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Peanut meal (PM) is a by-product of extracting oil from peanut kernels. Although peanut meal contains protein, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and small amounts of polyphenols and fiber, it has long been used as a feed in the poultry and livestock industries due to its coarse texture and unpleasant taste. It is less commonly utilized in the food processing industry. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of research conducted on the deep processing of by-products from oil crops, resulting in the high-value processing and utilization of by-products from various oil crops. These include peanut meal, which undergoes treatments such as enzymatic hydrolysis in industries like food, chemical, and aquaculture. The proteins, lipids, polyphenols, fibers, and other components present in these by-products and hydrolysates can be incorporated into products for further utilization. This review focuses on the research progress in various fields, such as the food processing, breeding, and industrial fields, regarding the high-value utilization of peanut meal and its hydrolysates. The aim is to provide valuable insights and strategies for maximizing the utilization of peanut meal resources.

The aim of this study was to develop highly pH-sensitive bacterial cellulose nanofibers/gelatin-based intelligent films, where the intelligent films were loaded with different ratios (10:0, 0:10 2:8, 5:5 and 8:2, w/w) of curcumin:anthocyanin (Cur/ATH), and the characterization of intelligent films was investigated. The results showed that the microstructures of intelligent films were much rougher as the proportion of curcumin increased. FTIR results showed that anthocyanin and curcumin were fixed in gelatin matrix by hydrogen bonds. Moreover, XRD results showed that curcumin had a significant effect on the crystal structure of the films. Interestingly, films loaded with a Cur/ATH ratio of 5:5 had the best mechanical and antioxidant properties and a high pH-sensitivity property. Consequently, the bacterial cellulose nanofibers/gelatin-based intelligent films loaded with a Cur/ATH ratio of 5:5 were used for the packaging of fresh pork, displaying good fresh-keeping and freshness detection effects. Therefore, this study suggested that bacterial cellulose nanofibers/gelatin-based intelligent films have great potential in the fresh-keeping and freshness detection of meat.

Acoustic nonlinearity derived from microstructural evolution of metallic materials during plastic deformation has been found to be a promising nondestructive technique to identify early stage plastic damage in metallic structural components. In the current investigation, the propagation of longitudinal ultrasonic waves in plastically deformed 35CrMoA steel plates was simulated using finite element (FE) methods based on the theory of dislocation-induced acoustic nonlinearity to establish the relationship between acoustic nonlinearity parameters and plastic strain. Experiments were conducted to validate the numerical model. Both simulated and experimental results demonstrate a monotonic increase in the acoustic nonlinearity parameter with applied plastic strain. The simulated ultrasonic nonlinear parameters deviate from experimental measurements in a two-stage pattern. In the low-strain regime (plastic strain < 8.5%), FE predictions underestimate experimental values, possibly due to dislocation entanglement in high-density regions that restricts dislocation mobility and suppresses acoustic nonlinearity. The FE model overestimates the parameters when plastic strain exceeds about 8.5%. This reversal is related to the formation of dislocation cells and walls with enhanced acoustic nonlinearity.

A greater reduction in cancer risk associated with mushroom diet rich in fungus polysaccharides is generally accepted. Meanwhile, edible Pleurotus abalonus as a member of Abalone mushroom family is a popular nutritional supplement that purportedly prevents cancer occurrence. However, these anecdotal claims are supported by limited studies describing tumor-inhibitory responses to the promising polysaccharides, and the molecular mechanisms underlying these properties have not yet been elucidated. We here fractionated the crude polysaccharide preparation from the fruiting bodies of P. abalonus into three fractions, namely PAP-1, PAP-2 and PAP-3, and tested these fractions for antiproliferative activity in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. The largest PAP-3, an acidic polysaccharide fraction with a molecular mass of 3.68×10(5) Da, was the most active in inhibiting MCF-7 cancer cells with an IC50 of 193 µg/mL. The changes in cell normal morphology were observed by DAPI staining and the PAP-3-induced apoptosis was confirmed by annexin V/propidium iodide staining. The apoptosis was involved in mitochondria-mediated pathway including the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), the increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-9/3 activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) degradation, as well as intracellular ROS production. PAP-3 also induced up-regulation of p53, and cell cycle arrest at the S phase. The incubation of MCF-7 cells with antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly attenuated the ROS generation and apoptosis caused by PAP-3, indicating that intracellular ROS plays a pivotal role in cell death. These findings suggest that the polysaccharides, especially acidic PAP-3, are very important nutritional ingredients responsible for, at least in part, the anticancer health benefits of P. abalonus via ROS-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. It is a major breakthrough bringing new insight of the potential use of the polysaccharides as health-care food or medicine to provide significant natural defense against human cancer.

This study developed a probiotic Eurotium cristatum-fermented Premna microphylla Turcz. (EFPT) and systematically evaluated its nutritional profile and antidiabetic effects in a type 2 diabetes mellitus (TIIDM) mouse model. After 8 days of fermentation, the contents of pectin (9.001% vs. 4.222%) and water-soluble polysaccharides (13.339% vs. 4.826%) increased significantly (p < 0.05), whereas the levels of polyphenols (12.12% vs. 15.917%) and soluble proteins (3.829% vs. 5.797%) decreased (p < 0.05). Notable alterations were also observed in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), monosaccharide composition, and amino acid profiles. Specifically, the levels of propionic acid, histidine, threonine, serine, glycine, lysine, glutamic acid, and methionine decreased significantly (p < 0.05), while those of butyric acid, valeric acid, galactose, valine, alanine, and proline increased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, EFPT exhibited dose-dependent antidiabetic effects and showed greater efficacy than non-fermented Premna microphylla Turcz. powder in high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin-induced TIIDM mice (p < 0.05). These effects were primarily associated with enhanced SCFAs production and the amelioration of liver and kidney damage. Overall, these findings suggest that Eurotium cristatum fermentation enhances the bioactive properties of Premna microphylla Turcz., contributing to its improved nutritional quality and potent antidiabetic activity.

This study, for the first time, explored the preventive effects of a novel pectic polysaccharide from Premna microphylla Turcz leaves (PMTL) on experimental constipation. Diphenoxylate-induced constipation model (CM) rats were fed a standard rodent chow supplemented with or without PMTL (5%, 10%, and 20%) for 6 weeks. Supplementation of PMTL was shown to accelerate intestinal peristalsis, increase fecal water content, improve intestinal morphology, and suppress gut inflammation by facilitating the secretion of excitatory neurotransmitters (MTL, ACH, and SP) and decreasing the secretion of inhibitory neurotransexcitatory neurotransmittersmitters (SS and NO) in the CM rats. PMTL also reduced the expressions of the colonic aquaporins AQP3 and AQP4 in the CM rats to normalize the colonic water transport system. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that PMTL relieved the gut microbiota disorder of the CM rats and promoted the proliferation of several beneficial bacteria, resulting in an increase in fecal short-chain fatty acids. These findings demonstrate that dietary PMTL consumption can ameliorate the development of constipation and PMTL can be considered as a great promising dietary supplement for alleviating constipation.

This study was designed to first investigate the effects of zinc phytate (ZnPA) from wheat bran in alleviating high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic inflammation and metabolic disorders and its underlying mechanism. C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to five groups including normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD+low-dose ZnPA (100 mg/kg), HFD+high-dose ZnPA (200 mg/kg), and HFD+wheat bran (100 mg/kg). All interventions were administered orally for 12 weeks. The results indicated that ZnPA significantly mitigated HFD-induced weight gain, dyslipidemia, pathoglycemia, hepatic steatosis and inflammation (p < 0.05). ZnPA effectively corrected HFD-induced microbial dysbiosis, in which the relative abundance of the Ruminococcus torques group decreased from 11.0% to 0.75%, and Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002 dropped from 2.47% to 0.087% (p < 0.05). Conversely, ZnPA increased the abundance of Ileibacterium from 0.32% to 17.76% and Dubosiella from 1.03% to 4.24% (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, ZnPA could be metabolized by the gut microbiota to release IP6, which was further converted into secondary inositol phosphates (InsP3–5), resulting in increases of 52.1%, 83.3%, 62.5%, and 96.2% in the colonic contents of InsP6, InsP5, InsP4, and InsP3 (p < 0.05), respectively. In addition, ZnPA increased levels of secondary bile acids and short-chain fatty acids, especially deoxycholic acid and taurocholic acid, which were elevated by 1.95-fold and 1.88-fold (p < 0.05), respectively. Interestingly, ZnPA enhanced hepatic expressions of histone deacetylase 3, bile acid receptor FXR, and lipid metabolism coactivator PGC-1α (p < 0.05). Collectively, these results indicated that ZnPA might alleviate obesity-related hepatic inflammation and metabolic disorders by reshaping microbial composition and increasing the production of microbial metabolism such as secondary bile acids, thereby triggering FXR–PGC1α axis activation.

Kiwifruit ( ) peel has been always considered as useless because of the harsh taste. To promote the full utilization of kiwifruit resources it is essential to explore the nutritional benefits of kiwifruit peel. Our studies explored the difference in polyphenolic composition and biological activity including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activity of the flesh and peel of kiwifruit. Antioxidant activity of the extracted polyphenols of the peel and flesh of was checked by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), hydroxyl ion reduction, and ion chelating ability. Antibacterial activity against , , and and antiproliferative activity HepG2 was tested in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) chromatogram of the peel and flesh further differentiated the phenolic acid profile. The pericarp of kiwifruit was found to be more abundant in polyphenols and flavonoids than the flesh, with contents of 12.8 mg/g and 2.7 mg/g, respectively. LC/MS analysis revealed that the catachin, quercetin and epigallocatechin content (the main polyphenols in kiwifruit) in the peel was significantly higher than in the flesh ( < 0.05). The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the peel was significantly higher when compared to the flesh. Moreover, the proliferation of HepG2 cells was time- and dose-dependently inhibited by kiwifruit polyphenols, with IC values of 170 μg/mL and 291 μg/mL for peel and flesh polyphenols after 72 h of treatment time, respectively. Kiwifruit peel, with higher content of phenolics and flavonoids, exerts more potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activity than the flesh. Our study provides scientific evidence for the development of kiwifruit, especially peel-based, novel natural products with excellent bioactivity.

Oxidative stress is one of the major factors in the pathogenesis of liver disease. Quercetin is a plant-based antioxidant traditionally used as a treatment for hepatic injury, but its poor solubility affects its bioavailability. We here report the regulative effects on hepatoprotection and absorption in mice of quercetin sulfation to form quercetin-5',8-disulfonate (QS), a novel synthetic compound. Oral administration of both QS and the parent quercetin at 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg·bw prior to acute CCl4 oxidative damage in mice, effectively attenuated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.05), and suppressed the CCl4-induced depletion of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD). Selective 5',8-sulfation of quercetin increased the hepatoprotective effect, and its relative absorption relative to quercetin (p < 0.05) as indicated by an improved 24-hour urinary excretion and a decreased fecal excretion determined by HPLC. These results and histopathological observations collectively demonstrate that quercetin sulfation increases its hepatoprotective effects and absorption in mice, and QS has potential as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent for liver diseases.

Insulin resistance, which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, has become a leading nutrition problem. Inorganic nitrate enriched in spinach has been demonstrated to reverse the pathological features of insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. However, the effects of a direct intake of nitrate-enriched spinach on insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction have not been studied. To investigate the effects of spinach nitrate on insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, endothelial function, and inflammation in mice fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet. A diet intervention of spinach with or without nitrate was performed in mice. A high-fat and high-fructose diet was used to cause insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation in mice. The impacts of spinach nitrate on lipid profile, insulin resistance, markers of endothelial function, and inflammation were determined in mice. Spinach nitrate improved the vascular endothelial function of the mice with high-fat and high-fructose consumption, as evidenced by the elevated plasma nitrite level, increased serum nitric oxide (NO) level and decreased serum ET-1 level after spinach nitrate intervention. Spinach nitrate also reduced serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and elevated serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in the mice fed with a high-fat and high-fructose diet. Mice receiving spinach with 60 mg/kg of nitrate (1.02±0.34) showed a significantly low homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index as compared with the model mice (2.05±0.58), which is indicating that spinach nitrate could effectively improve the insulin resistance. In addition, spinach nitrate remarkably decreased the elevated serum C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin-6 levels induced by a high-fat and high-fructose diet. The intake of spinach nitrate can augment NO status, improve lipid homeostasis, relieve inflammation, and enhance endothelial function, suggesting that spinach is promising dietary supplements for insulin resistance prevention.