Search Results (4,102)

Prunus humilis is rich in various minerals, organic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates, but its sour taste limits fresh consumption and industry growth. Methyl jasmonate, a plant growth regulator known to enhance fruit quality, has been studied in other fruits, but research on its effects on P. humilis has not yet been reported. This experiment used the P. humilis cultivar ‘Nongda No. 4’ as the material. During the fruit development stages (the pre-young fruit stage and pre-coloring and enlargement stage), the fruiting branches were sprayed with a 20 mg/L methyl jasmonate solution four times. The results indicate that exogenous methyl jasmonate increases the content of various sugar components in P. humilis fruits throughout their development, with a particularly strong effect in the later stages of fruit development. It effectively reduces the content of malic acid and citric acid in these later stages while significantly enhancing flavor-related attributes such as the sweetness, sugar–acid ratio, and sweetness–acid ratio. Moreover, methyl jasmonate markedly promoted the accumulation of different forms of calcium in the fruit. Specifically, at the fully ripe stage, the total sugar content increased significantly by 18.64% (p < 0.05), the total acid content decreased by 15.95% (p < 0.05), and the total calcium content increased by 55.98% (p < 0.05). Correlation and principal component analyses revealed that sugars, acids, and calcium are closely linked in P. humilis, and exogenous treatment with methyl jasmonate effectively improved the overall quality score of sugars, acids, and calcium in the fruit throughout its development. In conclusion, exogenous methyl jasmonate can effectively improve the sugar–acid quality, flavor, and calcium content of P. humilis fruits. This provides a theoretical foundation for cultivation management, quality enhancement, and the breeding of fresh-eating cultivars. Full article

This study investigated the effects of fermentation temperatures (22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C) and concentrations of grape juice Brix (26 °, 29 °, 32 °) on the physicochemical and aroma profiles of Musalais wine, a traditional fermented alcoholic beverage from Xinjiang, China. The results indicated that higher fermentation temperatures (28 °C) increased total acidity (TA) and residual sugar content (RSC), whereas lower temperatures (22 °C) resulted in higher pH, phenolic content, and anthocyanin content. Ethanol content reached its peak at 25 °C, particularly in Musalais wines produced from 29 Brix of concentrated grape juice. GC-IMS analysis identified 50 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with esters (30%), alcohols (22%), and ketones (12%) dominating the aroma profile. Wines fermented at 22 °C exhibited the most complex VOC profiles, characterized by fruity esters (ethyl propanoate) and caramel-like ketones (4-methyl-2-pentanone). In contrast, fermentation at 28 °C produced simpler alcohol-dominated aroma profiles. Multivariate analysis (PCA and PLS-DA) confirmed distinct clustering based on temperature, with 19 key markers (ethyl 2-methylpentanoate, 3-octanone) differentiating the Musalais wines. Correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between ethanol, TA, RSC, and specific VOCs. Hierarchical clustering grouped the wines into two categories: those fermented at 22 °C (fruity and rich in complexity) and those fermented at 25–28 °C (alcoholic and simpler profiles). These findings demonstrate that fermentation temperature significantly impacts Musalais wine quality, with 22 °C being optimal for aroma complexity, while 25 °C provided a balance between ethanol production and antioxidant retention. Brix levels of concentrated grape juice modulated acidity and sweetness. This study offers practical insights for optimizing Musalais wine production through controlled fermentation conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pharmacists’ roles are shifting from dispensing medications to managing chronic diseases and prevention. Diabetes is a growing public health issue requiring early detection and management, where pharmacists can play a key role. The SMART Pharmacist Program promotes continuing education and expanded care, and a nationwide blood sugar screening campaign in North Macedonia was conducted to evaluate the impact of pharmacists in detecting undiagnosed diabetes and supporting glycemic control. Methods: This descriptive observational cross-sectional study was conducted mainly on 14 November 2024, in 98 community pharmacies across 14 cities. Participants over 18 years old were recruited via voluntary sampling. A total of 998 measurements were performed on the campaign day, with additional screening extending to 24 January 2025, totaling 1085 participants. Blood glucose was measured by finger prick testing and classified according to national and NICE guidelines. A structured questionnaire collected demographic, medical, and lifestyle data. Results: Among 1085 participants (65.1% female, mean age 57.6 ± 14.5 years), 258 (23.8%) had diagnosed diabetes, mostly Type 2 (226; 20.8%), while 827 (76.2%) were undiagnosed. Males had 1.7 times higher odds of diabetes. Diabetes prevalence correlated with physical inactivity, higher BMI, smoking, and chronic diseases. Among the undiagnosed, 17.8% were prediabetic and 4.3% diabetic. Of diagnosed patients, 57% had well-controlled and 42% poorly controlled diabetes. Metformin-based therapies were most common for Type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: Community pharmacists can effectively support early detection of diabetes and identify patients with suboptimal glycemic control, enhancing diabetes management in the community. Full article

The dynamic metabolic landscape underlying goose meat quality deterioration during refrigerated storage remains incompletely elucidated. Here, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)-based widely targeted metabolomics was employed to characterize metabolic profiling in refrigerated goose meat. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed 211 differential metabolites, while random forest regression (RFR) identified 30 candidate biomarkers. Seven metabolites, including xanthine, oxidized glutathione, and inosine 5′-monophosphate, exhibited significant correlations with total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N). By integrating potential biomarkers, metabolic pathways involving purines, amino acids, and sugars were identified as underlying mechanisms of goose meat spoilage. Notably, through comprehensive analysis of time-dependent correlations between physicochemical properties and metabolic profiles, a temporal threshold for quality deterioration in refrigerated goose meat was identified as day 5. These findings deepen our understanding of metabolite variations in refrigerated goose meat and provide a basis for optimizing storage protocols. The identified biomarkers may enable rapid detection kits and smart packaging systems for poultry industry applications. Full article

Akebia trifoliata is an emerging fruit crop in China, valued for its medicinal and nutritional properties. To elucidate the developmental dynamics of its bioactive compounds, we performed widely targeted metabolomics using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) across four fruit developmental stages (S1–S4). A total of 1595 metabolites were identified, of which 988 were differentially accumulated and categorized into three distinct accumulation patterns. Flavonoids and phenolic acids exhibited a marked decline during fruit maturation, corresponding with decreasing antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Conversely, functional oligopeptides and specific terpenoids accumulated significantly at later stages. K-means clustering revealed dynamic shifts in metabolic profiles, and 23 functional oligopeptides with antioxidative, antidiabetic, and ACE-inhibitory activities (angiotensin-converting enzyme, ACE) were predicted. KEGG enrichment highlighted stage-specific pathway transitions from flavonoid biosynthesis during early development to sugar metabolism at ripening. Correlation analysis identified key flavonoids, phenolic acids, and amino acid derivatives associated with antioxidant capacity and α-glucosidase inhibition. This study provides comprehensive metabolomic landscape of A. trifoliata fruit development and offers valuable insights for its functional exploitation in food and medicinal applications. Full article

Honey possesses unique properties, characterized by its high sugar concentration and the synergistic interaction among nectar, pollen, bees, and yeasts. These features render it an exceptional substrate for exploring microbial diversity for bioprospecting purposes. In this study, we characterized fermentative yeast populations from 19 honey samples collected in Northern Patagonia, Argentina. A total of 380 yeast isolates were obtained, identifying eight yeast species. Starmerella magnoliae emerged as the dominant species, found in 76% of samples and representing 63% of total isolates. Intraspecific diversity analysis, using mtDNA-RFLP and sequencing of nuclear genes (FSY1 and FFZ1), revealed the presence of two distinct phylogeographic populations. Phenotypic assays indicated that most S. magnoliae strains tolerate high sulfite and ethanol concentrations, alongside exhibiting broad temperature tolerance, with some strains thriving even at 37 °C. Despite the fact that none of the strains completed the fermentation, microfermentation trials confirmed the fructophilic nature of this species and highlighted intraspecific variability in glycerol and acetic acid production. These findings underscore S. magnoliae as a promising non-Saccharomyces yeast for the fermented beverage industry. Full article

Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by chronic glycolipid metabolic dysregulation. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of Artemisia integrifolia Linn. (LH) as a functional food in a T2DM rat model. The UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique was used to identify the components of LH. T2DM was induced in rats via a high-fat/high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg, i.p.). The rats were subsequently treated with LH (90 mg/kg, 180 mg/kg) for 15 days. A total of 66 compounds were identified in both positive and negative ions. LH treatment resulted in an increase in body weight while reducing FBG levels. It also improved insulin resistance, blood lipid levels, liver pathology, function, and lipid accumulation. Furthermore, 18 metabolites and 5 metabolic pathways were identified in the liver. Mechanistically, LH may improve T2DM through modulation of the S1P and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Caffeic acid, coumarin, trifolin, and apigetrin were identified as the likely active components. In conclusion, LH may mitigate glycolipid metabolism disorders in T2DM rats by modulating metabolic profiling, S1P, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, supporting its potential as a functional food. Full article

Strawberry is a popular fruit with great commercial value. It is meaningful to study how to improve strawberry yield and quality in a sustainable way. In this research, the potential impacts of replacing chemical fertilizer (CF) with sheep manure organic fertilizer (SMOF) on strawberry rhizospheric bacteria, soil physicochemical properties, strawberry fruit yield, and nutritional quality were studied through a strawberry field experiment with 16 years of different fertilizer applications. This study showed that, compared with chemical fertilizer, SMOF effectively improved soil physicochemical properties and increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, the absolute abundance of phosphorus-related functional genes pqqC and phoD and bacteria diversity, and enhanced synergistic action among strawberry rhizospheric bacteria. The yield, and the contents of total soluble solids, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and vitamin C, and sugar/acid ratio of strawberry fruit in SMOF treatment were significantly higher than in CF treatment by 40%, 21%, 15%, 46%, 23%, and 41%, respectively (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed that strawberry fruit yield and nutritional quality were positive with soil pH, bacterial diversity, soil enzyme activity, and nutrient content, and negative with soil density. The results showed that long-term SMOF could efficiently improve strawberry performance and rhizospheric health. Full article

Background: Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) is a medicinal plant native to the spontaneous Romanian flora. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenolic profile, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (AC) of two L. salicaria L. extracts, a hydro-methanolic extract (LSmet-1) and a hydro-ethanolic extract (LSeth-2), and their putative toxicity, as well as the effect on eye pigment content in the case of Drosophila melanogaster of an extract derived from LSmet-1 (LSmet-3). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the influence of L. salicaria L. extracts on cytotoxicity and the expression of genes as determined by eye pigment levels, using a D. melanogaster-based model system. Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography was carried out to investigate the chemical composition of the extracts. Spectrophotometric methods were used to estimate their TPC and AC. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using an in vivo D. melanogaster diet-dependent viability assay and eye pigments of w^m4h males, suitable for position-effect variegation studies, which were quantified by a spectrophotometric method. Results: The results indicated that the main phenolic compounds were gallic acid, resveratrol, and rutin in LSmet-1, whereas in LSeth-2, gallic acid and quercetin were the most relevant. LSmet-1 had a higher TPC compared to LSeth-2. Both extracts exhibited notable efficacy in the applied in vitro antioxidant tests. The viability of flies on normal media increased in a concentration-dependent manner at lower concentrations, with the extract being toxic at higher concentrations. On a high-sugar diet, even lower concentrations were toxic. All tested concentrations influenced the eye pigment content. Conclusions: Our study brings new findings on L. salicaria L. extracts, suggesting the need for further investigation before introducing them in therapy. Full article

Background: The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend limiting 100% juice consumption to 0.5–1.25 cups/day and to no more than one half of total fruit intake. Objective: To explore the dietary benefits of consuming 100% fruit juice and diluted 100% juice across diverse socio-demographic strata in the US. Methods: Consumption patterns for 100% juice and diluted 100% juice were examined by sex, age group, income-to-poverty ratio (IPR), and race/ethnicity. Dietary intakes came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2017–2020 and 2021–2023). The Healthy Eating Index 2020 (HEI 2020) and diet-level Nutrient Rich Food (NRF9.3) scores were the two measures of diet quality. The amounts of 100% juice consumed were compared to published DGA recommendations. Results: The consumption of 100% juice was greatly below that of water, milk, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). The consumption of diluted 100% juice was very low. Consumers of 100% juice had higher HEI 2020 scores (53 vs. 48) and diets with less added sugar and more total fruit, more potassium, calcium, and vitamin C. About 88% of the NHANES sample consumed <4 oz/day (1/2 cup) of 100% juice and most derived at least 50% of fruit from whole fruit, though some variation by income and race/ethnicity was observed. About 93% of the sample consumed <1 cup/day (8 oz) of 100% juice. Lower income groups consumed less whole fruit and more 100% juice. Conclusion: The consumption of 100% fruit juice was a marker of healthier dietary choices. The observed social gradient suggests that 100% fruit juice may provide valuable nutrients to populations who may be unable to afford or access whole fruit. Public health recommendations: The consumption of 100% fruit juice by some population subgroups could be increased. Fruit juice was not displacing whole fruit, and current consumption was well below the current DGA recommended values. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sugar added to pediatric oral medications may increase the risk of dental caries and erosion. Parental awareness and practices play a crucial role in minimizing the oral health risks associated with such medications. Therefore, the aim was to assess parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the cariogenic potential of pediatric oral medications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire. Parents who had at least one child between 2 and 12 years old were included. Participants were categorized into three groups based on the long-term intake of medications and their child’s health status. Group 1: Parents of children with chronic diseases on long-term medications. Group 2: Parents of healthy children on long-term medications. Group 3: Parents of healthy children not on long-term medications. Results: A total of 2195 responses were collected. The majority of parents were aged 31–40 years. More than half of the mothers and fathers had a diploma or a university degree (59% and 54.3%, respectively). Although a high proportion of the parents (78–83%) were aware that medications often contained sugar, only 46–50% were aware of their cariogenic potential, while 27–38% speculated about their erosive potential. In terms of practices, most parents encouraged their children to drink water (70–71%) or rinse their mouths (14–20%) after medication intake. Conclusions: While most parents were aware that pediatric oral medications may contain sugar, there was a lack of proactive measures to mitigate their negative impact on oral health. Further studies are still needed to evaluate and improve public awareness and practices regarding the oral health risks associated with pediatric medications. Full article

Background: The association between milk-derived or dairy product intake (DPI) and the body composition (BC) of children and adolescents continues to be controversial. Objective: This study sought to evaluate the association between the quantity and quality of DPI and the BC of Mexican children and adolescents. Methods: A secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional population-based sample of 2104 children and adolescents (aged 4–18 years) recruited from schools in Mexico City was performed. To assess the association between the quantity and quality of DPI, evaluated by questionnaire, and BC, dual X-ray densitometry (DXA) and surrogate parameters of the fat mass index (FMI) and lean mass index (LMI) were used. The adequacy of the quantity and quality of DPI was classified according to age-specific recommendations and the sugar, sodium and fat contents of the products consumed. Relationships were assessed by means of lineal regressions adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, sleep time and screen hours. Results: We included a total of 1840 participants aged 4.5–18 years, 52% of whom were female. Average daily DPI was 4.0 ± 2.4 servings/day, with a predominance of milk without sugar (42.7% of DPI). The quantity and quality of DPI significantly reduced the FMI (beta = −0.1 kg/m², 95% CI −0.17 to −0.06, p < 0.001 and beta = −0.17 kg/m², 95% CI −0.26 to −0.07, p < 0.001). No significant relationships were seen with the LMI. Conclusions: Higher quantities of good-quality DPI are associated with lower adiposity in Mexican children and adolescents. Full article

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) enhances the nutritional profile of legumes. This study evaluated Rhizopus oligosporus-mediated SSF for selenium (Se) biofortification in soybean tempeh (a traditional Southeast Asian food), assessing the effects of selenate and selenite (0–60 mg kg⁻¹) on R. oligosporus growth, substrate consumption, mycelium morphology, and Se speciation in tempeh. Selenium supplementation at 18–24 mg kg⁻¹ reduced soybean protein content by 9.4~13.8% relative to the protein content of the Se-free fermented tempeh (control group, 19.85%) and significantly promoted proteolysis. Higher concentrations (48–60 mg kg⁻¹) restored protein levels to control values (19%), indicating concentration-dependent regulation of protein stability. Selenate at 42 mg kg⁻¹ significantly increased the levels of flavor amino acids (e.g., glutamate, aspartate), essential amino acids, and total amino acids in tempeh. In contrast, selenite showed no significant improvement in amino acid content and even reduced non-essential amino acids (e.g., alanine, glycine) at high concentrations (42 mg kg⁻¹). Selenium biofortification converted selenate to selenomethionine (SeMet) and Se(VI), but transformed selenite into methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), selenocystine (SeCys₂), and SeMet. Fermented Se-tempeh demonstrated potent α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ values ranging from 1.66 ± 0.05 to 2.89 ± 0.03 mg mL⁻¹), suggesting Se-enriched soybean tempeh could be considered a promising blood-sugar-friendly food. Thus, developing soybean-based functional foods via co-inoculation of R. oligosporus with inorganic Se is a promising way to enhance tempeh bioactivity. Full article

This study utilized SRAP molecular markers to analyze the genetic basis of 106 multigerm sugar beet germplasm accessions. By revealing the genetic diversity, population structure, and differentiation patterns, it aimed to tap into the germplasm potential, guide core germplasm construction and hybrid combination optimization, and ultimately design a molecular breeding route to break through bottlenecks in sugar beet genetic breeding. In total, 24 core primer combinations were screened from 546 initial primer pairs for genomic DNA amplification. The results demonstrated that each primer combination amplified an average of five alleles. Genetic parameter calculations revealed moderate variation potential. Population structure analysis divided the germplasm into four genetic groups (G1–G4), highly consistent with cluster analysis and DAPC analysis results. Its reliability was jointly confirmed by STRUCTURE convergence verification (LnP(K) standard deviation) and cluster goodness-of-fit testing (r = 0.63166, p < 0.0001). Key findings indicated that Group G4 possesses a unique genetic background, and the maximum genetic distance exists between Group G1 and the other three groups, indicating its significant genetic differentiation characteristics. Gene exchange exists between the G3 and G4 populations. Genetic variation primarily originated from within populations (93%, F_ST = 0.1283). Genetic distances spanned from 0.385 (between accessions 66 and 71 within a group) to 0.836 (between accessions 47 and 85 across groups). Concurrently, gene flow analysis (Nm = 3.3977) indicated moderate genetic exchange among populations. This achievement established the first SRAP marker-based genetic architecture for multigerm sugar beet germplasm resources. It provides a quantitative population genetics basis for formulating targeted strategies for germplasm resource conservation and utilization, and lays the foundation for constructing an innovation system for sugar beet germplasm resources. Full article

Zaolajiao (ZLJ) is a traditional national specialty fermented condiment in Guizhou, and organic acid is one of its main flavor substances. In the study, we used metabolomics and multivariate analysis to identify differential organic acids (DOAs) during ZLJ fermentation and explored their correlations with physicochemical indices and CAZymes. Eight DOAs were detected, with citric acid prominent early and lactic acid dominant late in fermentation. Citric acid exhibited a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.01, |r| > 0.955) with AA3, GT4, and CE1, while showing significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) with GH1, soluble sugars, and total acids. Lactic acid exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with total acid, AA3, and GT4 (p < 0.05, |r| > 0.955). Conversely, it showed a significant negative correlation with soluble sugar (p < 0.05) and a highly significant negative correlation with GH1 (p < 0.05, |r| > 0.955). The most significant metabolic pathway for DOAs enrichment was the citrate cycle (TCA cycle). Full article