PubMed

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Dec 12;25(24):13324. doi: 10.3390/ijms252413324.ABSTRACTColorectal cancer (CRC) development is a gradual process in which progressive histological alterations of the intestinal mucosa damage occur over years. This process can be influenced by modifiable external factors such as lifestyle and diet. Most CRC cases (>80%) originate from conventional adenomas through the adenomatous pathway and usually harbour dysplastic cells, whereas the serrated pathway is less frequent (<20% cases) and comprises hyperplastic polyps and other polyps containing dysplastic cells. The aim of the present work was to shed light on alterations of the faecal metabolome associated with hyperplastic polyps and conventional adenomas. Metabolites were analysed by Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (RP/HPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS) and Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (HILIC-Q/TOF-MS/MS) and the results were integrated. Comparisons were performed between controls without mucosal lesions and the polyps' group, hyperplastic polyps versus conventional adenomas, and hyperplastic polyps or conventional adenomas versus controls. Alterations of metabolites in specific biochemical modules differentiated hyperplastic polyps and conventional adenomas. The metabolome of the hyperplastic polyps was characterized by an enrichment in glycerophospholipids and an altered metabolism of the degradation pathways of xanthines/purines and pyrimidines, whereas the enrichment in some phenolic compounds and disaccharides, all of them from exogenous origin, was the main differential faecal signature of conventional adenomas. Further research could help to elucidate the contribution of diet and the intestinal microbiota to these metabolomics alterations.PMID:39769089 | DOI:10.3390/ijms252413324

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Dec 10;25(24):13267. doi: 10.3390/ijms252413267.ABSTRACTThe East Friesian sheep is a dairy breed known for its high fertility and high milk production and is currently one of the best dairy sheep breeds in the world. This breed is known to have a poor disease-resistant phenotype compared to Hu sheep. Gut microbiota and metabolites play a role in host disease resistance. The intestinal bacterial microbiota is essential for maintaining the health of sheep and ensuring their productive potential, and it may also help explain disease-resistant phenotypic differences related to breeds. However, the ileum microbiota and metabolite profiles of Hu sheep and East Friesian sheep have remained poorly characterized. The ileal is a significant organ in the intestinal tract, and most nutrients and minerals in food are absorbed through the small intestine. It is necessary to understand the composition of both species' ileal microbiota and metabolites using the same feeding conditions. Therefore, studying the differences in the ileal microorganisms between breeds is essential to decipher the mechanisms behind these differences and identify microorganisms that influence the disease-resistant phenotype drive of ruminants. Due to the poor disease-resistant phenotype in sheep during the weaning period, with diarrhea and other diseases most likely to occur, we selected dairy sheep that were just two months old and had recently been weaned. This study comprehensively examined differences between the ileal microbiota in a large cohort of two breeds of sheep, including six Hu sheep and six East Friesian sheep. Using 16S rRNA and non-targeted metabolomics analysis, we determined that the Hu sheep had more microorganisms, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and Limmosilactobacillus, and more metabolites, including 2,7-Dihydroxy-5-methyl-1-naphthoic acid, Leu-Pro-Glu-Phe-Tyr, dodecanoic acid, Ala-Gln-Phe-Ile-Met, and Ala-Gln-Glu-Val-His, compared to the EF sheep group. Moreover, the Hu sheep were significantly enriched in amino acid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolites, and bile secretion compared to the EF sheep groups, which may have been the main driver of the observed differences in disease-resistant phenotypes between the Hu sheep and East Friesian sheep. In addition, we hypothesized that there may be multiple beneficial microbes and metabolites that modulate the immune response and ultimately affect disease resistance. Therefore, these findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying disease-resistant phenotype in sheep and may provide useful information for optimizing the composition of the ileal bacterial microbiota in sheep.PMID:39769032 | DOI:10.3390/ijms252413267

Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Dec 10;25(24):13256. doi: 10.3390/ijms252413256.ABSTRACTPlants known as obligate aerobes developed different mechanisms to overcome the damage incurred under oxygen limitation. One of the survival strategies to have commonly appeared in hydrophytic plants is the escape strategy, which accelerates plant axial organs' growth in order to escape hypoxic conditions as soon as possible. The present study aimed to distinguish the alterations in coleoptile elongation, viability and metabolic profiles in coleoptiles of slow- and fast-growing rice varieties. All the parameters were tested at 3, 5 and 7 days after sowing, to highlight changes during seedling development in normal and submerged conditions. The obtained results indicated that coleoptile elongation correlated with higher resistance to oxygen deprivation. GS-MS-based metabolic profiling indicated that coleoptiles of the fast-growing cultivar accumulated higher amounts of sugar phosphates, disaccharides, fatty acid derivatives and sterols, which are important for maintaining growth, membrane stability and viability. The slow-growing variety was characterized by a greater abundance of carboxylates, including lactate and phosphoric acid, indicating an energy crisis and cytosol acidification, leading to cell damage and low tolerance. Therefore, a metabolomics approach could be used for phenotyping (chemotyping) in the large-scale screening of newly developed varieties with higher tolerance to oxygen deprivation.PMID:39769021 | DOI:10.3390/ijms252413256

Biomedicines. 2024 Dec 19;12(12):2899. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12122899.ABSTRACTOral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) are a group of lesions carrying the risk of developing into cancer. The gold standard to predict which lesions are more likely to undergo malignant transformation is the presence of dysplasia histologically. However, not all dysplastic lesions progress, and non-dysplastic lesions may also undergo malignant transformation. Oral carcinogenesis is a complex molecular process that involves somatic alterations and the deregulation of transcriptions, protein expression, and metabolite levels. Metabolomics, which is the scientific study of metabolites, has emerged as a promising high-throughput approach to investigate the metabolic changes of small molecules in biological pathways. In this review, we summarize the data relating to the metabolomic profiling of OPMDs, which will help elucidate the complex process of oral carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we identify that among all metabolites, citrate, pyruvate, and glutamate may serve as potential biomarkers for oral leukoplakia (OLK). Notably, metformin and gluconate have been shown to target glutamate and citrate, respectively, in cancer cells. Based on these findings, we propose that targeting these metabolites in patients with OPMD could be a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate OPMD progression and potentially reduce the risk of malignant transformation. We also discuss the limitations and future directions of metabolomics in OPMD. Understanding these important metabolites is crucial for early detection and monitoring of oral cancer progression.PMID:39767805 | DOI:10.3390/biomedicines12122899

Biomedicines. 2024 Dec 11;12(12):2814. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12122814.ABSTRACTBackground: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) impacts the quality of life and is the most frequently reported cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Aims: To assess the changes in the exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in patients with vs. without ischemic heart disease (IHD) confirmed by stress computed tomography myocardial perfusion (CTP) imaging. Objectives: IHD early diagnosis and management remain underestimated due to the poor diagnostic and therapeutic strategies including the primary prevention methods. Materials and Methods: A single center observational study included 80 participants. The participants were aged ≥ 40 years and given an informed written consent to participate in the study and publish any associated figures. Both groups, G1 (n = 31) with and G2 (n = 49) without post stress-induced myocardial perfusion defect, passed cardiologist consultation, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and pulse rate measurements, echocardiography, real time breathing at rest into PTR-TOF-MS-1000, cardio-ankle vascular index, bicycle ergometry, and immediately after performing bicycle ergometry repeating the breathing analysis into the PTR-TOF-MS-1000, and after three minutes from the end of the second breath, repeat the breath into the PTR-TOF-MS-1000, then performing CTP. LASSO regression with nested cross-validation was used to find the association between the exhaled VOCs and existence of myocardial perfusion defect. Statistical processing performed with R programming language v4.2 and Python v.3.10 [^R], STATISTICA program v.12, and IBM SPSS v.28. Results: The VOCs specificity 77.6% [95% confidence interval (CI); 0.666; 0.889], sensitivity 83.9% [95% CI; 0.692; 0.964], and diagnostic accuracy; area under the curve (AUC) 83.8% [95% CI; 0.73655857; 0.91493173]. Whereas the AUC of the bicycle ergometry 50.7% [95% CI; 0.388; 0.625], specificity 53.1% [95% CI; 0.392; 0.673], and sensitivity 48.4% [95% CI; 0.306; 0.657]. Conclusions: The VOCs analysis appear to discriminate individuals with vs. without IHD using machine learning models. Other: The exhaled breath analysis reflects the myocardiocytes metabolomic signature and related intercellular homeostasis changes and regulation perturbances. Exhaled breath analysis poses a promise result to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the physical stress tests using machine learning models.PMID:39767720 | DOI:10.3390/biomedicines12122814

Biomedicines. 2024 Nov 30;12(12):2750. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12122750.ABSTRACTThe field of personalized medicine is undergoing a transformative shift through the integration of multi-omics data, which mainly encompasses genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This synergy allows for a comprehensive understanding of individual health by analyzing genetic, molecular, and biochemical profiles. The generation and integration of multi-omics data enable more precise and tailored therapeutic strategies, improving the efficacy of treatments and reducing adverse effects. However, several challenges hinder the full realization of personalized medicine. Key hurdles include the complexity of data integration across different omics layers, the need for advanced computational tools, and the high cost of comprehensive data generation. Additionally, issues related to data privacy, standardization, and the need for robust validation in diverse populations remain significant obstacles. Looking ahead, the future of personalized medicine promises advancements in technology and methodologies that will address these challenges. Emerging innovations in data analytics, machine learning, and high-throughput sequencing are expected to enhance the integration of multi-omics data, making personalized medicine more accessible and effective. Collaborative efforts among researchers, clinicians, and industry stakeholders are crucial to overcoming these hurdles and fully harnessing the potential of multi-omics for individualized healthcare.PMID:39767657 | DOI:10.3390/biomedicines12122750

Biomedicines. 2024 Nov 27;12(12):2711. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12122711.ABSTRACTOBJECTS: Taurine exhibits protective effects in the context of cardiovascular pathophysiology. A range of evidence suggests that hypertension activates inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), elevating the arterial tone and sympathetic activity, while it induces gut-brain axis dysfunction in the context of hypertension. However, the mechanism underlying taurine's anti-hypertensive effects via the gut-brain axis remains unclear.METHOD: Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were administered 3% taurine in their drinking water for eight weeks, with their arterial pressure measured weekly. Molecular techniques were employed to investigate taurine's effects on the hypertensive gut and PVN. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbiota composition, and untargeted metabolomics was applied to assess the fecal metabolites following taurine supplementation.RESULTS: Taurine supplementation not only reduced the blood pressure, sympathetic activity, and inflammatory and oxidative stress in the PVN but also improved the cardiac pathology and microbiota composition while alleviating gut inflammation in hypertensive rats. The untargeted metabolite analysis indicated that the primary effect of the taurine intervention in SHRs was exerted on tryptophan metabolism. The levels of serum metabolites such as kynurenine, L-tryptophan, serotonin (5-HT), and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were altered in hypertensive rats following taurine treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Taurine supplementation restored the microbiota balance, strengthened the mucosal barrier, reduced intestinal inflammation, and stimulated tryptophan metabolism. The metabolites derived from the gut microbiota likely crossed the brain barrier and reached the paraventricular nucleus, thereby reducing the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the PVN via gut-brain communication, leading to decreased sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in the studied hypertensive rats.PMID:39767618 | DOI:10.3390/biomedicines12122711

Biomedicines. 2024 Nov 25;12(12):2685. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12122685.ABSTRACTThe management of glaucoma in pregnancy and breastfeeding requires a careful evaluation of treatment choices to guarantee the well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus. This review explores the intricacies of controlling glaucoma in pregnant and breastfeeding women, including a comprehensive overview of existing glaucoma treatment methods, clinical guidelines, and future therapeutic approaches. The efficacy and safety profiles of traditional treatment approaches, such as topical and systemic medicines and surgical treatments, are evaluated specifically about their use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The significance of personalized treatment programs to achieve a balance between controlling intraocular pressure and ensuring the safety of the fetus and the newborn and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that includes ophthalmologists, obstetricians, and other healthcare experts are underlined. Non-pharmacological therapies, lifestyle adjustments, and the importance of patient education in the management of glaucoma during pregnancy and the post-partum period are also examined. Advancing our comprehension of and strategy toward glaucoma can reduce the effects of glaucoma on maternal, fetal, and newborn well-being.PMID:39767592 | DOI:10.3390/biomedicines12122685

Biomedicines. 2024 Nov 21;12(12):2654. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12122654.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) plays an important role in mood disorders. However, the changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites associated with CSD-induced anxiety/depression-like behavior in female mice have not been determined. Due to the influence of endogenous hormone levels, females are more susceptible than males to negative emotions caused by sleep deprivation. Here, we aim to investigate how CSD changes the gut microbiota and behavior and uncover the relationship between CSD and gut microbiota and its metabolites in female mice.METHODS: We used a 48-day sleep deprivation (SD) model using the modified multiple platform method (MMPM) to induce anxiety/depression-like behavior in female C57BL/6J mice and verified our results using the open field test, elevated plus maze, novel object recognition test, forced swim test, and tail suspension test. We collected fecal samples of mice for 16S rDNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis and colons for histopathological observation. We used Spearmen analysis to find the correlations between differential bacterial taxa, fecal metabolites, and behaviors.RESULTS: Our study demonstrates that CSD induced anxiety/depressive-like behaviors in female mice. The results of 16S rDNA sequencing suggested that the relative abundance of the harmful bacteria g_ Rothia, g_ Streptococcus, g_ Pantoea, and g_ Klebsiella were significantly increased, while the beneficial bacteria g_ Rikenella, g_ Eubacterium]-xylanophilum-group, and g_ Eisenbergiella were significantly decreased after SD. Glycerophospholipid metabolism and glutathione metabolism were identified as key pathways in the fecal metabolism related to oxidative stress and inflammatory states of the intestine. Histological observation showed hyperplasia of epithelial cells, a decrease in goblet cells, and glandular atrophy of the colon in SD mice. There were correlations between some of the differential bacterial taxa, fecal metabolites, and behaviors.CONCLUSION: In summary, we found that CSD induced anxiety/depression-like behavior, caused gut microbiota dysbiosis, altered fecal metabolism, and damaged the colon barrier in female mice.PMID:39767560 | DOI:10.3390/biomedicines12122654

Foods. 2024 Dec 22;13(24):4157. doi: 10.3390/foods13244157.ABSTRACTThe understanding of the characteristics and metabolite changes in waxy and normal maize kernels after cooking is rather limited. This study was designed to meticulously analyze the differences in characteristics and metabolites of these kernels before and after steaming. To cut environmental impacts, samples were obtained by pollinating one ear with mixed pollen. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to analyze metabolites comprehensively. The results demonstrated that a total of 4043 annotated metabolites were identified. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated distinct variances between kernels before and after steaming and between the two maize types. Steaming led to an increase in differential metabolites (DEMs) for both maize varieties, noticeably in waxy maize. In waxy maize, the down-regulated DEMs were associated with lipid metabolism, while the up-regulated ones were related to amino acid, phenylpropanoid, and flavone metabolism. Compared to steamed normal maize kernels, waxy maize had more DEMs in purine and steroid pathways, fewer in fatty acid, α-linolenic acid, and phenylpropanoid ones, with marked differences in secondary metabolites like those in amino acid metabolism. This study offers a vital foundation and direction for future research on metabolic pathways regarding maize quality improvement and flavor regulation.PMID:39767099 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244157

Foods. 2024 Dec 20;13(24):4133. doi: 10.3390/foods13244133.ABSTRACTTo gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which cushioning packaging preserves the quality of Chinese olive fruits during cold chain transportation and extends their shelf life, this study simulated cold chain conditions and investigated the effects of cushioning packaging on the physiology, antioxidant capacity, and secondary metabolites of fruits during a 20-day shelf life. The results indicated that the decay rate in cushioning-packaging-treated fruit was 75% lower than that in the unbuffered packaging fruit at day 20 of shelf life. Simultaneously, cushioning packaging treatment mitigated the damage severity of the cell membrane structure and kept the cell membrane permeability at a low level, which was 15.34% lower than that in the unbuffered packaging fruit at day 20 of shelf life. Additionally, cushioning packaging effectively restrained the increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and alleviated the decline in chlorophyll and total flavonoid contents. It kept a balance among reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities, thereby reducing mechanical-damage-induced decay rates in Chinese olive fruits during the shelf life. Furthermore, metabolome analysis of Chinese olives during the shelf life was performed comparing those without buffered packaging to those with buffered packaging. The metabolome analysis found that the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway exhibited a higher accumulation of chrysin, neohesperidin, naringenin chalcone, sakuranetin, quercetin, catechin, and naringenin metabolites in cushion-packaging treatment compared to those without cushioning treatment. Furthermore, within the phenylalanine metabolic pathway, the accumulation of phenylalanine, p-coumaraldehyde, p-coumaric acid, coniferin and caffeoyl quinic acid metabolites was significantly higher in buffered-packaging groups compared to those without buffering. Together, these findings suggest that cushioning packaging can effectively sustain the integrity of cell membranes and enhance the shelf-life quality of Chinese olive fruits by regulating the balance of ROS and mitigating oxidative stress during cold chain transportation.PMID:39767075 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244133

Foods. 2024 Dec 18;13(24):4104. doi: 10.3390/foods13244104.ABSTRACTChlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyhydroxy phenolic acid, has been extensively studied for its antimicrobial properties. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) threatens food safety by forming biofilms. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of CGA against S. aureus and its biofilm. The anti-bacterial activity of CGA was assessed using crystal violet staining, TEM, SEM, a CLSM, and using metabolomics and molecular docking to elucidate the mechanism. The results indicated that the minimum inhibitory concentration of CGA against S. aureus was 2.5 mg/mL. CGA disrupts the integrity of bacterial cell membranes, leading to increased hydrophobicity, morphological changes, scattering, and reduced spreading. This disruption decreases biofilm adhesion and bacterial count. Metabolomics and molecular docking analyses revealed that CGA down-regulates key amino acids. It forms hydrogen bonds with penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4), Amidase, glutamate synthetase B, and glutamate synthetase A. By inhibiting amino acid metabolism, CGA prevents biofilm formation. CGA interacts with amino acids such as aspartic acid, glutamine, and glutamate through hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (-C=O) groups. This interaction reduces cell viability and biofilm cohesion. The novel findings of this study, particularly the extension of the shelf life of pasteurized milk by inhibiting S. aureus growth, highlight the potential of CGA as a promising anti-biofilm strategy and preservative in the dairy industry.PMID:39767046 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244104

Foods. 2024 Dec 17;13(24):4076. doi: 10.3390/foods13244076.ABSTRACTThis study investigated the effects of three different single-strain probiotics Lactiplantibacillus plantarum XD117, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LC-37, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LGG, on the quality of hempseed fermented milk. The main findings were that adding probiotics increased the inhibition rate of α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase in hempseed fermented milk significantly. Non-targeted metabolomic correlation analysis results confirmed that 14 substances, including three flavonoids, six amino acids and their derivatives, and five short peptides, were positively correlated with the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of hempseed fermented milk. Furthermore, a total of 59 volatile flavor compounds were identified, including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, acids, and esters, and the role mapping of different probiotic communities was provided. These results can guide the development of hempseed fermented milk with unique flavor, rich probiotic content, and significant functional characteristics.PMID:39767016 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244076

Foods. 2024 Dec 16;13(24):4058. doi: 10.3390/foods13244058.ABSTRACTHyperlipidemia poses significant risks for cardiovascular diseases, with emerging evidence underscoring the critical role of gut microbiota in metabolic regulation. This study explores Lactobacillus casei CAAS36, a probiotic strain with promising cholesterol-lowering capabilities, assessing its impact on hyperlipidemic hamsters. Utilizing 1H NMR-based metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we observed that L. casei CAAS36 treatment not only altered metabolic pathways but also reshaped gut microbiota composition. Notably, the treatment restored the balance between Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and significantly increased the abundance of propionate-producing Muribaculaceae. Metabolically, L. casei CAAS36 administration led to the normalization of key lipid markers, including reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides (29.9%, 29.4% and 32.6%), while enhancing the protective HDL-C levels. These effects were accompanied by significant increases in beneficial metabolites such as propionate and succinate, which are known for their roles in preventing metabolic disorders. These findings highlight the dual regulatory effects of L. casei CAAS36 on the metabolic profile and gut microbiota, suggesting a substantial potential for this probiotic in the management of hyperlipidemia and possibly other metabolic diseases. Future applications may include its use as a natural therapeutic agent in clinical settings, aiming to reduce reliance on conventional pharmaceuticals and their associated side effects.PMID:39767000 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244058

Foods. 2024 Dec 16;13(24):4055. doi: 10.3390/foods13244055.ABSTRACTArsenic is a common toxic heavy metal contaminant that is widely present in the ocean, and seaweeds have a strong ability to concentrate arsenic, posing a potential risk to human health. This study first analyzed the arsenic content in two different seaweeds and then used an innovative method to categorize the seaweeds into low-arsenic and high-arsenic groups based on their arsenic exposure levels. Finally, a non-targeted metabolomic analysis based on mass spectrometry was conducted on seaweed from different arsenic exposure groups. The results indicated that as the arsenic concentration increased in the seaweeds, linolenic acid, tyrosine, pheophorbide a, riboflavin, and phenylalanine were upregulated, while arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), betaine, and oleamide were downregulated. The following four key metabolic pathways involving unsaturated fatty acids and amino acids were identified: isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and riboflavin metabolism. The identification of biomarkers and the characterization of key metabolic pathways will aid in the selection and breeding of low-arsenic-accumulating seaweed varieties, providing insights into the metabolic and detoxification mechanisms of arsenic in seaweeds.PMID:39766997 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244055

Foods. 2024 Dec 12;13(24):4025. doi: 10.3390/foods13244025.ABSTRACTSweet corn is a globally important food source and vegetable renowned for its rich nutritional content. However, post-harvest quality deterioration remains a significant challenge due to sweet corn's high sensitivity to environmental factors. Currently, low-temperature storage is the primary method for preserving sweet corn; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. In this study, kernels stored at different temperatures (28 °C and 4 °C) for 1, 3, and 5 days after harvest were collected for physiological and transcriptomic analysis. Low temperature storage significantly improved the PPO and SOD activity in sweet corn kernels compared to storage at a normal temperature. A total of 1993 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in kernels stored at low temperatures across all three time points. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic and previous metabolomic data revealed that low temperature storage significantly affected flavonoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, 11 genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis exhibited differential expression across the three storage periods, including CHI, HCT, ANS, F3'H, F3'5'H, FLS, and NOMT, with Eriodictyol, Myricetin, and Hesperetin-7-O-glucoside among the key flavonoids. Correlation analysis revealed three AP2/ERF-ERF transcription factors (EREB14, EREB182, and EREB200) as potential regulators of flavonoid biosynthesis during low temperature treatment. These results enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of flavonoid synthesis in sweet corn kernels during low-temperature storage.PMID:39766968 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244025

Foods. 2024 Dec 12;13(24):4018. doi: 10.3390/foods13244018.ABSTRACTCitrus reticulata 'Chachi' (CRC), recognized for its considerable edible and medicinal significance, is a valuable source of metabolites beneficial to human health. This research investigates the metabolic distinctions and antioxidant properties across four different parts of CRC, using multivariate statistical analysis to interpret metabolomic data and network pharmacology to identify potential antioxidant targets and relevant signaling pathways. The results indicate considerable metabolic differences in different parts of the sample, with 1622 metabolites showing differential expression, including 816 secondary metabolites, primarily consisting of terpenoids (31.02%) and flavonoids (25.22%). The dried mature citrus peel (CP) section demonstrates the highest level of total phenolics (6.8 mg/g), followed by the pulp without seed (PU) (4.52 mg/g), pulp with seed (PWS) (4.26 mg/g), and the seed (SE) (2.16 mg/g). Interestingly, targeted high-performance liquid chromatography of flavonoids reveals the highest level of nobiletin and tangeretin in CP, whereas PU has the highest level of hesperidin, narirutin, and didymin. Furthermore, all four sections of CRC exhibit robust antioxidant properties in in vitro assessments (CP > PU > PWS > SE). Lastly, the network pharmacology uncovered potential antioxidant mechanisms in CRC. This research offers deeper insights into the development and utilization of byproducts in the CRC processing industry.PMID:39766961 | DOI:10.3390/foods13244018

Fitoterapia. 2025 Jan 5:106378. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106378. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTGenus Acacia comprises around 1500 species. They are widely used to treat inflammation as well as bacterial and fungal infections as they are enriched in phytochemicals, especially phenolics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of leaves' methanolic extracts of twelve Acacia species growing in Egypt against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogens, Klebsiella pnemoniae, Bacillus aquimaris, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli. These species are Acacia nilotica (wild and cultivated), Acacia seyal, Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia saligna, Acacia xanthophloea, Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana (Gabal Elba and Aswan), Acacia tortilis, Acacia laeta (wild and cultivated), and Acacia albida. Furthermore, to study the metabolomic composition and variation among these species using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-q-tof-ESI-MS) coupled with multivariate statistical analysis and correlate it to the antibacterial potential. Results showed that Acacia nilotica (AN) has superior antibacterial activity over the other species. In addition, it exhibited a distinct segregation in Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Full profiling of AN using UHPLC-ESI-q-tof-MS revealed 42 phenolics mainly catechins. It was further subjected to bio-guided fractionation and revealed the presence of methyl gallic acid, gallic acid, catechin gallate, and digallate isomers in its most bioactive fraction. These compounds were identical to the compounds annotated as VIPs and were responsible for the segregation of AN in both PCA and PLS-DA analyses. Hence, this study sheds light on the use of chemometrics as an early tool for the detection of bioactive compounds.PMID:39765316 | DOI:10.1016/j.fitote.2025.106378

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2025 Jan 6;289:117646. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117646. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn this study, male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to bisphenol S (BPS) at environmentally relevant concentrations to investigate its reproductive toxicity and evaluate its effects on the gut-blood-testicular axis. After 28 days of exposure to BPS (0.05 and 20 mg/kg), the results showed a reduction in weight gain and the induction of reproductive toxicity in male rats, including decreased sperm parameters, lower sperm viability, and increased abnormal sperm density and mortality. These observations were made by counting with a hemocytometer under the optical microscope. 16S rRNA and untargeted metabolomic elucidated potential impacts on the gut-blood-testicular axis: BPS impaired the physical barrier, evoked inflammation, and resulted in dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Additionally, BPS altered serum metabolites, including phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol, which are involved in Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis and linked to inflammation. Furthermore, histopathological analysis, western blot (WB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence results showed that exposure to BPS led to testicular damage, inflammation, activation of the p38 and ERK MAPK pathways, and disruption of the blood-testis barrier (BTB). Collectively, these findings indicate that BPS impair the intestinal health, disrupt gut microbiome, and ultimately lead to reproductive dysfunction through the gut-blood-testicular axis.PMID:39765121 | DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117646

Talanta. 2025 Jan 4;286:127536. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.127536. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMatrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has become a robust tool for analyzing a variety of biomacromolecules. However, the strong background interference produced by conventional organic matrices hinders the detection of small molecule analytes, which restricts the widespread application of MALDI-MS in metabolomics studies. Consequently, developing new organic matrices is urgently needed to overcome these issues. In this study, 1,4-Dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophthalazine-6-carboxylic acid (DTCA) was firstly employed as a new matrix for MALDI-MS to enhance the detection of low molecular weight compounds because of its strong UV absorption, less matrix background interference, high ionization efficiency for metabolites, and good reproducibility. Considering these advantages, DTCA was used to analyze endogenous metabolites in the serum samples of imidacloprid (IMI)-exposed mice via MALDI-MS in positive ion mode. By combining with machine learning, the differentiation between imidacloprid-exposed mice and control mice was successfully achieved, and 39 metabolites were estimated as potential biomarkers. Additionally, potentially disrupted metabolic pathways were revealed. These results indicate that DTCA, as a new and powerful matrix in positive ion mode, has great potential for applications in the detection of small molecules.PMID:39765079 | DOI:10.1016/j.talanta.2025.127536