the management of hypertension. This study aimed to synthesize a garlic-derived angiotensin I (Ang I) converting enzyme inhibitory peptide (HDCF) and elucidate its antihypertensive mechanisms by integrated network pharmacology and transcriptomics analyses combined with cellular experiments. HDCF was successfully fabricated using a solid-phase peptide synthesis strategy, with a yield of 81.17% and a purity of 98.46%. Network pharmacology analysis identified 5 key genes (insulin, renin, Ang I converting enzyme, nitric oxide synthase 3, and endothelin 1) in the protein-protein interaction network between HDCF and hypertension-related targets. The administration of HDCF showed dose-dependent blood pressure-lowering activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats and alleviated endothelial dysfunction. Transcriptomics analysis identified differentially expressed genes and linked them to Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, revealing the association between the antihypertensive effects of HDCF and endothelial dysfunction-related pathways (such as the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway). In Ang II-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HDCF treatment substantially raised nitric oxide levels via upregulating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway and subsequently activated the cGMP/PKG signaling pathway. Taken together, the improvement of endothelial dysfunction by HDCF was an important pathway for its antihypertensive effect. These findings further elucidated the antihypertensive mechanism of HDCF and supported its application in functional foods and pharmaceuticals. (c) 2026 The authors. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

BACKGROUND:For centuries, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been widely employed in traditional medicine, and its primary therapeutic constituents are a class of compounds known as ginsenosides. In particular, protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides exhibit potent anticancer properties, largely mediated through epigenetic mechanisms. PURPOSE:This review systematically examines the anticancer effects of PPD-type ginsenosides, with particular emphasis on their epigenetic mechanisms. To contextualize the structural diversity underlying their pharmacological activities, biotechnological production and transformation strategies are briefly outlined. The review then highlights advances in epigenetics-related pathways and concludes with a prospective outlook on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for drug discovery, structure-activity prediction, and therapeutic optimization in ginsenoside research. METHODS:A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Literature searches were performed across major academic databases (Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, and PubMed) to identify studies investigating the epigenetic anticancer mechanisms of PPD-type ginsenosides. RESULTS:PPD-type ginsenosides exert significant anticancer activity primarily through epigenetic regulation. Biotechnological advances support improved ginsenoside production and bioavailability, while AI remains an exploratory tool with potential future roles in compound screening and therapeutic optimization. CONCLUSIONS:The epigenetic targeting capabilities of PPD-type ginsenosides represent a promising avenue for cancer therapy. While current evidence supports their potential in precision oncology, further interdisciplinary efforts are essential to translate these mechanisms into clinically viable treatments.

This study employed a multi-scale approach to elucidate the interfacial adsorption behavior of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) and the molecular mechanisms underlying emulsion stability under different ionic strengths. The interfacial adsorption of MPs primarily depends on electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. When MPs approach the interface, structural changes occur, accompanied by angular deflection and orientation towards the horizontal direction. High ionic strengths (0.6-1.0 mol/L) enhance the Kdiff of MPs, with the thickness and mass of the interface film showing significant changes as ionic strength increases (1 > 0.8 > 0.4 > 0.6 > 0.2 > 0). At 0.6 mol/L, the elasticity of the interface film reaches its peak, the emulsion exhibits the strongest deformation resistance, and achieves optimal stability. This discovery deepens our understanding of protein adsorption behavior at oil/water interfaces and provides new theoretical basis and methodological guidance for the practical application of MPs in the field of food emulsions.

Food allergy has become a global concern. Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitors are promising therapeutics against allergic disorders. In this study, a total of 300 natural phenolic compounds were firstly subjected to virtual screening. Sesamin and its metabolites, sesamin monocatechol (SC-1) and sesamin dicatechol (SC-2), were identified as potential SYK inhibitors, showing high binding affinity and inhibition efficiency towards SYK. Compared with R406 (a traditional SYK inhibitor), sesamin, SC-1, and SC-2 had lower binding energy and inhibition constant (Ki) during molecular docking, exhibited higher bioavailability, safety, metabolism/clearance rate, and distribution uniformity ADMET predictions, and showed high stability in occupying the ATP-binding pocket of SYK during molecular dynamics simulations. In anti-dinitrophenyl-immunoglobulin E (Anti-DNP-IgE)/dinitrophenyl-human serum albumin (DNP-HSA)-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells, sesamin in the concentration range of 5–80 μmol/L influenced significantly the degranulation and cytokine release, with 54.00% inhibition against β-hexosaminidase release and 58.45% decrease in histamine. In BALB/c mice, sesamin could ameliorate Anti-DNP-IgE/DNP-HSA-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) reactions, reduce the levels of allergic mediators (immunoglobulins and pro-inflammatory cytokines), partially correct the imbalance of T helper (Th) cells differentiation in the spleen, and inhibit the phosphorylation of SYK and its downstream signaling proteins, including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and p65 nuclear factor-κB (p65 NF-κB) in the spleen. Thus, sesamin may be a safe and versatile SYK inhibitor that can alleviate IgE-mediated food allergies.

Brewer's spent grain (BSG), a residual output from beer production, is abundant in protein yet remains largely underutilized. This study investigates the separation of BSG into fine (FF) and coarse fractions (CF) using air classification. At an optimal frequency of 60 Hz, the FF achieved a 62.63 % yield and 80.30 % protein recovery, characterized by a smaller mean particle size of 27.31 mu m and enhanced structural flexibility. In contrast, the CF, with a larger mean particle size of 259.46 mu m, exhibited superior water-and oil-holding capacities and greater gastrointestinal digestibility due to its composition and structure. Enzymatic hydrolysis of these fractions revealed that FF hydrolysates had higher protein recovery and improved foam and emulsion stability, while CF hydrolysates showed a higher degree of hydrolysis and superior foaming and emulsifying properties. These findings suggest that air classification followed by enzymatic hydrolysis is an effective strategy for fractionating BSG into fiber-rich and protein-rich components, facilitating the development of BSG into diverse food products with distinct nutritional and functional benefits.

Traditional fermented sea bass is an Asian product known for its abundant umami peptides. We successfully isolated and characterized FDD (Phe-Asp-Asp), EDEI (Glu-Asp-Glu-Ile), GIELE (Gly-Ile-Glu-Leu-Glu), and ELPDGQ (Glu-Leu-Pro-Asp-Gly-Gln) from fermented sea bass using an aqueous extraction method, followed by purification and identification techniques, such as UF (ultrafiltration), GFC (gel filtration chromatography) and RP-HPLC-MS. Sensory evaluations and e-tongue analyses validated the enhancement of umami, salty, and sweet flavors in the chicken broth. Sigmoid curves revealed a synergistic effect of ELPDGQ and EDEI, whereas FDD and GIELE exhibited an additive effect in a solution of 1 mg/mL MSG. We employed molecular docking to investigate the interactions with T1R1/T1R3 receptors, highlighting the roles of Ser, His, Ala, Gly, and Glu, as well as considering aspects like hydrogen bonding, aromatic interactions, hydrophilicity, and the solvent-accessible surface area. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of the peptide-receptor complexes. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the extraction of umami peptides from fermented marine fish and provides an understanding of the perception of these peptides. Future studies should focus on improving the umami intensity of synthetic umami peptides by modifying their spatial conformation, and further exploring the umami taste mechanism of the umami peptides and how these peptides can be synthesized on a large scale.

In this study, rosmarinic acid (RA) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) were used to improve the stability of myofibrillar protein (MP) undergoing hemoglobin (Hb)-mediated oxidation. Hb-mediated oxidation caused changes in MP's secondary and tertiary structures. RA or CGA suppressed effectively Hb-induced MP oxidation, and maintained MP's spatial conformational stability through interacting with MP's amino acid side chains to form phenolic-protein complexes. Further investigations by multi-spectroscopic techniques, isothermal titration calorimetry, and molecular docking and dynamics simulation revealed the interaction of RA or CGA with Hb through binding to Hb's central hydrophobic cavity via one binding site. The RA/CGA-Hb binding was an enthalpy-driven spontaneous and exothermic process, involving hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces as the main interactive forces. The Hb-CGA binding might be more stable than Hb-RA binding. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of RA and CGA in improving meat products quality by regulating Hb-mediated protein oxidation.

This research aimed to develop umami enhancers through solid-state fermentation of soybean meal with Aspergillus oryzae then enzymatic hydrolysis. The enzymatic hydrolysate of fermented soybean meal possessed significant umami taste and umami-enhancing capacity. Addition of soybean protein isolate hydrolysate (SPIH) before fermentation enhanced the fermentation system's neutral protease, alkaline protease, acidic protease, aminopeptidase and glutaminase activities, increased the release of umami-active peptides/amino acids, thereby enhancing the umami intensity and umami-enhancing capacity of the final hydrolysate of fermented soybean meal (FSHE). The peptide Asp, peptide Glu, ME, EV, EA, and EA of FSHE showed improvements of 10.0 %, 6.6 %, 54.5 %, 75.2 %, 232.0 %, and 17.5 %, respectively, compared to the SPIH-free final hydrolysate of fermented soybean meal (FSHC). The critical stage for generating umami components in FSHE was the first 8 h of enzymatic hydrolysis, and SPIH mainly affected the release of umami components during this period. The peptides smaller than 1000 Da and peptide sized 1000-3000 Da in the FSHE accounted mainly for rapid increase of FSHE's umami intensity and umami-enhancing capacity during the first 8 and 12 h of enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. FSHE's umami characteristics were influenced by free amino acids (Glu and Asp), peptide amino acids (Glu and Asp), and umami-enhancing peptides (ME, EL, EA and EV). Besides neutral protease, alkaline protease and acidic protease, aminopeptidase and glutaminase from Aspergillus oryzae were also the key contributing enzymes to the production of umami components in FSHE.

Background: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a widespread metabolic disorder that arises from disruptions in purine metabolism, impaired kidney function, or both conditions. FPAW (Phe-Pro-Ala-Trp) is a novel peptide identified from Trachinotus ovatus with great XOD (xanthine oxidase) inhibitory activity (IC50 = 3.81 mM), which can be developed as a potential active ingredient to relieve hyperuricemia. However, it remains unclear whether FPAW alleviates HUA in vivo or not. Methods: In this study, potassium-oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice were used to evaluate the in vivo anti-hyperuricemic activity of FPAW. Some physiological parameters, such as serum uric acid (SUA), serum creatinine (SCR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and the activity of XOD and ADA (adenosine deaminase) in the liver were determined to evaluate the effect of reduced uric acid. The modulations in the gut microbiota and its metabolites (SCFAs) were analyzed by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and GC-MS in different fecal samples. Molecular docking was used to predict the interactions between the enzymes and FPAW. Results: The results showed that FPAW reduced the levels of serum uric acid, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen, while also suppressing the activity of XOD in the livers of HUA mice. Moreover, the FPAW treatment alleviated gut microbiota dysfunction and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids to protect normal intestinal function and health of the host. Molecular docking simulations revealed that FPAW inhibited XOD activity by entering the hydrophobic channel and interacting with amino acid residues on the surface via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Conclusions: This study provides new candidates for the development of hypouricemic drugs. FPAW exhibited great potential to relieve hyperuricemia of mice induced by diet in the animal experiment.

Apples are popular fruits worldwide and rich in phenolic compounds that can alleviate obesity and related metabolic diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-obesity actions of apple polyphenols (AP) like phlorizin (PZ) and procyanidin B2 (PB2) on transplanted obese patient fecal microbiota (TOPFM)-induced obesity and related syndromes have not yet been fully examined in vivo. Herein, a commercial AP product, PZ compound or PB2 compound was used to ameliorate TOPFM-induced obesity in mice. The results indicated that the AP, PZ or PB2 supplementation markedly alleviate TOPFM-induced obesity in mice through effectively suppressing body weight gain and fat accumulation, alleviating insulin resistance and liver inflammation, regulating gut microecology and lipid synthesis/metabolism, and improving gut barrier function and antioxidant capacity. The gut barrier function and integrity were improved through regulating the expression of intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and gut barrier function-related genes, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, and raising the glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) level via increasing the contents of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Interestingly, the AP, PZ or PB2 supplementation could significantly improve the production of SCFAs and restore the microbial community structure and diversity in mice with TOPFM-induced obesity, in particular, increased the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Bifidobacteriaceae possibly by inhibiting Blautia and Bifidobacterium phages. The influences of AP, PZ or PB2 on gut microorganisms and phases of the mice upon TOPFM were species-specific. This study was the first report on the ability of an AP, PZ or PB2 supplementation to promote the production of SCFAs by modulating gut microbiota possibly via regulating gut phages.

This study examined the differences in physico-chemical, volatile and sensory characteristics between the ciders made with the juices from four apple cultivars (Golden delicious, Fuji, Ralls genet, and Xiushui) and the ciders prepared with corresponding pomaces. These cider characteristics varied with apple cultivar and fermentation raw material, with fermentation raw material imparting more influence. Compared with ciders made with apple juices, the counterparts of apple pomaces showed higher contents of total sugar (2.03-3.11 g/L), reducing sugar (1.66-2.90 g/L) and total SO2 (15.7-20.3 g/L), and lower alcohol content (9.80-10.89 g/L). Ciders' volatile profiles changed with the type of fermentation raw material and apple cultivar. The contents of 1-propanol and ethyl decanoate in ciders made with apple juices were in the range of 34.0-75.2 mg/L and 229.1-486.8 mg/L, which were much higher than those ciders made with apple pomaces. This study indicates the potential of apple pomace as the fermentation raw material for cider production.

Food allergens are the key triggers of allergic diarrhea, causing damage to the immune-rich ileum. This weakens the mucosal barrier and tight junctions, increases intestinal permeability, and exacerbates allergen exposure, thereby worsening the condition. Sesamin, a natural lignan isolated from sesame seed, has shown potential in regulating immune responses, but its effects on intestinal health remain unclear. In this study, we constructed an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic diarrhea mouse model, which demonstrated increased mast cell degranulation, reduced tight junction integrity, and impaired intestinal barrier function. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased in the ileum, along with unbalanced cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4+) T-cell immunity, altered gut microbiota composition, and disrupted bacterial metabolism. Sesamin treatment significantly alleviated intestinal damage by modulating gut microbiota abundance, enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and increasing SCFA receptor expression. This study suggests that sesamin may be a promising therapeutic candidate for allergic diarrhea and intestinal injury.

There are ongoing efforts to explore the potential of natural bioactive substances including polysaccharides in immunological regulation and understand the mechanisms under their immune-regulating function. In this study, a polysaccharide from Flammulina velutipes (FVP-1) exhibited immunomodulatory in RAW264.7 macrophage cells and mouse spleen cells. FVP-1 increased the secretion of cytokines (like TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) and their mRNA expression, upregulated the transcription and translation expression of COX-2 and iNOS, and enhanced the release of reactive oxygen species the phagocytic activity in macrophages, thereby promoting the maturation and transformation of certain lymphocytes. All these functions of FVP-1 depended to some extent on its concentration. The RSAD2 effector was involved in the immunomodulatory function of FVP-1 towards macrophages and mouse splenocytes, through mediating FVP-1's activation and regulation of the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. These findings indicate the potential of FVP-1 as a natural immunomodulator and approach for improving immune function.

The worldwide rise in food allergies underscores the need for a deeper understanding of their mechanisms and the exploration of proactive strategies using natural bioactives. This paper provides insights into the complex processes of allergic reactions, particularly IgE-mediated allergic responses and the role of Fc epsilon receptor I (FcεRI) signaling in mast cells (MCs) degranulation. Phenolic compounds, widely present in natural foods, commonly consumed, and generally safe, are known for their broad health benefits. Many phenolic compounds have shown the potential to inhibit MC degranulation, although their specific targets may differ. This review highlights their potential as inhibitors of FcεRI-mediated MC degranulation, suggesting that dietary polyphenols may support improved anti-allergic strategies. However, knowledge gaps remain, particularly how ingested polyphenols influence each stage of allergen digestion and the subsequent immune events. These gaps need to be addressed to enable more precise and effective dietary interventions.

Organosulfur compounds (OSCs) in garlic-processing wastewater are decomposed and generated to toxic and harmful substances with unpleasant odors under anaerobic conditions. Herein, were report the successful development of novel copper-based metal organic framework (Cu-MOF) adsorbents with high adsorption capacities for OSCs in aqueous media. Defect-rich Cu-MOF-X samples, with particle sizes between 360 and 750 nm, synthesized hydrothermal in the presence of acetic acid (where X denotes the molar ratio of acetic acid relative to the pentadentate MOF linker H4PPYD). OSC adsorption experiments using allicin, ajoene and 2-ethenyl-4H-1,3dithiine (2-VDT) showed that Cu-MOF-200 delivered fast adsorption kinetics and high OSC adsorption capacities (149.02-171.33 mg g-1) owing to the pore accessibility and range of adsorption sites in the MOF. FT-IR, Raman, and XPS analyses, together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, verified the strong yet reversible adsorption of OSCs in Cu-MOF-200. Results guide the development of improved adsorbents for OSC capture from garlic-processing wastewater.

Pectins are highly sought after as food additives, functional ingredients, and structural polymers. So far, no study has been performed on the extraction, characterization, and application of pectins from garlic pomace. In this study, a medium-sized low-methoxyl pectin rich in rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) and galactose was prepared from garlic pomace (termed "GP"; molecular weight, Mw, 324.08 kDa; degree of methyl esterification, DM, 48.10%; RG-I, 35.20%), via citric acid-water extraction at 65 degrees C for 120 min and ethanol precipitation. GP contained six neutral monosaccharides (fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, and xylose) and two acidic monosaccharides (galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid), and could protect zebrafish against metronidazole-induced oxidative damage. Compared with commercial citrus pectin, GP had a comparable Mw, much more RG-Is and homogalacturonans, higher protein and phenolic contents, higher degree of branching, lower crystallinity, higher thermal stability (over 30-377 degrees C), higher in vitro and in vivo antioxidant capacities, higher viscosity, and higher emulsifying and emulsion-stabilizing abilities. Accordingly, garlic pomace was a good source of RG-I-rich and galactose-rich pectins with high emulsifying and antioxidant capacities. GP can be used for making foods and pharmaceuticals possessing simultaneously high emulsifying, emulsion-stabilizing, and antioxidant capacities. This study demonstrates a sustainable garlic waste valorization approach.

The concept and theory of “medicine and food homology” derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has greatly influenced the Chinese food culture since ancient times, as the concept recognizes the intrinsic link between medicine and food and has laid the foundation for diet therapy and diet-based health maintenance. As the concept continues to evolve and become more popular worldwide, a shift from an unconscious “(food-like) medicine supplement” to a conscious “food therapy” is evident. This shift influences considerably the global health and wellness industry and is assimilated into modern lifestyles. As a result, the traditional medicine-food homology concept has been transformed to modern food-medicine homology practices. The transformation was accelerated during and post the COVID-19 pandemic. This review places a focus on such transformation. The development and evolution of traditional medicine-food homology practices, and the resulting changes in food processing, dietary patterns, food service, consumer perception and human lifestyles, are reviewed. The urgent need for further modernization and internationalization of the food-medicine homology theory and practice is highlighted, while several research and development aspects that should be pursued in the near future are discussed.

Jerusalem artichoke leaf protein (JALP) has limited applications because of its dark color, even though Jerusalem artichoke is a cash crop. This study utilized high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) (≤ 600 W) to modify the physicochemical characteristics and functional properties of JALP. Compared with the JALP, all the HIUS-treated JALP (UJALP) samples had a lighter brown color, higher absolute ζ-potential value, lower Z-average size, higher surface hydrophobicity, higher water solubility, lower turbidity, more -SH group, and higher water-holding, oil-holding, emulsifying and foaming capacities. The HIUS treatment disrupted certain non-covalent and SS bonds, promoted protein depolymerization, change protein secondary structures, causing partial unfolding of protein and exposure of some charged groups, hydrophobic groups and chromophores (like tryptophan and tyrosine). The UJALP-stabilized corn oil-in-water emulsions (UJALPEs) were more stable than the JALP-stabilized emulsion (JALPE). The bioaccessibility of curcumin in the JALPE (56.38 %) was significantly lower than in the UJALPE-600 W (64.59 %).