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Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The present study explored the nutritional composition, phytochemicals analysis, and antioxidant capacity of two indigenous varieties of red and green water chestnut...
The present study explored the nutritional composition, phytochemicals analysis, and antioxidant capacity of two indigenous varieties of red and green water chestnut (WCN) fruit grown in Pakistan. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the proximate composition (moisture, ash, fiber, proteins, fat, and energy), physicochemical properties (pH, °Brix, and glycemic index), minerals, and vitamins. The methanolic extracts of WCN fruits were explored for phytochemicals (total phenolic and flavonoid content), and antioxidant potential was examined in vitro by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (DPPH) and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Quantitative determination of mineral (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc) and vitamin (vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin A, and -Carotene) composition was also assessed. Based on the findings, the proximate compositions of WCN green and red varieties varied greatly as WCN green contained significantly higher protein (1.72%), fat (0.65%), dietary fiber (2.21%), moisture (70.23%), ash (1.16%), and energy content (112.8 Kcal) than WCN red. In WCN green, the macro-micromineral concentrations were significantly higher than WCN red. Among the minerals analyzed, potassium was the most abundant mineral found in both varieties. Levels of vitamin C, B, A, and -Carotene were significantly higher in WCN green. In this study, methanolic extract showed higher extraction efficiency than acetone, ethanol, and distilled water. WCN green had a significantly higher quantum of total phenolic (91.13 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid (36.6 mg QE/g) and presented significantly higher antioxidant activity than the WCN red. This study showed that, among both varieties, WCN green extract has therapeutic potential against free radical mediated health conditions and suggested the potential use of this fruit as a source of natural antioxidants in nutraceuticals.
PubMed: 38928824
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121883 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Cassava is a staple crop in developing countries because its starchy roots provide essential dietary carbohydrates. The aim of this research was to conduct a...
Cassava is a staple crop in developing countries because its starchy roots provide essential dietary carbohydrates. The aim of this research was to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and scientific evaluation of the nutritional value of cassava tubers. Eight nutritional characteristics were examined in native and imported cassava variants: starch, reduced sugar, anthocyanins, protein, dietary fiber, quinic acid, vitamin C, and dry matter content. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to minimize the dimensionality of the nutritional markers. A scientific assessment technique was developed to calculate a composite score for the various cassava samples. Analysis of the data revealed noticeable variance among the samples' nutritional indicators, suggesting varying degrees of association. Starch had a substantial positive link with lower sugar, protein, and dry matter content ( < 0.01). Anthocyanins and quinic acid interacted favorably ( < 0.05), and a positive link between protein and dry matter content was observed ( < 0.05); however, protein and dietary fiber interacted negatively ( < 0.05). The contribution rate of the top three PCA factors was over 76%, demonstrating that these factors incorporated the primary information acquired from the eight original nutritional indices, while maintaining excellent representativeness and impartiality. The experimental results showed a preliminary nutritional grade for 22 cassava tuber samples. The top five types were Guangxi Muci, Gui Cassava 4, Glutinous Rice Cassava, Huifeng 60, and Dongguan Hongwei. In the cluster analysis, the levels of similarity between the data showed that the 22 types of cassava tubers could be grouped into five categories, each with their own set of nutrients. This study promotes the directed breeding of cassava species and offers a theoretical foundation for creating and using various cassava varieties. Furthermore, this work lays the groundwork for a systematic and dependable technique for the quality assessment, comprehensive evaluation, and reasonable classification of cassava species and similar crops.
PubMed: 38928804
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121861 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Diet composition impacts metabolic health and is now recognized to shape the immune system, especially in the intestinal tract. Nutritional imbalance and increased...
Diet composition impacts metabolic health and is now recognized to shape the immune system, especially in the intestinal tract. Nutritional imbalance and increased caloric intake are induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in which lipids are enriched at the expense of dietary fibers. Such nutritional challenge alters glucose homeostasis as well as intestinal immunity. Here, we observed that short-term HFD induced dysbiosis, glucose intolerance and decreased intestinal RORγt CD4 T cells, including peripherally-induced Tregs and IL17-producing (Th17) T cells. However, supplementation of HFD-fed male mice with the fermentable dietary fiber fructooligosaccharides (FOS) was sufficient to maintain RORγt CD4 T cell subsets and microbial species known to induce them, alongside having a beneficial impact on glucose tolerance. FOS-mediated normalization of Th17 cells and amelioration of glucose handling required the cDC2 dendritic cell subset in HFD-fed animals, while IL-17 neutralization limited FOS impact on glucose tolerance. Overall, we uncover a pivotal role of cDC2 in the control of the immune and metabolic effects of FOS in the context of HFD feeding.
Topics: Animals; Oligosaccharides; Diet, High-Fat; Dendritic Cells; Male; Mice; Homeostasis; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Th17 Cells; Glucose; Interleukin-17; Dietary Fiber; Glucose Intolerance; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; Dysbiosis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome
PubMed: 38926424
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49820-x -
Animal Models and Experimental Medicine Jun 2024Dihydrogen (H) is produced endogenously by the intestinal microbiota through the fermentation of diet carbohydrates. Over the past few years, numerous studies have...
BACKGROUND
Dihydrogen (H) is produced endogenously by the intestinal microbiota through the fermentation of diet carbohydrates. Over the past few years, numerous studies have demonstrated the significant therapeutic potential of H in various pathophysiological contexts, making the characterization of its production in laboratory species of major preclinical importance.
METHODS
This study proposes an innovative solution to accurately monitor H production in free-moving rodents while respecting animal welfare standards. The developed device consisted of a wire rodent cage placed inside an airtight chamber in which the air quality was maintained, and the H concentration was continuously analyzed. After the airtightness and efficiency of the systems used to control and maintain air quality in the chamber were checked, tests were carried out on rats and mice with different metabolic phenotypes, over 12 min to 1-h experiments and repeatedly. H production rates (HPR) were obtained using an easy calculation algorithm based on a first-order moving average.
RESULTS
HPR in hyperphagic Zucker rats was found to be twice as high as in control Wistar rats, respectively, 2.64 and 1.27 nmol.s per animal. In addition, the ingestion of inulin, a dietary fiber, stimulated H production in mice. HPRs were 0.46 nmol.s for animals under control diet and 1.99 nmol.s for animals under inulin diet.
CONCLUSIONS
The proposed device coupled with our algorithm enables fine analysis of the metabolic phenotype of laboratory rats or mice with regard to their endogenous H production.
PubMed: 38925626
DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12460 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024Soluble dietary fibre (SDF) has gained growing interest because of its multiple functional and nutritional benefits. In the current study, the effect of SDF extracted...
Soluble dietary fibre (SDF) has gained growing interest because of its multiple functional and nutritional benefits. In the current study, the effect of SDF extracted from eucheuma seaweed on both the physicochemical properties and the released metabolites of yellow cakes was evaluated systematically. The results revealed that the addition of SDF induced increases in specific gravity, specific volume and water content of yellow cakes, and caused a decrease in weight loss and changes in texture and colour. In addition, sensory evaluation showed that up to 10 % substitution of flour with SDF was acceptable. In vitro digestion of cakes demonstrated that flour substitution with SDF at different levels (8 %-14 %) significantly reduced the release of glucose, ranging from 11.24 % to 29.12 %. In addition to the increased apparent viscosity of the cake digesta, the metabolite analysis based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy identified a total of 29 metabolites, including amino acids, fatty acids and sugars. Notably, the addition of SDF reduced the release of amino acids and fatty acids after digestion. These findings suggested that seaweed SDF was a potential substitute for some food components, which would provide functional benefits to the digestive characteristics.
PubMed: 38925174
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133348 -
Animal Science Journal = Nihon Chikusan... 2024In recent years, agricultural by-products have generated increasing interest as ruminant feed. In a completely randomized design with five experimental treatments, this...
In recent years, agricultural by-products have generated increasing interest as ruminant feed. In a completely randomized design with five experimental treatments, this in vitro study investigated the nutritional value of citrus pulp and onion peel as alternative feed for ruminants and their effects on rumen fermentation, digestibility, and gas production. The first group was the control (50% grass hay/50% concentrate mixture). The other four treatments represented citrus pulp and onion peel at inclusion levels of 10 and 20%, replacing the expensive, high-quality feed ingredients such as the concentrate mixture. The chemical composition showed that citrus pulp is an energy-rich material that could be included up to 20% to replace part of the concentrate in a mixed diet without any adverse impacts on rumen fermentation parameters. The onion peels were rich in fiber and minerals. Their inclusion in the diet of over 10% had detrimental effects on rumen fermentation. The inclusion of either citrus pulp or onion peel in the diet did not have the potential to reduce enteric methane production. In conclusion, citrus pulp showed promising results as a new feed for ruminants. It was effective when included in up to 20% of a ruminant diet, replacing the concentrate mixture.
Topics: Animals; Rumen; Animal Feed; Fermentation; Citrus; Nutritive Value; Ruminants; Digestion; Diet; Methane; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Onions; In Vitro Techniques; Dietary Fiber; Cattle
PubMed: 38924221
DOI: 10.1111/asj.13974 -
Journal of the Science of Food and... Jun 2024Wheat bran (WB) is a byproduct of refined wheat flour production with poor edible taste and low economic value. Herein, the WB was micronized via airflow superfine...
BACKGROUND
Wheat bran (WB) is a byproduct of refined wheat flour production with poor edible taste and low economic value. Herein, the WB was micronized via airflow superfine pulverization (ASP), and the effects of the ASP conditions on its particle size, nutritive compositions, whiteness, hydration characteristics, moisture distribution, microstructure, cation exchange capacity, volatile flavor components, and other characteristics were investigated.
RESULTS
Reducing the rotational speed of the ASP screw and increasing the number of pulverizations significantly decreased the median particle size Dx(50) of WB to a minimum of 12.97 ± 0.19 μm (P < 0.05), increased the soluble dietary fiber content from 55.05 ± 2.94 to 106.86 ± 1.60 mg g, and improved the whiteness and water solubility index. In addition, the water holding capacity and oil holding capacity were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while the cation exchange and swelling capacities first increased and then decreased. Up to about 70% of water in WB exists as bound water. As the Dx(50) of WB decreased, the content of bound and immobile water increased, while the free water decreased from 14.37 ± 1.21% to 7.59 ± 1.03%. Furthermore, WB was micronized and the particles became smaller and more evenly distributed. Using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry, a total of 37 volatile compounds in micronized WB (including 10 aldehydes, 9 esters, 7 alcohols, and several acids, furans, ethers, aldehydes, esters, and alcohols) were identified as the main volatile compounds of WB.
CONCLUSION
Collectively, ASP improved the physicochemical properties of WB. This study provides theoretical references for the use of ASP to improve the utilization and edibility of WB. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
PubMed: 38924091
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13693 -
Archives of Microbiology Jun 2024Lignocellulose biomass raw materials have a high value in energy conversion. Recently, there has been growing interest in using microorganisms to secret a series of...
Lignocellulose biomass raw materials have a high value in energy conversion. Recently, there has been growing interest in using microorganisms to secret a series of enzymes for converting low-cost biomass into high-value products such as biofuels. We previously isolated a strain of Penicillium oxalicun 5-18 with promising lignocellulose-degrading capability. However, the mechanisms of lignocellulosic degradation of this fungus on various substrates are still unclear. In this study, we performed transcriptome-wide profiling and comparative analysis of strain 5-18 cultivated in liquid media with glucose (Glu), xylan (Xyl) or wheat bran (WB) as sole carbon source. In comparison to Glu culture, the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by WB and Xyl was 4134 and 1484, respectively, with 1176 and 868 genes upregulated. Identified DEGs were enriched in many of the same pathways in both comparison groups (WB vs. Glu and Xly vs. Glu). Specially, 118 and 82 CAZyme coding genes were highly upregulated in WB and Xyl cultures, respectively. Some specific pathways including (Hemi)cellulose metabolic processes were enriched in both comparison groups. The high upregulation of these genes also confirmed the ability of strain 5-18 to degrade lignocellulose. Co-expression and co-upregulated of genes encoding CE and AA CAZy families, as well as other (hemi)cellulase revealed a complex degradation strategy in this strain. Our findings provide new insights into critical genes, key pathways and enzyme arsenal involved in the biomass degradation of P. oxalicum 5-18.
Topics: Penicillium; Lignin; Xylans; Gene Expression Profiling; Transcriptome; Biomass; Glucose; Dietary Fiber; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Fungal Proteins
PubMed: 38922442
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04063-8 -
Marine Drugs May 2024hydrolysate (PMH) has been proved to have the effect of ameliorating disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism in db/db mice, but the mechanism of its hyperglycemia...
hydrolysate (PMH) has been proved to have the effect of ameliorating disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism in db/db mice, but the mechanism of its hyperglycemia effect is still unclear. Bacterial communities in fecal samples from a normal control group, a diabetic control group, and a PMH-treated diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) group were analyzed by 16S gene sequencing. Nano LC-MS/MS was used to analyze mice neuropeptides and proteomes. The 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that PMH modulated the structure and composition of the gut microbiota and improved the structure and composition of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes at the phylum level and and at the family level. Furthermore, the expressions of functional proteins of the central nervous system, immune response-related protein, and proteins related to fatty acid oxidation in the brain disrupted by an abnormal diet were recovered by PMH. PMH regulates the brain neuropeptidome and proteome and further regulates blood glucose in diabetic mice through the gut-brain axis. PMH may be used as a prebiotic agent to attenuate T2DM, and target-specific microbial species may have unique therapeutic promise for metabolic diseases.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mice; Proteome; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Brain; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Male; Brain-Gut Axis; Blood Glucose; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Prebiotics; Feces
PubMed: 38921560
DOI: 10.3390/md22060249 -
Metabolites May 2024Cardiovascular diseases accompanying metabolic syndrome comprise one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The medical community undertakes attempts to improve... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular diseases accompanying metabolic syndrome comprise one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The medical community undertakes attempts to improve treatment options and minimize cardiovascular diseases' numerous consequences and exacerbations. In parallel with pharmacotherapies provided by physicians, nutritionists are developing strategies for diet therapy and prevention based on lifestyle changes, with high success rates. Consumption of specified food compounds included in various products with proven protective properties can be helpful in this regard. Due to the wide possibilities of diet in metabolic health promotion, it seems necessary to systematize information about the metabolically protective and cardioprotective properties of fiber, probiotic bacteria, plant sterols, folic acid, vitamins B12, C, and E, PUFAs, lycopene, polyphenols, arginine, CoQ10, and allicin. The aim of this review was to present the food compounds with potential use in cardiometabolic prevention and diet therapy based on the latest available literature.
PubMed: 38921431
DOI: 10.3390/metabo14060296