Leaf shape displays remarkable diversity, with its evolution hypothesized to reflect adaptive ecophysiological functions. Theoretical models propose that variation in leaf shape-particularly through modifications in effective leaf width (we)-primarily influences thermoregulation and hydraulic efficiency. However, comprehensive empirical tests of these hypotheses are lacking. Oxytropis diversifolia E. Peter (Fabaceae) has natural variation in leaf shape (1 leaflet, 1-3 leaflets, and 3 leaflets) and exhibits clinal variation, making it an ideal candidate to test those functional relationships. Here, we quantified leaf morphometrics across populations, logged in situ leaf temperature and gas exchange, and examined leaf anatomy associated with water balance. We confirmed that the production of more leaflets did reduce we. While leaves with reduced we could stay cooler during the day, the extent of leaf-to-air temperature difference was typically small (often within 1°C), suggesting a limited biological impact. Crucially, we identified a key anatomical trade-off in water relations: reduced we yielded beneficial lower chlorenchyma-to-midrib ratios and higher vein density, but at the cost of smaller vascular dimensions. This trade-off likely underpins the observed, context-dependent superior gas exchange of the intermediate phenotype. We propose that the functional significance of leaf shape lies in water relations over thermoregulation, with balancing selection on the anatomical trade-off providing a plausible mechanism maintaining the polymorphism.

This study established an integrated analytical method based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the rapid, non-destructive, and quantitative detection of four major nutritional components in faba beans: starch, protein, moisture, and dietary fiber. By systematically comparing individual and combined spectral preprocessing strategies, optimal preprocessing combinations for each component were identified. Seven feature wavelength selection algorithms, including Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS), were employed to extract key spectral variables. Predictive models were subsequently developed using four modeling approaches: Partial Least Squares (PLS), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). The results demonstrated that combined preprocessing methods significantly outperformed single techniques. The CARS algorithm exhibited the most robust performance in feature extraction, and the MLP model consistently surpassed traditional machine learning methods in predicting all components. The optimal modeling pipelines for each component were ultimately determined as follows: starch (MLP + CARS + MSC + SG + MSS, R2 = 0.92), protein (MLP + CARS + SD + SNV + MSC + MSS, R2 = 0.94), moisture (MLP + SPA + SG + SNV, R2 = 0.9973), and dietary fiber (MLP + PCA + FD + SNV, R2 = 0.9999). This study verifies the effectiveness of combining NIRS with deep learning for the simultaneous detection of multiple components in faba beans and provides a reliable methodological framework for the non-destructive quality assessment of agricultural products.

Wheat bran arabinoxylan (WBAX), a major dietary fiber in wheat bran, exhibits limited physiological functionality due to its poor solubility and rigid structure. This study investigated the impact of electron beam irradiation (EBI) at 0, 5, 10, and 15 kGy on the structural, physicochemical, and fermentative properties of insoluble WBAX (WIAX). EBI induced dose-dependent depolymerization, glycosidic bond cleavage, and surface alterations, as evidenced by molecular weight analysis, XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET and thermogravimetric characterization. Moderate doses (5 and 10 kGy) significantly improved solubility, hydration properties, lipid-binding capacity, and adsorption of nitrites, bile salts, cholesterol, and glucose. The most pronounced enhancements were observed at 10 kGy, while 15 kGy caused excessive structural degradation and diminished functional performance. In vitro fecal fermentation further demonstrated that WIAX irradiated at 10 kGy promoted bacterial growth, accelerated carbohydrate utilization, and significantly increased antioxidant activity and short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production. Microbial community analysis revealed that EBI- treated WIAX, particularly at 10 kGy, enriched beneficial genera such as Limosilactobacillus and Lactobacillus and reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria, indicating improved prebiotic potential. Overall, these findings establish EBI as an effective, nonthermal approach to modulate the structural and functional properties of WIAX. By optimizing the irradiation dose-especially at 10 kGy-EBI-treated WIAX shows strong potential as a functional dietary fiber for gut microbiota regulation and metabolic health promotion.

Abstract: Renal fibrosis, the common pathological endpoint of diverse kidney injuries, drives the progression to end-stage kidney disease. Its rising prevalence, mirroring the global chronic kidney disease burden, starkly contrasts with the unmet need for safe and effective therapies. Fibrogenesis is centrally driven by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which orchestrates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. While Wnt/β-catenin signalling and mitochondrial dysfunction are key drivers, the specific ligand coupling these processes remains unknown. Here, we identify the dietary flavonoid phloretin as a potent anti-fibrotic agent that selectively targets the Wnt ligand, Wnt2b, for degradation. This action curbs aberrant β-catenin signalling and rectifies mitochondrial catastrophe. In TGF-β1-stimulated tubular epithelial cells and folic acid-injured mice, phloretin restores epithelial integrity, suppresses mesenchymal and matrix protein expression, and preserves renal function. Phloretin inhibits Wnt2b and rebalances mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics, reactivating PINK1/Parkin mediated mitophagy, and concurrently attenuates TLR4/Myd88/NLRP3 driven inflammation. Genetic silencing of Wnt2b phenocopies the protective effects of phloretin, confirming Wnt2b as the critical node coupling Wnt signalling to mitochondrial quality control. Our findings delineate the Wnt2b-mitochondrial quality control axis as a tractable therapeutic target and support phloretin as a promising nutritional intervention to halt renal fibrosis progression.

This study investigated the α-glucosidase (α-G) and α-amylase (α-A) inhibitory properties of black highland barley anthocyanins (BHA) and its main monomer, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), using an integrated approach combining in vitro simulated digestion, enzyme kinetics, multi-spectroscopic analyses, and molecular docking. Despite substantial degradation of anthocyanins during digestion, the intestinal digesta retained potent α-G inhibitory activity. The crude BHA extract exhibited stronger inhibition than C3G, with IC50 values of 8.31 μg/mL for α-G and 14.91 μg/mL for α-A. Kinetic studies revealed reversible, mixed-type inhibition for BHA, whereas C3G acted via a non-competitive mechanism. Multiple techniques demonstrated that the inhibitors bind to the enzymes, alter their conformation, and promote aggregation, with molecular docking attributing these effects to hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions at the active site. These findings elucidate the mechanisms by which BHA and C3G modulate carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, highlighting BHA as a potent functional food ingredient for postprandial glycemic control.

This study explored the effects of highland barley arabinoxylans (HBAXs) with distinct molecular character-istics-S20 (high Mw, low branching), S60 (moderate Mw, moderate branching), and S80 (low Mw, high branching)-on the physicochemical and digestive properties of barley starch (HS). HBAXs were incorporated at 0.5-2 % (w/w) into HS gels, and their impacts were assessed through pasting, rheological, structural, thermal, and digestibility analyses. All HBAXs suppressed the pasting of starch, with S80 exhibiting the most pronounced inhibition due to its strong hydration capacity. Rheological and SEM results revealed that S60 significantly enhanced gel strength and promoted the formation of a denser network structure. XRD and FTIR analyses indicated that S20 and S60 reduced relative crystallinity (from 16.03 % to 10.14 % and 13.84 %, respectively after 14 days) and retarded retrogradation, whereas S80 increased crystallinity to 19.66 %. LF-NMR and NMR imaging demonstrated that S20 and S60 restricted moisture migration and water loss during storage, in contrast to S80. In vitro digestion analysis revealed that S20 reduced the RDS content to 30.31 % and increased the SDS content to 42.36 %, suggesting potential for low-GI food applications. These results demonstrate that HBAXs modulate starch retrogradation and digestibility in a structure-dependent manner, offering functional strategies for tailoring starch-based food quality and health benefits.

Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the gut microbiome, exacerbating alcohol-induced cognitive and social dysfunction (AICSD), which constitutes a primary etiology of early-onset dementia. Urolithin A (UA) has been well-reported as an effective intervention for neurodegenerative diseases. However, the protective efficacy of UA against AICSD, and its underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. First, our study demonstrates that UA significantly enhances work memory (60.43%), short-term memory (12-fold), long-term memory (50.32%), social ability (10-fold), and social novelty (12-fold), while concurrently reducing synaptic impairments and neuroinflammation. Moreover, UA restores AICSD by upregulating the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) via RAP1 signaling. Furthermore, antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation experiments confirm the causality between the host microbiota and behavioral alterations. Treatment with UA-enriched Bacteroids sartorii and Parabacteroids distasonis, or their derived endocannabinoid-anandamide (AEA), also ameliorates AICSD. Finally, AEA inhibits the Rap1 signaling through cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and DRD2 interaction, eventually ameliorating AICSD. Collectively, our study elucidates that microbiota-derived AEA mediates the therapeutic effects of UA on AICSD through the CB1R-DRD2-RAP1 signaling axis, providing valuable insights for UA and microbiome-targeted endocannabinoid interventions against AICSD.

This study developed a green and scalable strategy for fabricating pomegranate seed oil (PSO) - loaded high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPEs). Millet bran-derived nanocellulose (MBCNs), with an optimal nanoscale diameter of 126 ± 13 nm obtained through a sequential process including ultrasonication, served as a sustainable Pickering stabilizer. Furthermore, the natural antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was incorporated, which synergistically embedded within the MBCNs to construct a robust composite interfacial layer, providing a dual-site defense against lipid oxidation. This synergistic physicochemical construction successfully inhibited the production of both primary and secondary oxidation byproducts during a 30-day storage period. HIPEs with an oil phase volume fraction exceeding 79.91% were efficiently prepared from pre-emulsions using a low-energy centrifugal concentration. The resulting HIPEs demonstrated excellent 3D printability. Moreover, they exhibited outstanding environmental stability, maintaining structural integrity under high-temperature (up to 80 °C) and high-salt (up to 200 mM NaCl) conditions.

To determine the optimal harvesting period for mechanized harvesting of Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum), fruits from different harvest batches within the same harvesting season were used as the experimental materials, and a comprehensive evaluation was conducted based on fresh-fruit ripeness and damage moisture content, and damage rate were measured on different sampling dates in two consecutive harvest batches (HP1 and HP2). Their variation patterns were analyzed, and a comprehensive evaluation model was established based on correlation analysis and principal component analysis to rank and optimize fruit quality across different sampling dates. The results showed that, with the progression of sampling dates, the ripeness of fresh L. barbarum fruit gradually increased, whereas damage resistance exhibited a stage-dependent variation pattern, and significant correlations were observed among the measured indicators. The dual-index weighted comprehensive evaluation indicated that the optimal harvesting period for both harvest batches was day 7, corresponding to an appropriate harvesting interval of 7 d. These results provide a theoretical basis for determining the harvesting period for mechanized L. barbarum harvesting.

In this study, the physicochemical properties, molecular weight, chain-length distribution, hierarchical structures, and in vitro digestive behaviors of starches from two high-resistant-starch wheat (HRSW) cultivars (TSM1 and XN836) and one normal wheat (NW, XN369) were investigated. Compared with NW, HRSW starches exhibited smaller granule size, lower molecular weight, and reduced amylopectin branching, but higher solubility, swelling power, pasting temperature, and single-helix content. In vitro digestion analysis revealed that native HRSW starch contained significantly higher resistant starch (45.5-50.6%) than NW (44.0%), which remained relatively high even after gelatinization (32.8-39.3%). Digestive kinetics modeled using the logarithm of slope (LOS) and combined-parallel-sequential (CPS) models demonstrated a biphasic digestion pattern, with HRSW showing slower digestibility and delayed initiation of the slowly digestible fraction compared with NW starch. TSM1, as a novel cultivar, exhibited the strongest digestive resistance, indicating its superior potential as a raw material for developing low-glycemic and functional foods.

ABSTRACT Phloretin, a plant‐derived dihydrochalcone bioactive compound, potentially modulates preadipocyte differentiation, although this remains controversial and requires further clarification. To clarify this point, herein, phloretin gavage inhibited mice obesity, reduced adipocyte size, and ameliorated serum lipid parameters, including triglycerides. In vitro, phloretin suppressed the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 and bovine preadipocytes, decreasing lipid droplet content and reducing CEBPα and PPARγ levels. Moreover, during differentiation, glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) ultimately decreased with elevations in malondialdehyde (MDA) and Fe 2+ levels, along with acyl‐CoA synthetase long‐chain family member 4 ( ACSL4 ), P53 , and SLC7A11 expression, indicating differentiation occurring under mild oxidation and slight ferroptosis activation. Similar to (1 S ,3 R )‐RSL3, phloretin further stimulated the ferroptosis pathway by inhibiting glutathione reductase (GR) and GSH‐Px, increasing the content of MDA and Fe 2+ . Simultaneously, the suppression of Fth1 , Slc7a11 , and Sod2 transcription, significantly elevated HMGB1 protein, and markedly downregulated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and TFR protein collectively confirmed that phloretin activated the ferroptosis signaling pathway to inhibit differentiation. Further phosphoproteomic analysis identified dm‐phosphorylation sites (p‐eEF2K[S365], p‐AMPKα1[S491], and p‐CaMKK2[S495]) enriched in AMPK/MAPK signaling pathways and transferrin receptor binding. Further molecular docking simulations revealed that phloretin binds to PPARγ or transferrin to activate ferroptosis pathway, revealing the potential crosstalk between ferroptosis signaling pathway and adipogenic differentiation processes.

Highland barley is a unique crop of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and its hypoglycemic properties have attracted extensive attention from the academic community. However, the key active compound that alleviates postprandial hyperglycemia remains unclear. In this study, UF-HPLC-MS/MS identified 25 potential α-glucosidase (α-G) inhibitors from the acetone extract of bran from 80% black highland barley. Among these, seven compounds (baicalin, breviscapine, luteolin-7-glucuronide, robtin, procyanidin B2, catechin and epicatechin) with strong anti-α-G potential were selected for further investigation. The results showed that proanthocyanidin B2 (PB2) showed the highest α-G inhibitory activity with the IC50 of 0.02 mg/mL. These compounds directly interacted with different active sites on α-G through non-covalent bonds and affected α-G conformation by influencing the microenvironment, thereby inhibiting its activity. The relationship between the inhibitory efficiency and molecular structure showed that the location of -OH on the B ring and the amount of -OH could obviously enhance the anti-α-glucosidase activity. In addition, luteolin-7-glucuronide and acarbose exhibited a stronger synergistic effect on hyperglycemia in vivo. The present study uncovered the active compounds of highland barley for its hypoglycemic effect by targeting α-G, which provided more details for the further utilization of highland barley as functional foods.

Highland barley (HB) is valued for its rich nutritional profile but is highly susceptible to lipid oxidation and quality deterioration during storage. This study investigated the effects of electron beam irradiation (EBI), chitosan coating (CS), and their combined application (EBI-CS) on the storage stability of HB kernels over 240 days. Key quality attributes, including lipid oxidation markers, pasting and textural properties, and antioxidant capacity, were systematically evaluated. Both EBI and CS treatments significantly suppressed lipid oxidation by inhibiting increases in lipase activity, free fatty acids (FFA), malondialdehyde (MDA), and peroxide value (POV), with the EBI-CS treatment demonstrating the lowest levels of these oxidation markers throughout storage, thereby exhibiting clear advantages over individual treatments. After 240 days of storage, EBI-CS treatment demonstrated reductions of 25.90% in lipase activity, 37.59% in FFA content, and 39.02% in POV compared to the Untreated group. CS treatment effectively reduced moisture loss and enhanced the pasting viscosity of HB kernels, whereas EBI significantly reduced pasting viscosity and textural properties. Additionally, EBI-CS treatment minimized moisture loss while better maintaining the nutritional composition and textural stability during storage, consistent with microstructural observations. Although EBI enhanced ABTS radical scavenging activity, CS treatment reduced antioxidant capacity. Overall, the combined EBI-CS treatment provided a more pronounced protective effect than either treatment alone, offering a sustainable, low-energy, and safe strategy for extending the storage stability of cereal grains. These findings highlight the potential of EBI-CS as an innovative postharvest preservation technology for grain storage.

Goat milk-derived extracellular vesicles (GMEVs) are natural nanostructures with potential roles in nutrition and therapeutic delivery, yet their gastrointestinal fate remains poorly understood. Here, we systematically investigated the stability, microbial utilization, and biodistribution of GMEVs. Isolated GMEVs exhibited characteristic size distribution and bilayer morphology, with lipids dominated by glycerolipids (36.0%) and phospholipids (35.9%). They remained structurally stable in simulated digestion fluids but aggregated under colonic conditions. Fermentation assays showed GMEVs promoted microbial metabolism, increasing short-chain fatty acids and enriching Lactobacillus. Cellular uptake in Caco-2 cells occurred via caveolin- and clathrin-mediated pathways. In vivo fluorescence imaging in mice confirmed sequential passage through the gastrointestinal tract, with absorption by colonic enterocytes and concurrent microbial utilization, followed by detectable distribution to the liver and brain. Collectively, these findings establish GMEVs as resilient, multifunctional vesicles that couple nanocarrier capacity with prebiotic-like activity, highlighting their translational potential for oral drug delivery and microbiota-targeted interventions.

Arabinoxylans (AXs), the predominant hemicellulose in wheat bran (WB), have recognized prebiotic potential but are underutilized due to extraction inefficiencies. In this study, a NaOH/urea solvent system was applied for the sustainable valorization of WB into functional AXs. Under optimized conditions (6.25% NaOH, 8.18% urea), the process achieved a significantly improved AX yield of 16.44%. The extracted AX (WBAX) and its fractions-soluble AX (SAX) and insoluble AX (IAX)-were structurally and functionally characterized. SAX exhibited a higher arabinose-to-xylose ratio (1.51), lower molecular weight (189.55 kDa), and more porous morphology compared to IAX, contributing to its enhanced solubility and fermentability. In vitro fecal fermentation demonstrated that both SAX and IAX increased microbial biomass, lowered pH, and promoted short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production, particularly propionic and butyric acids. Notably, SAX more effectively modulated gut microbiota by enriching beneficial genera such as Lactobacillus and Limosilactobacillus. Furthermore, fermentation increased antioxidant activity, as indicated by improved DPPH center dot and ABTS+center dot radical scavenging. These findings highlight the efficacy of the NaOH/urea system as a scalable and green approach for converting wheat bran into high-value prebiotic ingredients, supporting sustainable development of functional bioproducts from agricultural residues.

ABSTRACT Oxidative damage drives skin aging, yet the poor skin permeability of antioxidants often limits their efficacy. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have lipid bilayer structure and nanoscale size, emerge as promising intercellular communication mediators. Milk‐derived EVs offer distinct advantages over plant or animal sources, including high yield and minimal preprocessing requirements. Despite goat milk is widely utilized in whitening and anti‐aging cosmetics, the anti‐aging mechanisms of goat milk‐derived EVs (GMEVs) remain underexplored. This study investigates GMEVs’ protective effects against oxidative stress in human skin fibroblasts cells (HSFs cells). Isolated through ultracentrifugation and sucrose density gradients, GMEVs‐1 (174.3 ± 1 nm) and GMEVs‐2 (213.8 ± 3 nm) were characterized by transmission electron microscope, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and proteomic analysis (identifying 2301 proteins, 58 proteins were unique to GMEVs‐1, and 144 proteins were unique to GMEVs‐2). Confocal imaging confirmed DiO‐labeled GMEVs internalization in HSFs cells, which reduced H 2 O 2 ‐induced β‐galactosidase activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels while enhancing migration rates ( p < 0.05). Mechanistically, GMEVs‐1 and GMEVs‐2 attenuated hypertrophic scarring through TGF‐β1/SMAD pathway influence collagen I synthesis ( p < 0.05), MMP‐1/MMP‐3 inhibition with TIMP‐1 upregulation ( p < 0.05), and suppression of caspase‐dependent apoptosis, as verified by multi‐method analyses (ELISA, immunofluorescence, Western blot). Fluorescent tracking in BALB/c‐nu mice demonstrated significant epidermal retention without histopathological toxicity or serum biomarker alterations. Both GMEVs‐1 and GMEVs‐2 exhibited anti‐oxidative stress effects; GMEVs‐2 demonstrated superior efficacy at a lower protein concentration. These findings position GMEVs (GMEVs‐1 and GMEVs‐2) as promising nanoscale candidates for developing enhanced anti‐aging skincare therapeutics with improved epidermal bioavailability.

To explore anthocyanins in black bean peel, the conditions of ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were screened and optimized using the method of response surface optimization. After that, the purification of the anthocyanins was performed before investigating their antioxidant activity and stability. The results showed that the choline chloride–citric acid system was more suitable for the extraction of anthocyanins from black bean peel, and the maximum amount of 61.00 ± 2.73 mg C3GE/100 g DW anthocyanins was obtained with the following optimized conditions: extraction time, 40 min; ultrasonic power, 60 KHz; material–liquid ratio, 1:20 g/mL; and ultrasonic temperature, 50 °C. The purity of the anthocyanins increased to 193.62 mg C3GE/100 g after purification with AB-8 resin, which also significantly improved the ability to screen DPPH and ABTS radicals. The anthocyanins from black bean peel were sensitive to light, temperature, pH, and additives.

Dragon fruit production generates a substantial amount of agricultural waste, including peels, seeds, pulp residues, and foliage, which are often discarded despite their rich content of valuable bioactive compounds. Among these, polysaccharides are highly promising yet underexploited with diverse biological activities. This review comprehensively summarizes the types of polysaccharides found in dragon fruit waste, recent advancements in the extraction, purification, and functional evaluation of polysaccharides obtained from dragon fruit waste. These polysaccharides exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including strong antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, prebiotic properties beneficial for gut health, anti-diabetic and metabolic regulatory functions, wound healing promotion, and antibacterial actions. Because of the covalent combination of dragon fruit polysaccharide and betaine, it can effectively scavenge various free radicals, delay aging and cell damage, and make it have strong antioxidant capacity. On the contrary, the antioxidant capacity of ordinary fruit polysaccharides is limited, mainly relying on the synergistic effect of vitamin C, polyphenols and other components in fruits. What's more, the high-value applications of these polysaccharides across multiple sectors are also discussed, including their use as functional ingredients in the food industry, therapeutic agents in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, active compounds in cosmetic and personal care formulations, and eco-friendly materials for environmental and agricultural applications. This review provides valuable insights and guidance for further research, development, and utilization of proposed to facilitate the full realization of dragon fruit waste polysaccharides as renewable resources for high-value applications.

Starch gel foods are prone to retrogradation during storage, which affects their texture and quality. This study investigates the effects of flaxseed gum-fatty acid (FG-FA) systems on the retrogradation behavior of wheat starch (WS), focusing on the enhanced anti-retrogradation potential of various fatty acids (FAs). The results indicate that different FAs formed complexes with WS to varying degrees (81.71-93.97%). Compared to the WS-FG sample, the addition of FAs led to reduced gelatinization enthalpy, the formation of amylose-FA complexes, decreased ordered structure and relative crystallinity, more stable gel structure, and decreased hardness of the starch during storage, demonstrating that FAs enhance the inhibition of starch retrogradation. Furthermore, the inclusion of FAs increased the content of slowly digestible starch by an average of 6.12%. The effectiveness of FAs in inhibiting starch retrogradation was dependent on their saturation and chain length, following the order: lauric acid (LA) > myristic acid (MA) > palmitic acid (PA) > stearic acid (SA) > oleic acid (OA) > linoleic acid (LOA), with LA showing the most pronounced effect. These findings highlight the potential of the FG-FA system to enhance the storage stability of starch gel products.