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Nutrients Jun 2024Chronic kidney disease increases uremic toxins concentrations, which have been associated with intestinal dysbiosis. L. Moench has dietary fiber and bioactive... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
A Symbiotic Meal Containing Extruded Sorghum and Probiotic () Ameliorated Intestinal Health Markers in Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Secondary Analysis of a Subsample from a Previous Randomized and Controlled Clinical Trial.
BACKGROUND
Chronic kidney disease increases uremic toxins concentrations, which have been associated with intestinal dysbiosis. L. Moench has dietary fiber and bioactive compounds, while can promote beneficial health effects.
METHODS
It is a controlled, randomized, and single-blind clinical trial. Thirty-nine subjects were randomly separated into two groups: symbiotic group (SG), which received 100 mL of unfermented probiotic milk with strain and 40 g of extruded sorghum flakes; and the control group (CG), which received 100 mL of pasteurized milk and 40 g of extruded corn flakes for seven weeks.
RESULTS
The uremic toxins decreased, and gastrointestinal symptoms improved intragroup in the SG group. The acetic, propionic, and butyric acid production increased intragroup in the SG group. Regarding α-diversity, the Chao1 index was enhanced in the SG intragroup. The KEGG analysis revealed that symbiotic meal increased the intragroup energy and amino sugar metabolism, in addition to enabling essential amino acid production and metabolism, sucrose degradation, and the biosynthesis of ribonucleotide metabolic pathways.
CONCLUSIONS
The consumption of symbiotic meal reduced BMI, improved short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis and gastrointestinal symptoms, increased diversity according to the Chao1 index, and reduced uremic toxins in chronic kidney disease patients.
Topics: Humans; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Probiotics; Sorghum; Male; Female; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Middle Aged; Single-Blind Method; Bifidobacterium longum; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Biomarkers; Aged; Dysbiosis; Adult; Intestines
PubMed: 38931207
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121852 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Salinity stress poses a significant threat to crop productivity worldwide, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study investigated the phytochemical...
Salinity stress poses a significant threat to crop productivity worldwide, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and potential of grape seed extract (GSE) to mitigate salinity stress effects on faba bean plants. GC-MS analysis revealed several bioactive components in GSE, predominantly fatty acids. GSE was rich in essential nutrients and possessed a high antioxidant capacity. After 14 days of germination, GSE was applied as a foliar spray at different concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/L) to mitigate the negative effects of salt stress (150 mM NaCl) on faba bean plants. Foliar application of 2-8 g/L GSE significantly enhanced growth parameters such as shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight of salt-stressed bean plants compared to the control. The Fv/Fm ratio, indicating photosynthetic activity, also improved with GSE treatment under salinity stress compared to the control. GSE effectively alleviated the oxidative stress induced by salinity, reducing malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, praline, and glycine betaine levels. Total soluble proteins, amino acids, and sugars were enhanced in GSE-treated, salt-stressed plants. GSE treatment under salinity stress modulated the total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant responses, and enzyme activities such as peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase compared to salt-stressed plants. Gene expression analysis revealed GSE (6 g/L) upregulated photosynthesis (chlorophyll a/b-binding protein of LHCII type 1-like () and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain-like ()) and carbohydrate metabolism (cell wall invertase I () genes) while downregulating stress response genes (ornithine aminotransferase () and ethylene-responsive transcription factor 1 ()) in salt-stressed bean plants. The study demonstrates GSE's usefulness in mitigating salinity stress effects on bean plants by modulating growth, physiology, and gene expression patterns, highlighting its potential as a natural approach to enhance salt tolerance.
PubMed: 38931028
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121596 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Achyranthes bidentata (AR) is a traditional Chinese herb used for the treatment of hypertension and cerebral ischemia, but its pharmacological effects are not known.
Characterization of the Components and Metabolites of Achyranthes Bidentata in the Plasma and Brain Tissue of Rats Based on Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HR-MS).
BACKGROUND
Achyranthes bidentata (AR) is a traditional Chinese herb used for the treatment of hypertension and cerebral ischemia, but its pharmacological effects are not known.
AIM OF STUDY
We aimed to detect and accurately identify the components and metabolites of AR in the plasma and brain tissue of Sprague Dawley rats.
METHODS
We employed ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HR-MS) to detect AR components in the plasma and brain tissue of rats. The absorption and metabolites in the plasma and brain tissue of normal control rats and rats that underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were characterized and compared.
RESULTS
A total of 281 compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanes, sugars and glycosides, steroids, triterpenes, amino acids, and peptides, was identified in samples of Achyranthes bidentata (TCM-AR). Four types of absorbable prototype components and 48 kinds of metabolites were identified in rats in the normal control plasma group which were given AR (AR plasma group), and five kinds of metabolites were identified in rats of the normal control brain tissue group which were given AR (AR brain group). Three absorbed prototype components and 13 metabolites were identified in the plasma of rats which underwent MCAO and were given AR (MCAO + AR plasma group). Six absorbed prototype components and two metabolites were identified in the brain tissue of rats who underwent MCAO and were administered AR (MCAO + AR brain group). These results showed that, after the oral administration of AR, the number of identified components in plasma was more than that in brain tissue. The number of prototype components in the AR plasma group was higher than that in the MCAO + AR plasma group, which may indicate that metabolite absorption in rats undergoing MCAO was worse. The number of prototype components in the MCAO + AR brain group was higher than that in the AR brain group, indicating that the blood-brain barrier was destroyed after MCAO, resulting in more compounds entering brain tissue.
CONCLUSIONS
UHPLC-HR-MS was used to rapidly analyze the components and metabolites of AR in the blood and brain of rats under normal and pathologic conditions, and to comprehensively characterize the components of TCM-AR. We also analyzed and compared the absorbable components and metabolites of normal rats under cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury to explore the potential mechanism of action. This method could be applied to various Chinese herbs and disease models, which could promote TCM modernization.
Topics: Animals; Achyranthes; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Rats; Brain; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Flavonoids; Alkaloids
PubMed: 38930905
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122840 -
Microorganisms Jun 2024Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for human physiological metabolism. The application of organic Se as a source to cultivate Se-rich plants for micronutrient...
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for human physiological metabolism. The application of organic Se as a source to cultivate Se-rich plants for micronutrient supplementation has been receiving increasing attention. In our study, a bacterial strain named H1 was isolated from the soil in Heilongjiang Province, China, and under optimal culture conditions, the unit Se content could reach 3000 μg·g and its 16S ribosomal DNA sequence seemed to be a new molecular record of an species. After the domestication of Se tolerance and Se-rich experiments, H1 can be used as a Se source for cultivation of Se-rich . The results showed that soluble protein, soluble sugar, free amino acid and vitamin C contents in were notably increased by 28.7%, 21.8%, 32.5% and 39.2% under the treatment of Se concentration of 0.24 mg·kg, respectively. These findings enhance our understanding that H1 is more conducive to Se uptake and nutrient accumulation.
PubMed: 38930518
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061136 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Royal jelly is a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse honey bees, serving as crucial nutritional source for young larvae, queen honey...
Royal jelly is a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse honey bees, serving as crucial nutritional source for young larvae, queen honey bees, and also valuable product for humans. In this study, the effect of the feed supplements on the nutritional composition and qualities of royal jelly was investigated. Two types of royal jelly samples were acquired: one from honey bees fed with sugar syrup as a feed supplement and the other from honey bees fed with honey. The production, harvesting, and storage of all royal jelly samples followed standard procedures. Parameters for quality assessment and nutritional value, including stable carbon isotopic ratio, moisture content, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) level, carbohydrate composition, amino acid composition, and mineral contents, were analyzed. The results revealed that despite variability in moisture content and carbohydrate composition, fructose was lower (2.6 and 4.1 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) and sucrose was higher (7.5 and 2.7 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) in the sugar-fed group. The stable isotope ratio (-16.4608‱ for sugar-fed and -21.9304‱ for honey-fed royal jelly) clearly distinguished the two groups. 10-HDA, amino acid composition, and total protein levels were not significantly different. Certain minerals, such as potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus were higher in the honey-fed group. Hierarchical analysis based on moisture, sugar composition, 10-HDA, and stable carbon isotopes categorized the samples into two distinct groups. This study demonstrated that the feed source could affect the nutritional quality of royal jelly.
PubMed: 38928885
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121942 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Cherry tomatoes are popular vegetables worldwide owing to their variety of colors and nutrients. However, an integrated evaluation of color and flavor has rarely been...
Cherry tomatoes are popular vegetables worldwide owing to their variety of colors and nutrients. However, an integrated evaluation of color and flavor has rarely been reported. This study examined the differences among red, brown, yellow, and green cherry tomatoes grown in the Jiuquan area. A comprehensive analysis of the flavor quality of these tomatoes, including sensory evaluation, electronic nose analysis, nutritional and flavor quality measurements, targeted metabolomics, and chemometrics, was conducted. Red tomatoes had the highest lycopene content, and green tomatoes had the highest soluble protein and vitamin C content. In cherry tomatoes, K is the most abundant macro element and Fe and Zn are the most abundant trace elements. Brown cherry tomatoes had significantly higher K, P, Mg, Cu and Fe contents than other colored tomatoes, and red tomatoes had significantly higher Zn content than other cherry tomatoes (218.8-724.3%). Yellow cherry tomatoes had the highest soluble sugar content, followed by red, brown and green tomatoes. A total of 20 amino acids of tomatoes were simultaneously determined by LC-MS. Yellow cherry tomatoes have the highest content of essential amino acids, aromatic amino acids and sweetness amino acids. Red tomatoes have the highest levels of non-essential and sourness amino acid contents. An analysis of 30 flavor indicators revealed that yellow tomatoes had the best flavor, followed by red, brown, and green tomatoes. Our work lays the foundation for future research on color and flavor formation in cherry tomatoes.
PubMed: 38928838
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121898 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Exploring the sugar and amino acid content variability and the influence of thermal processing on these in soybeans can help optimize their utilization in animal feed....
Exploring the sugar and amino acid content variability and the influence of thermal processing on these in soybeans can help optimize their utilization in animal feed. This study examined 209 samples harvested in 2020 and 55 samples harvested in 2021 from across the U.S. to assess their sugar variability and amino acid variability. Harvest regions included the East Corn Belt, West Corn Belt, Mid-South, East Coast, and the Southeast of the U.S. In addition to the sugar and amino acid contents, protein, oil, and seed size were also analyzed. Samples from 2021 were evaluated for their sugar and amino acid contents before and after autoclaving the seeds at 105-110 °C for 15 min. For the samples harvested in 2020, sucrose (4.45 g 100 g) and stachyose (1.34 g 100 g) were the most prevalent sugars. For the samples harvested in 2021, L-arginine (9.82 g 100 g), leucine (5.29 g 100 g), and glutamate (4.90 g 100 g) were the most prevalent amino acids. Heat treatment resulted in an 8.47%, 20.88%, 11.18%, and 1.46% median loss of free lysine, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. This study's insights into the variability in sugar and amino acid content and the heat-induced changes in the nutritional composition of soybeans provide a reference for improving soybean quality assessment and optimizing its use in animal feed formulations in the U.S.
PubMed: 38928825
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121884 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Healthy, nutritious, and delicious mulberry wine is loved by everyone, but there is no specific yeast for mulberry wine. To screen for yeasts with low-yield higher...
Healthy, nutritious, and delicious mulberry wine is loved by everyone, but there is no specific yeast for mulberry wine. To screen for yeasts with low-yield higher alcohols for the fermentation of mulberry wine, we tested five commonly used commercial yeasts available on the market to ferment mulberry wine. All five yeasts were able to meet the requirements in terms of yeast fermentation capacity, speed, and physical and chemical markers of mulberry wine. The national standards were met by the fermentation requirements and the fermented mulberry wine. We identified yeast DV10 as a yeast with low-yield higher alcohols suitable for mulberry wine fermentation. The total higher alcohol content in fermented mulberry wine was 298 mg/L, which was 41.9% lower than that of fermented mulberry wine with yeast EC118. The contents of 17 free amino acids and five sugars in mulberry juice and five yeast-fermented mulberry wines were tested. The results showed that the higher the amino acid and sugar content in yeast-fermented mulberry wine, the higher the content of higher alcohols produced by fermentation. A correlation analysis performed on each higher alcohol produced when yeast DV10 fermented the mulberry wine indicated decreased sugar and related amino acids. The findings demonstrated a substantial negative correlation among the levels of increased alcohol, decreased sugar, and matching amino acid content. Considering the correlation values among increased alcohol, decreased sugar, and related amino acids, the very slight difference suggests that both sugar anabolism and amino acid catabolism pathways have an equivalent impact on the synthesis of higher alcohols during the fermentation of mulberry wine. These results provide a theoretical basis for reducing the content of higher alcohols in mulberry wines, given the history and foundation for producing mulberry wine.
PubMed: 38928730
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121788 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The SLC35 (Solute Carrier 35) family members acting as nucleotide sugar transporters are typically localized in the endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus. It is,...
The SLC35 (Solute Carrier 35) family members acting as nucleotide sugar transporters are typically localized in the endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus. It is, therefore, intriguing that some reports document the presence of orphan transporters SLC35F1 and SLC35F6 within the endosomal and lysosomal system. Here, we compared the subcellular distribution of these proteins and found that they are concentrated in separate compartments; i.e., recycling endosomes for SLC35F1 and lysosomes for SLC35F6. Swapping the C-terminal tail of these proteins resulted in a switch of localization, with SLC35F1 being trafficked to lysosomes while SLC35F6 remained in endosomes. This suggested the presence of specific sorting signals in these C-terminal regions. Using site-directed mutagenesis, fluorescence microscopy, and cell surface biotinylation assays, we found that the EQERLL signal located in the cytoplasmic tail of human SLC35F6 is involved in its lysosomal sorting (as previously shown for this conserved sequence in mouse SLC35F6), and that SLC35F1 localization in the recycling pathway depends on two YXXΦ-type signals: a YKQF sequence facilitates its internalization from the plasma membrane, while a YTSL motif prevents its transport to lysosomes, likely by promoting SLC35F1 recycling to the cell surface. Taken together, these results support that some SLC35 members may function at different levels of the endosomal and lysosomal system.
Topics: Lysosomes; Endosomes; Humans; Protein Transport; Animals; Nucleotide Transport Proteins; HeLa Cells; Mice; Golgi Apparatus; Amino Acid Sequence; Protein Sorting Signals; HEK293 Cells; Cell Membrane
PubMed: 38928424
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126718 -
BMC Plant Biology Jun 2024Salinity is a major abiotic stress, and the use of saline water in the agricultural sector will incur greater demand under the current and future climate changing...
BACKGROUND
Salinity is a major abiotic stress, and the use of saline water in the agricultural sector will incur greater demand under the current and future climate changing scenarios. The objective of this study was to develop a dual-functional nanofertilizer capable of releasing a micronutrient that nourishes plant growth while enhancing salt stress resilience in faba bean (Vicia faba L.).
RESULTS
Moringa oleifera leaf extract was used to synthesize sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs), which were applied as a foliar spray at different concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/l) to mitigate the negative effects of salt stress (150 mM NaCl) on faba bean plants. The SNPs were characterized and found to be spherical in shape with an average size of 10.98 ± 2.91 nm. The results showed that salt stress had detrimental effects on the growth and photosynthetic performance (Fv/Fm) of faba bean compared with control, while foliar spraying with SNPs improved these parameters under salinity stress. SNPs application also increased the levels of osmolytes (soluble sugars, amino acids, proline, and glycine betaine) and nonenzymatic antioxidants, while reducing the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA and HO). Moreover, SNPs treatment under salinity stress stimulated the activity of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO)) and upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes: chlorophyll a-b binding protein of LHCII type 1-like (Lhcb1), ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain-like (RbcL), cell wall invertase I (CWINV1), ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), and ethylene-responsive transcription factor 1 (ERF1), with the greatest upregulation observed at 50 mg/l SNPs.
CONCLUSION
Overall, foliar application of sulfur nanofertilizers in agriculture could improve productivity while minimizing the deleterious effects of salt stress on plants. Therefore, this study provides a strong foundation for future research focused on evaluating the replacement of conventional sulfur-containing fertilizers with their nanoforms to reduce the harmful effects of salinity stress and enhance the productivity of faba beans.
Topics: Vicia faba; Salt Stress; Sulfur; Nanoparticles; Fertilizers; Antioxidants; Plant Leaves; Photosynthesis
PubMed: 38926889
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05270-7