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Frontiers in Microbiology 2023To reduce the production cost of pigments (MPs), the utilization of rice bran (RB), an agricultural waste product, as a substrate in submerged fermentation was...
To reduce the production cost of pigments (MPs), the utilization of rice bran (RB), an agricultural waste product, as a substrate in submerged fermentation was conducted in this study. To improve MP production, different nutritional ingredients including mannitol (Man), NHNO (AN), ZnSO (Zn), and optimization (Opti), which was a synthesis of the three above ones, were added in rice bran (RB) medium. The yields of MPs, pigment constituents, and growth and development of M9 were investigated in this study. Man had the maximum color value of 3,532 U/g, which was 18.69 times more than that of RB and reached up to 76.65% of the value of rice (Rice) fermentation. Man significantly increased the production of two orange pigments, monascorubrin and rubropunctatin, of which the yields were 69.49 and 95.36% of the counterpart of Rice. The biomass and colony diameter of Opti presented the maximum value among different groups. AN and RB induced more asexual spore formation, whereas Opti and Man promoted sexual spore production. Comparative transcriptomic analysis showed that different nutritional ingredients led to changes in pigment production, promoting the growth and development of M9 through the regulation of related gene expression. Man and Opti improved MP production by regulating the primary metabolism, including the Embden-Meyerhof pathway (EMP), the pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, the tricarboxylic (TCA) cycle, fatty acid degradation (FAD), fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB), amino acid metabolism (AAM), and fructose and mannose metabolism (FMM), to provide the precursors (acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA) for MP biosynthesis. This study presents a low-cost method for increasing MP production and explains the molecular mechanisms of different nutritional ingredients for enhancing MP biosynthesis.
PubMed: 38156009
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1300461 -
Food Chemistry: X Dec 2023Red pigments (MPs) are a large group of polyketides from the fungus which have been widely used as food colorants. In this study, a variety of red MPs congeners were...
Red pigments (MPs) are a large group of polyketides from the fungus which have been widely used as food colorants. In this study, a variety of red MPs congeners were prepared to explore promising water-soluble candidates for application in liquid food formulations. The results showed that by combining the two-stage, low-pH fermentation strategy with a downstream purification step of fractional crystallization, precursors of red MPs, namely monascorubrin and rubropunctatin, were obtained with a purity of 91.9%. Then, via the azaphilic addition reaction, 18 types of red MPs congeners carrying different amino acid moieties (MPs-aa) were semi-synthesized. Compared to rubropunctamine and monascorubramine, the water solubility, pH and thermal stability of MPs-aa were improved greatly. MPs-His, MPs-Phe, MPs-Tyr and MPs-Trp were identified to be the most resistant to pasteurization. These findings provide water-soluble red MPs candidates with high thermal stability and an attractive approach for their large scale production.
PubMed: 38144809
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100940 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023Citrinin (CIT), a secondary metabolite produced by the filamentous fungi species, exhibits nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and carcinogenic effects in mammals, remarkably...
Citrinin (CIT), a secondary metabolite produced by the filamentous fungi species, exhibits nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and carcinogenic effects in mammals, remarkably restricting the utilization of -derived products. CIT synthesis is mediated through the gene and modified by multiple genetic factors. Here, the regulatory effects of two transcripts, α, and β, generated via pre-mRNA alternative splicing (AS), were investigated using hairpin RNA (ihpRNA) interference, and their impact on CIT biosynthesis and the underlying mechanisms were assessed through chemical biology and transcriptome analyses. The CIT yield in ihpRNA-pksCTα and ihpRNA-pksCT (α + β) transformants decreased from 7.2 μg/mL in the wild-type strain to 3.8 μg/mL and 0.08 μg/mL, respectively. Notably, several genes in the CIT biosynthetic gene cluster, specifically , , and in the ihpRNA-pksCT (α + β) transformant, were downregulated. Transcriptome results revealed that silencing has a great impact on carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and AS events. The key enzymes in the citrate cycle (TCA cycle) and glycolysis were significantly inhibited in the transformants, leading to a decrease in the production of biosynthetic precursors, such as acetyl-coenzyme-A (acetyl-coA) and malonyl-coenzyme-A (malonyl-coA). Furthermore, the reduction of CIT has a regulatory effect on lipid metabolism via redirecting acetyl-coA from CIT biosynthesis towards lipid biosynthesis. These findings offer insights into the mechanisms underlying CIT biosynthesis and AS in , thus providing a foundation for future research.
PubMed: 38132775
DOI: 10.3390/jof9121174 -
Microbiology Resource Announcements Jan 2024In China, certain strains are traditionally used as edible fungi. We sequenced the genome of FM39-7 strain, an isolate from fermented rice. The genome is 25.89 Mb with...
In China, certain strains are traditionally used as edible fungi. We sequenced the genome of FM39-7 strain, an isolate from fermented rice. The genome is 25.89 Mb with a G + C content of 48.86%, containing 8485 annotated genes.
PubMed: 38099680
DOI: 10.1128/mra.00805-23 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023Hyperlipidemia is associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease. Conventional drugs such as statins are effective in...
The antihyperlipidemic effect of a combined supplement of standardized dry extracts of amla (), walnut (), olive () and red yeast rice () powder: Reduction in circulatory low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and remnant cholesterol (RC) levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Hyperlipidemia is associated with a higher rate of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease. Conventional drugs such as statins are effective in controlling hyperlipidemia; however, they are associated with various side effects, especially myalgia. Nutraceutical lipid-lowering interventions are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among patients who are intolerant or refractory to statins. Substantial preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that extracts of amla, walnut, and olive, and red yeast rice (RYR) powder possess significant antihyperlipidemic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction of a combined supplementation of standardized dry extracts of amla fruit (500 mg), walnut leaves (50 mg), olive fruit (25 mg), and RYR powder (33.6 mg) (Cholesfytol NG®) in hypercholesterolemic patients. This was a , retrospective, observational, single-arm, non-randomized study in hypercholesterolemic patients (total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 200 mg/dL or low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 130 mg/dL), enrolled at 57 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in Belgium from March 2020 to January 2022. These patients received a GP-prescribed daily single dosage of two oral tablets of Cholesfytol NG® supplementation for 2 months to overcome their hypercholesterolemia in the absence of a conventional lipid-lowering drug (n = 208) or with a lipid-lowering drug (n = 13). At 2-month follow-up, the lipid profile was re-evaluated, alongside a patient's questionnaire on treatment general satisfaction and willingness to pursue supplementation. After supplementation, TC decreased by 15%, LDL-C by 19%, non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C) by 20% (all < 0.0001), triglycerides (TG) by 9% ( = 0.0028) (-18.4%, = 0.0042, in patients with baseline TG > 180 mg/dL, n = 58), and remnant cholesterol (RC) by 12% ( = 0.0001). These changes were unaffected by statin intolerance status in patients who received Cholesfytol NG® alongside statin. The supplement was well tolerated by all patients, and no serious adverse events or supplement-emergent effects were reported. Most patients were satisfied with the supplementation and wanted to pursue the nutraceutical. According to the results of this study, a combined supplementation of amla, walnut, and olive extracts, and RYR powder exerts a significant antihyperlipidemic effect, leading to a decrease in circulatory LDL-C and RC levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The supplementation bears excellent safety and tolerability, and is rated as satisfactory and pursuable, even among patients with statin intolerance. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov; identifier number: NCT06002893.
PubMed: 38089061
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1280234 -
Current Research in Food Science 2023As one of the quintessential representatives of Chinese rice wine, rice wine is brewed with glutinous rice as the main raw material and (Gutian or Wuyi ) as the...
As one of the quintessential representatives of Chinese rice wine, rice wine is brewed with glutinous rice as the main raw material and (Gutian or Wuyi ) as the fermentation starter. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of on the volatile compositions and the microbial communities in the traditional production of Gutian rice wine (GT) and Wuyi rice wine (WY). Through the OPLS-DA analysis, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, isobutanol, ethyl lactate, ethyl acetate, octanoic acid, diethyl succinate, phenylethyl alcohol, hexanoic acid and n-decanoic acid were identified as the characteristic volatile flavor components between GT and WY. Microbiome analysis revealed significant enrichments of , , and in WY brewing, whereas , , , and were significantly enriched in GT brewing. Additionally, correlation analysis showed that , , and were significantly positively correlated wih most characteristic volatile components. Conversely, , , and showed significant negative correlations with most of the characteristic volatile components. Furthermore, bioinformatical analysis indicated that the gene abundances for enzymes including glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase, carboxylesterase, alcohol dehydrogenase, dihydroxy-acid dehydratase and branched-chain-amino-acid transaminase were significantly higher in WY compared to GT. This finding explains the higher content of higher alcohols and characteristic esters in WY relative to GT. Collectively, this study provides a theoretical basis for improving the flavor profile of rice wine and establishing a solid scientific foundation for the sustainable development of rice wine industry.
PubMed: 38021257
DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100628 -
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Filamentous fungi are well-known for their ability to form mycelial pellets during submerged cultures, a characteristic that has been extensively studied and applied....
Filamentous fungi are well-known for their ability to form mycelial pellets during submerged cultures, a characteristic that has been extensively studied and applied. However, , a filamentous saprophytic fungus with a rich history of medicinal and culinary applications, has not been widely documented for pellet formation. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing pellet formation in and their impact on citrinin production, a key secondary metabolite. Through systematic exploration, we identified pH and inoculum size as critical factors governing pellet formation. exhibited optimal pellet growth within the acidic pH range from 5 to 6, resulting in smaller, more homogeneous pellets with lower citrinin content. Additionally, we found that inoculum size played a vital role, with lower spore concentrations favoring the formation of small, uniformly distributed pellets. The choice of carbon and nitrogen sources also influenced pellet stability, with glucose, peptone, and fishmeal supporting stable pellet formation. Notably, citrinin content was closely linked to pellet diameter, with larger pellets exhibiting higher citrinin levels. Our findings shed light on optimizing pellet formation for enhanced citrinin production and provide valuable insights into the cultivation of this fungus for various industrial applications. Further research is warranted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations.
PubMed: 37998925
DOI: 10.3390/jof9111120 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2023The urge of designing new safe and natural functional foods to control blood lipids and dispensable without the need of physician supervision, has increased especially...
INTRODUCTION
The urge of designing new safe and natural functional foods to control blood lipids and dispensable without the need of physician supervision, has increased especially after the coming into effect of the recent EU Commission regulation 2022/860, that regulates the consumption of "red yeast rice," made by fermentation of rice with , and perceived as a natural functional food, due to a health risk for frail consumers. The results of the present work are a part of the systematic study we are carrying out of the binding ability of some soluble dietary fibers (SDF) from different natural sources toward selected bile salts (BS).
METHODS
Measurements were carried out by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) with the idea to shed light on the mechanism, if any, by which they show cholesterol-lowering activity.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Epidemiological studies are sometimes conflicting and offer only hypothesis about the mechanism of action, the most accredited being the reduction of reabsorption of BS in the gut. Previous measurements done on negatively charged pectin and alginate, showed specific binding interaction with monomer NaDC for pectin and no interaction at all for alginate. Chitosan, positively charged and soluble only at low pH, in 100 mM acetate buffer at pH = 3 shows strong exothermic interactions with NaTC and NaTDC. Here we considered two plant exudates (Arabic gum and tragacanth gum) and guar gum, extracted from guar beans, and their interaction with the same bile salts. ITC measurements do not evidence specific interactions between gums and the studied BS, so that their cholesterol lowering ability, if any, is due to a different mechanism very probably bound to the viscosity increase. Moreover, the addition of NaC, the most abundant BS in the bile, at very low concentration (under the cmc) causes a structural change of the solution. The obtained results seem to corroborate the hypothesis that the cholesterol lowering activity is related to the increase in viscosity of guar solution favored by NaC, the major component of the bile.
PubMed: 37941767
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1258282 -
Nutrients Sep 2023Dyslipidemia, a condition implying high cardiovascular risks, has been widely studied on its potential nutrition interventions, including functional foods. This study... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Dyslipidemia, a condition implying high cardiovascular risks, has been widely studied on its potential nutrition interventions, including functional foods. This study aims to examine the effect of nattokinase monascus supplements (NMSs) on cardiovascular biomarkers and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with dyslipidemia. A total of 113 eligible subjects were randomly assigned to receive either NMSs or a placebo (55 and 58, respectively). After a 120-day intervention, there were significant mean absolute changes in total cholesterol (TC), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density cholesterol (non-HDL-C), and low-density cholesterol to high-density cholesterol ratio (LDL-C to HDL-C ratio), with values of -0.52 (95% CI: -0.51 to -0.54) mmol/L, -0.43 (95% CI: -0.45 to -0.41) mmol/L, -0.52 (95% CI: -0.52 to -0.52) mmol/L, and -0.29 (95% CI: -0.30 to -0.28) mmol/L, respectively, between the two groups. However, no significant differences were found in triglycerides (TGs), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), and CIMT. Furthermore, the results for lipids and CIMT remained essentially unchanged after adjusting for various confounding factors using the analysis of covariance model. There were no significant differences in coagulation, liver function, renal function, or other indicators. No intervention-related adverse events, such as mouth ulcers, drooling, and stomach pain, were reported. The study results demonstrate that NMSs can ameliorate lipid levels (TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and the LDL-C to HDL-C ratio) without the occurrence of adverse events. However, it did not significantly affect serum TG, HDL-C, and CIMT.
Topics: Humans; Cholesterol, LDL; Monascus; Cholesterol, HDL; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Hypercholesterolemia; Triglycerides; Dyslipidemias; Hyperlipidemias; Double-Blind Method
PubMed: 37836525
DOI: 10.3390/nu15194239 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in metabolism; a lack of selenium reduces the body's resistance and immunity, as well as causes other...
Selenium (Se) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in metabolism; a lack of selenium reduces the body's resistance and immunity, as well as causes other physiological problems. In this study, we aim to identify favorable conditions for improving organic selenium production. The functional microbe , which is widely used in food production, was employed to optimize selenium-enriched culture conditions, and its growth mode and selenium-enriched features were investigated. Spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) were used to determine the effects of various doses of sodium selenite on the selenium content, growth, and metabolism of , as well as the conversion rate of organic selenium. The best culture parameters for selenium-rich included 7.5 mg/100 mL of selenium content in the culture medium, a pH value of 6.8, a culture temperature of 30 °C, and a rotation speed of 180 rpm. Under ideal circumstances, the mycelia had a maximum selenium concentration of approximately 239.17 mg/kg, with organic selenium accounting for 93.45%, monacoline K production reaching 70.264 mg/L, and a secondary utilization rate of external selenium of 22.99%. This study revealed a novel biological route-selenium-rich fermentation-for converting inorganic selenium into organic selenium.
PubMed: 37761084
DOI: 10.3390/foods12183375