双对苯醌的抗氧化活性分析及其固体发酵条件优化

为探索生物活性未知的双对苯醌（2,7-dihydroxy-3,6,9-trimethyl-9H-xanthene-1,4,5,8-tetraone，DTXT）的抗氧化活性，并提高其发酵产量，考察DTXT的还原力以及对超氧阴离子自由基、羟自由基、1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼（1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl，DPPH）自由基的清除效果，在单因素试验基础上，采用响应面法优化了DTXT产生菌瓶生顶孢霉（Acremonium cavaraeanum）CA022菌株的固体发酵培养基。结果表明：在200 μg/mL质量浓度下，DTXT的还原力与芦丁差异不显著，高于VE和2,6-二叔丁基-4甲基苯酚，对超氧阴离子自由基清除率达到67.00%，对羟自由基清除率达到78.83%，对DPPH自由基清除率达到76.53%。通过响应面试验，得到最佳培养基配方为葡萄糖0.773%、硝酸钠0.185%、H3BO3 0.032%、VB1 100 μg/100 g，在此条件下实际获得的DTXT产量为4 150.8 mg/kg，是优化前产量的（2 864.83 mg/kg）1.45 倍。     

Neoagarooligosaccharide Protects against Hepatic Fibrosis via Inhibition of TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway

Hepatic fibrosis occurs when liver tissue becomes scarred from repetitive liver injury and inflammatory responses; it can progress to cirrhosis and eventually to hepatocellular carcinoma. Previously, we reported that neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs), produced by the hydrolysis of agar by β-agarases, have hepatoprotective effects against acetaminophen overdose-induced acute liver injury. However, the effect of NAOs on chronic liver injury, including hepatic fibrosis, has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we examined whether NAOs protect against fibrogenesis in vitro and in vivo. NAOs ameliorated PAI-1, α-SMA, CTGF and fibronectin protein expression and decreased mRNA levels of fibrogenic genes in TGF-β-treated LX-2 cells. Furthermore, downstream of TGF-β, the Smad signaling pathway was inhibited by NAOs in LX-2 cells. Treatment with NAOs diminished the severity of hepatic injury, as evidenced by reduction in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis mouse models. Moreover, NAOs markedly blocked histopathological changes and collagen accumulation, as shown by H&E and Sirius red staining, respectively. Finally, NAOs antagonized the CCl₄-induced upregulation of the protein and mRNA levels of fibrogenic genes in the liver. In conclusion, our findings suggest that NAOs may be a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of chronic liver injury via inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.     

Volatile and non-volatile compound profiles of commercial sweet pickled mango and its correlation with consumer preference

Sweet pickled mango named Ma-Muang Bao Chae-Im is a traditional preserved mango from Hat Yai, Thailand. This study investigated (I) volatile and non-volatile compound profiles of commercial Ma-Muang Bao Chae-Im and (II) their relationship to consumer preference. Untargeted metabolomics profiling was performed by gas chromatography-mass quadrupole-time of flight analysis. There were 117 volatile and 44 non-volatile compounds annotated in six commercial brands of Ma-Muang Bao Chae-Im. Furthermore, 46 volatile and 19 non-volatile compounds’ discriminant markers were found by Partial least square discriminant analysis. Among those markers, sorbic and benzoic acid were observed in several brands; moreover, the combination of both compounds altered the volatile profile, especially the ester group. Partial least square regression revealed that overall consumer liking is correlated to 1-heptanol; 1-octanol; acetoin; acetic acid, 2-phenylethyl ester; D-manitol; terpenes and terpenoids, while firmness to sucrose and L-(-)-sorbofuranose. On the other hand, most ester compounds were not related to consumer preference.     

低压静电场辅助冷冻对竹笋品质的影响

为研究低压静电场辅助冷冻对竹笋冻结特性的影响，以冻结曲线、硬度、水分损失率、水分迁移、冰晶形态和组织微观结构为指标，探究低压静电场辅助冷冻（－35 ℃）和普通冷冻（－35 ℃）条件下竹笋品质的变化规律。结果表明：低压静电场辅助冷冻提高了冻结效率，改变了冰晶形态及分布，减轻了组织微观结构破损程度，改善了解冻汁液流失情况。与静电板间距10、20、30、40 cm处的冷冻竹笋解冻后水分损失率分别为14.16%、12.58%、9.73%、10.44%，显著低于对照组（21.01%）（P＜0.05），硬度分别为461.19、507.48、496.65 g和455.31 g，显著高于对照组（350.70 g）（P＜0.05）。低场核磁共振分析结果表明，在低压静电场辅助冷冻下竹笋解冻后汁液流失减少，扫描电子显微镜观察结果显示，竹笋纤维排列整齐，组织微观结构保持较好。低压静电场辅助冷冻可有效改善竹笋品质，可为利用低压静电场进行果蔬的冷冻贮藏和冷链运输提供参考。     

纳米药物非临床药代动力学的研究策略及关注要点

随着纳米技术的迅速发展，纳米药物的研发已成为目前药物创新的发展方向之一。纳米药物具有基于纳米结构的尺度效应，其药代动力学特征与普通药物相比存在明显差异，其药代动力学研究与普通药物相比也有其特殊性。本文着重探讨纳米药物的非临床药代动力学的研究策略及关注要点，包括受试物、体内/外试验、生物样本分析、数据评价分析等，期望为研发者提供参考。     

Analysis and proposition of limiting current density measurement protocol

Limiting current density at different temperatures, backpressures, and balance gases can be used to separate molecular diffusion resistance, Knudsen diffusion resistance and local transport resistance of membrane electrode assembly (MEA). However, the measurement of limiting current density has no unified protocol. The diverse choices in the literature, either in the control of current or voltage or in the atmosphere like relative humidity and O₂ concentrations, make it difficult to compare the results and identify the true bottleneck hindering the mass transport. In this work, the current-voltage curves obtained by current scanning/stepping and voltage scanning/stepping methods under dilute O₂ of different concentrations and a wide range of relative humidity were measured and analyzed systematically. It is found that the voltage stepping method is superior to the other three ways of control for the reliable determination of the limiting current density. Aided with simultaneous electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurement, the limiting current density can be determined with pinpoint accuracy. When the limiting current density is just used to qualitatively evaluate different MEA, the voltage scanning method can be used instead for its high time efficiency. The selection of the atmosphere also plays an important role in suppressing the distortion from excessive water and reducing the spurious contribution from proton conduction resistance. It is found that O₂ concentrations at 0.5 vol% and relative humidity at 90% can give the best estimation of O₂ transport resistance in membrane electrode assembly.     

Combinations of Piperine with Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin as a Multifunctional System

Piperine is an alkaloid that has extensive pharmacological activity and impacts other active substances bioavailability due to inhibition of CYP450 enzymes, stimulation of amino acid transporters and P-glycoprotein inhibition. Low solubility and the associated low bioavailability of piperine limit its potential. The combination of piperine with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) causes a significant increase in its solubility and, consequently, an increase in permeability through gastrointestinal tract membranes and the blood–brain barrier. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to characterize interactions between piperine and HP-β-CD. The observed physicochemical changes should be combined with the process of piperine and CD system formation. Importantly, with an increase in solubility and permeability of piperine as a result of interaction with CD, it was proven to maintain its biological activity concerning the antioxidant potential (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate assay), inhibition of enzymes essential for the inflammatory process and for neurodegenerative changes (hyaluronidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase).