Potential Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Function of Gynura procumbens Polyphenols Ligand

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of polyphenols contained in Gynura procumbens (GP) extract were systematically analyzed. Polyphenols in GP were analyzed for nine peaks using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS), and quantitatively determined through each standard. A total of nine polyphenolic compounds were identified in the samples and their MS data were tabulated. To determine the potential of bioactive ingredients targeting DPPH and COX-2, we analyzed them by ultrafiltration combined with LC. The results identified the major compounds exhibiting binding affinity for DPPH and COX-2. Caffeic acid, kynurenic acid, and chlorogenic acid showed excellent binding affinity to DPPH and COX-2, suggesting that they can be considered as major active compounds. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory effect of GP was confirmed in vitro. This study will not only be used to provide basic data for the application of GP to the food and pharmaceutical industries, but will also provide information on effective screening methods for other medicinal plants.     

ω-6亚油酸对小鼠免疫系统的调节作用

目的：探索ω-6 亚油酸对小鼠免疫系统的调节作用。方法：将市购的ω-6 亚油酸以口服、腹腔注射、耳静脉注射3 种方式作用于小鼠,分别在3、2、2h 后取血分离血清,用液体芯片检测技术测定小鼠血清中的IL-1α、IL-1β、IL-2、IL-4、IL-6、IL-12(p40)、IFN-γ、G-CSF、MCP-1、VEGF 等24 种细胞因子含量的变化。结 果：灌胃组中显著升高的细胞因子有IL-1α、Eotaxin 和VEGF,显著降低的有IL-6、IL-12(p40)、G-CSF 和KC;腹腔注射组中炎症细胞因子IL-1 和IL-17 显著升高的同时也伴随着IL-4、IL-10 抗炎细胞因子的显著升高以及趋化因子G-CSF 的显著降低;静脉注射组总体表现为促炎作用,IL-2、IL-5、IL-6 浓度显著升高,抗炎细胞因子IL-3、IL-4、IL-9、IL-10、IL-12(p40)、IL-17 浓度显著降低。结论：ω-6 亚油酸能通过小鼠胃肠黏膜系统和血液系统传递信号,调节机体的免疫系统。灌胃组主要激活了PKC/NF- κB 途径以及STAT 的部分途径,抑制NF- κB、JAK-STAT3、PI3K 途径;腹腔注射组激活的信号途径有NF- κB、JNK\p38\MAPK、PI3K 和JAK\STAT6 途径,抑制STAT3 途径;静脉注射组激活的信号途径有NF- κB、MAPK 和JAK\STAT3。抑制的信号途径有PI3K/ATK、ERK/MAPK、STAT1、STAT4、STAT5。     

Effects of light quality on the accumulation of phytochemicals in vegetables produced in controlled environments: a review

Phytochemicals in vegetables are important for human health, and their biosynthesis, metabolism and accumulation are affected by environmental factors. Light condition (light quality, light intensity and photoperiod) is one of the most important environmental variables in regulating vegetable growth, development and phytochemical accumulation, particularly for vegetables produced in controlled environments. With the development of light‐emitting diode (LED) technology, the regulation of light environments has become increasingly feasible for the provision of ideal light quality, intensity and photoperiod for protected facilities. In this review, the effects of light quality regulation on phytochemical accumulation in vegetables produced in controlled environments are identified, highlighting the research progress and advantages of LED technology as a light environment regulation tool for modifying phytochemical accumulation in vegetables. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development and Characterization of Different Black Raspberry Confection Matrices Designed for Delivery of Phytochemicals

Three forms of confections containing black raspberries (BRB) powder were developed to provide controlled release of phytochemicals for oral disease prevention. Our objective was to investigate the impact of varying confection matrices on the release rate of BRB phytochemicals. Confections were developed and prepared. Textural properties of confections were analyzed, compared and correlated with the release rate of phytochemicals from BRB confections with in vitro dissolution test. In the results, BRB content reached 22% in hard candy and pectin‐based confections and 40% in starch‐based confections, respectively. Pectin‐ and starch‐based confections retained >93% of its original anthocyanins after processing while hard candy had 59%. Starch confections showed higher G’ in rheological analysis and higher hardness but lower cohesiveness and springiness in textural profile analysis than pectin confections (P < 0.05). The confection types showed different microstructure with scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Corresponding to their physicochemical properties, confections showed fast (hard candy), intermediate (pectin confections), and slow (starch confections) release rates with a final releasing time of 90, 150, and 540 min in dissolution studies. Three confections were rated between neither like nor dislike to like slightly (n = 60). Pectin confections had the highest overall acceptance (like slightly) and 62% of subjects rated this type of confection as the most liked ones. These results indicate that delivery matrix could modulate the phytochemical release rate from BRB confection and also influence sensory preference.     

营养素和植物化学物通过NMDAR改善认知的研究进展

N-甲基-D-天门冬氨酸受体（N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor,NMDAR）功能低下是引起人类认知功能障碍的重要原因之一,适当激活NMDAR有助于提高认知功能,但过度激动也会产生兴奋毒性,进一步损伤认知功能。最新研究表明通过摄入某些脂肪酸、维生素、矿物质等营养素以及槲皮素、蜜橘黄素等植物化学物可以适当提高NMDAR功能,而且染料木黄酮、Rg3等还可降低因NMDAR过度激动引起的兴奋毒性,从而改善、延缓或阻止认知功能障碍的发生及发展。      

荞麦营养与功能性研究及其产品开发

荞麦是世界上唯一的蓼科假谷物粮食作物。其营养和功能因子组成与结构与小麦、水稻等禾本科类常见粮食作物相比差异显著且互补性强,荞麦突出的健康功能性使其成为食品研究和产业开发关注的热点。本文回顾了近年来荞麦营养成分、植物化学物质（多酚类、糖醇类和生物碱类物质）及其生理活性功能的研究进展,分析了荞麦产品开发的研究现状,并对荞麦的未来科学研究与加工利用方向作出了展望。     

Eleocharis dulcis corm: phytochemicals,health benefits,processing and food products

Eleocharis dulcis, an aquatic plant belonging to Cyperaceae family, is indigenous to Asia, and also occurs in tropical Africa and Australia. The edible corm part of E. dulcis is a commonly consumed aquatic vegetable with a planting area of 44.46 × 10³ hm² in China. This work aims to explore the potential of E. dulcis corm for use as a new food source for sufficient nutrients and health benefits by reviewing its nutrients, phytochemicals, functions, processing and food products. Eleocharis dulcis corm contains starches, dietary fibers, non-starch polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids, phenolics, sterols, puchiin, saponins, minerals and vitamins. Among them, phenolics including flavonoids and quinones could be the major bioconstituents that largely contribute to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and hypolipidemic functions. Peel wastes of E. dulcis corm tend to be enriched in phenolics to a much higher extent than the edible pulp. Fresh-cut E. dulcis corm can be consumed as a ready-to-eat food or processed into juice for beverage production, and anti-browning processing is a key to prolonging shelf life. Present food products of E. dulcis corm are centered on various fruit and vegetable beverages, and suffer from single categories and inadequate development. In brief, underutilized E. dulcis corm possesses great potential for use as a new food source for sufficient nutrients and health benefits. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.     

响应面法优化辣木籽多酚提取工艺及其抗氧化活性

本研究目的是确定辣木籽多酚的最佳提取工艺,并对其抗氧化活性进行初步研究。利用响应面法对辣木籽多酚的提取工艺进行了优化,以多酚提取量为指标,就乙醇体积分数、浸提温度、浸提时间和料液比进行了单因素实验,基于Box-Behnken和Design-Expert V8.0.6,进行了四因素三水平响应面法优化,并测定了辣木籽多酚提取物中植物活性成分含量以及其体外抗氧化活性。结果表明,回归模型极为显著(p<0.0001),可以对辣木籽多酚含量进行很好的分析和预测;优化后的最佳提取条件为:乙醇体积分数66.78%、浸提温度75.9 ℃、料液比1:12 g/mL、浸提时间1.24 h,此条件下模型预测的最大提取量为4.134 mg/g,实测值为(4.125±0.017) mg/g,与预测值无显著性差异。辣木籽多酚提取物具有较强的体外抗氧化活性,其总抗氧化活性、DPPH·和ABTS⁺·清除能力、FRAP还原力分别为(43.52±8.47)、(0.571±0.017)、(1.413±0.032)、(0.731±0.040) mg TEs/g extract。此优化工艺可行,辣木籽多酚具有一定的抗氧化能力。     

Chemical Diversity and Defence Metabolism: How Plants Cope with Pathogens and Ozone Pollution

Chemical defences represent a main trait of the plant innate immune system. Besides regulating the relationship between plants and their ecosystems, phytochemicals are involved both in resistance against pathogens and in tolerance towards abiotic stresses, such as atmospheric pollution. Plant defence metabolites arise from the main secondary metabolic routes, the phenylpropanoid, the isoprenoid and the alkaloid pathways. In plants, antibiotic compounds can be both preformed (phytoanticipins) and inducible (phytoalexins), the former including saponins, cyanogenic glycosides and glucosinolates. Chronic exposure to tropospheric ozone (O₃) stimulates the carbon fluxes from the primary to the secondary metabolic pathways to a great extent, inducing a shift of the available resources in favour of the synthesis of secondary products. In some cases, the plant defence responses against pathogens and environmental pollutants may overlap, leading to the unspecific synthesis of similar molecules, such as phenylpropanoids. Exposure to ozone can also modify the pattern of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC), emitted from plant in response to herbivore feeding, thus altering the tritrophic interaction among plant, phytophagy and their natural enemies. Finally, the synthesis of ethylene and polyamines can be regulated by ozone at level of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the biosynthetic precursor of both classes of hormones, which can, therefore, mutually inhibit their own biosynthesis with consequence on plant phenotype.