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Food Chemistry May 2024Citrinin is a hepato-nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by fungal species. The Monascus purpureus fungus plays a crucial role in the fermentation of red rice to produce red...
Development and validation of an analytical method for determination of citrinin in red rice and red yeast rice-based food supplements by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Citrinin is a hepato-nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by fungal species. The Monascus purpureus fungus plays a crucial role in the fermentation of red rice to produce red yeast rice-based food supplements, which represent the primary source of human exposure to citrinin. In this study, a simple and sensitive analytical method was successfully developed and validated for the citrinin determination in these products. The extraction process involved a QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) step and citrinin determination by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The proposed method provided satisfactory linearity, percentage of recovery from 82 to 104% with relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 14%, and limits of detection and quantification of 0.07 μg/Kg and 0.24 μg/kg, respectively. Among the 14 samples analyzed, citrinin was found in two red rice samples (0.24 and 0.46 μg/kg) and in six food supplements (from 0.44 to 87 μg/kg).
PubMed: 38843711
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139941 -
RSC Advances Sep 2023Hypercholesterolemia represents a serious public health problem as it significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Monacolin K (MK) in red...
Hypercholesterolemia represents a serious public health problem as it significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Monacolin K (MK) in red yeast rice is an active compound that can effectively lower plasma cholesterol. To enhance the yield of MK in solid state fermentation of HNU01, the effects of different variables were systematically examined in single-factor experiments. The optimal conditions for the production of red yeast rice rich in MK were as follows: initial pH value 5.5, initial moisture content 40% w/w, glucose 50 g L, peptone 20 g L, MgSO 0.5 g L, KHPO 1 g L, variable temperature fermentation (30 °C for the first 3 days and then 24 °C for 15 days), total fermentation time of 18 days, and additional water added at day 4 at 10% w/w. Under the above optimized conditions, the MK content of red yeast rice produced by fermentation was 9.5 mg g. No citrinin was detected in any of the batches of fermentation products. The results will be useful for the large-scale production of high-quality red yeast rice with health benefits for consumers.
PubMed: 37705986
DOI: 10.1039/d3ra04374f -
CEN Case Reports Jun 2024A 62-year-old man visited his primary care physician with the complaints of loss of appetite and fatigue. He was admitted to our hospital based on a diagnosis of acute...
A 62-year-old man visited his primary care physician with the complaints of loss of appetite and fatigue. He was admitted to our hospital based on a diagnosis of acute kidney injury, Fanconi syndrome as indicated by hypokalemia, hypouricemia, hypophosphatemia, elevated glucose levels in urine, and aminoaciduria. He had been taking multiple supplements, including Red Yeast Rice Cholesterol Help®, for one and a half years. After admission, all the supplements were stopped. Blood samples were collected; however, the samples were negative for diseases that could cause Fanconi syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed renal proximal tubular damage, mainly characterized by simplification of the proximal tubular epithelium. The mycotoxin, citrinin, which is reported to be produced by the mold used for producing red yeast rice, but not the mold Monascus pilosus used for Red Yeast Rice Cholesterol Help, reportedly causes proximal tubular damage. However, although the causative agent has not been identified, it was thought that a substance similar to citrinin, produced by the mold used for Red Yeast Rice Cholesterol Help®, caused proximal tubular damage, leading to acute kidney injury and Fanconi syndrome. Hence, all supplements were stopped, and the patient was treated with oral potassium and phosphorus preparations, leading to gradual recovery of his kidney function. We herein report the first case of acute kidney injury and Fanconi syndrome in a patient taking multiple health supplements, including Red Yeast Rice Cholesterol Help®. Early discontinuation of the oral supplements was probably useful in improving the patient's kidney function.
PubMed: 38900361
DOI: 10.1007/s13730-024-00903-0 -
Food Chemistry: X Mar 2024The Xiecun Huangjiu (XCHJ), an exemplary representation of North Huangjiu, exhibits a distinct and invigorating aroma predominantly formed during its aging period. In...
The Xiecun Huangjiu (XCHJ), an exemplary representation of North Huangjiu, exhibits a distinct and invigorating aroma predominantly formed during its aging period. In this study, we observed dynamic changes in 16 key aroma compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) during the aging of XCHJ, with compounds such as phenethylalcohol, isoamylalcohol, benzaldehyde, and ethylbenzoate initially increasing and then decreasing. Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) detected nineteen amino acids, with total content ranging from 1901.45 to 3764.45 mg/L. High-throughput sequencing indicated that and et al. were abundant in aged XCHJ. Totally, 4 bacteria and 8 fungi exhibited strong associations with aroma compounds production. Physicochemical properties were primarily interacted with , , , , and . Furthermore, co-occurrence network analysis highlighted significant interactions between , , , and amino acids. These findings provide valuable insights for the regulation of aroma in aged XCHJ.
PubMed: 38292673
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101132 -
CRISPR/Cas9 system is a suitable gene targeting editing tool to filamentous fungus Monascus pilosus.Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Jan 2024Monascus pilosus has been used to produce lipid-lowering drugs rich in monacolin K (MK) for a long period. Genome mining reveals there are still many potential genes...
Monascus pilosus has been used to produce lipid-lowering drugs rich in monacolin K (MK) for a long period. Genome mining reveals there are still many potential genes worth to be explored in this fungus. Thereby, efficient genetic manipulation tools will greatly accelerate this progress. In this study, we firstly developed the protocol to prepare protoplasts for recipient of CRISPR/Cas9 system. Subsequently, the vector and donor DNA were co-transformed into recipients (10 protoplasts/mL) to produce 60-80 transformants for one test. Three genes (mpclr4, mpdot1, and mplig4) related to DNA damage response (DDR) were selected to compare the gene replacement frequencies (GRFs) of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system (CGES) in M. pilosus MS-1. The results revealed that GRF of CGES was approximately five times greater than that of ATMT, suggesting that CGES was superior to ATMT as a targeting gene editing tool in M. pilosus MS-1. The inactivation of mpclr4 promoted DDR via the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and increased the tolerances to DNA damaging agents. The inactivation of mpdot1 blocked DDR and led to the reduced tolerances to DNA damaging agents. The inactivation of mplig4 mainly blocked the NHEJ pathway and led to obviously reduced tolerances to DNA damaging agents. The submerged fermentation showed that the ability to produce MK in strain Δmpclr4 was improved by 52.6% compared to the wild type. This study provides an idea for more effective exploration of gene functions in Monascus strains. KEY POINTS: • A protocol of high-quality protoplasts for CGES has been developed in M. pilosus. • The GRF of CGES was about five times that of ATMT in M. pilosus. • The yield of MK for Δmpclr4 was enhanced by 52.6% compared with the wild type.
Topics: Gene Editing; Monascus; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Gene Targeting; Lovastatin; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; DNA
PubMed: 38240803
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12865-x -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Enhancing the aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage is essential for producing high-quality silage. Our research assessed the effect of inoculation with or and...
Enhancing the aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage is essential for producing high-quality silage. Our research assessed the effect of inoculation with or and its modulation of the bacterial and fungal microbial community structure in an aerobic stage of whole-plant corn silage. Following treatment with a distilled sterile water control, , and (2 × 10 cfu/g), whole-plant corn was ensiled for 60 days. Samples were taken on days 0, 3, and 7 of aerobic exposure, and the results showed that inoculation with or improved the aerobic stability of silage when compared to the effect of the control ( < 0.05). Inoculation with attenuated the increase in pH value and the decrease in lactic acid in the aerobic stage ( < 0.05), reducing the filamentous fungal counts. On the other hand, inoculation with or increased the diversity of the fungal communities ( < 0.05), complicating the correlation between bacteria or fungi, reducing the relative abundance of and in bacterial communities, and inhibiting the tendency of to replace in fungal communities, thus delaying the aerobic spoilage process. Due to the prevention of the development of aerobic spoilage microorganisms, the silage injected with or exhibited improved aerobic stability.
PubMed: 38891280
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111471