Journal of Food Biochemistry

In order to predict the freshness of grass carp, a novel data preprocessing method was proposed for electronic nose (E-nose) signals. The signal sequences from six sensors were selected and subsequently normalized. The direct signal sequence merging (DSSM) and reversed signal sequence merging (RSSM) modes were used for signal sequence merging. Subsequently, the genetic algorithm (GA) was used to evaluate the contribution of diverse sensors, and the merged data sequence was compressed using wavelet transform (WT). Using approximation coefficient and detail coefficient based on different scales and different signal sequence merging modes, principal component analysis (PCA) discriminated successfully storage time of chilled fish fillet. The PCA plots clearly demonstrated that all extracted feature data fully retain the signal characters. The partial least squares (PLS) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used to establish prediction models for the freshness of grass carp during storage. The DSSM-ANN- and DSSM-PLS- models were chosen as the TVB-N content prediction models, while the DSSM-ANN- and RSSM-PLS- models were selected as the K value prediction models. The values of these models are higher than 0.9, and they have a good coefficient of determination. The results of this study suggest that it using E-nose signals to predict TVB-N content and K value is an effective method for assessing the freshness of grass carp during storage.

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function, is a growing concern as the global population continues to age. It is associated with physical disability, decreased quality of life, and increased risk of falls and fractures. Nutritional interventions have been suggested to be effective in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. According to cross-sectional studies, the prevalence of sarcopenia in people with heart failure (HF) is 38% for men and 32% for women, contributing to cardiac fragility, a lower quality of life, and an increased risk of death. A rising number of research studies have been performed to investigate the role of certain nutrients on muscle mass or function, as appropriate nutrition is crucial for muscle maintenance. The goal of this systematic review is to outline the present evidence for exercise and nutritional interventions as potential contributors to the treatment of sarcopenia and frailty (decreased muscle mass and physical function), as well as the threat of underlying cardiac metabolic comorbidity in individuals who have heart failure (HF), cancer, CVDs, and other health problems. The biochemical properties of natural foods play a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. This review explores the effectiveness of nutritional interventions for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.

Guizhou is one of the most important black tea producing areas in China. The purpose of this study was to explore the characteristic flavor compounds of Guizhou black tea and investigate the influence of environmental factors on the formation of black tea flavor components. In this study, HS-GC-IMS was used to identify 143 compounds from black tea samples. OPLS-DA was employed to analyze the data, effectively distinguishing black tea from different origins. A total of 83 significant flavor compounds were selected as potential markers using the VIP variable selection method and OAV screening. Cluster analysis was used to identify the characteristic flavor compounds in black tea samples from different origins. In addition, by investigating the climate environment of various production regions and analyzing the volatile components along with stable C and N isotope ratios of samples, it was discovered that the development of volatile components in black tea could be significantly influenced by ambient temperature and light. In regions with higher temperatures, the concentration of volatile components with floral, fruity, and sweet aromas is higher, resulting in a more intense aroma in black tea. In regions with low ambient temperatures but strong sunlight, black tea contains higher levels of components that give it a fresh and nutty aroma. As a result, the aroma of black tea is relatively elegant and fresh. At the same time, it was found that the stable isotope ratios of C and N in black tea were also significantly affected by ambient temperature and were positively correlated. This study introduces a fresh perspective for the comprehensive examination of Guizhou black tea, offering theoretical guidance for optimizing planting conditions and enhancing product quality. Its positive influence on promoting the development of the Guizhou black tea industry is noteworthy.

Background. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated the multiple effects of the individual phenolic antioxidants of grapes. However, it is not clear whether grape and its derivatives exert anti-inflammatory effects. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to examine the effects of grape/grape products on inflammation and oxidative stress in adults. Methods. This study has been conducted based on the PRISMA checklist. A systematic literature search in PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted, from inception until January 2022, to identify eligible trials. Mean differences and standard deviations were pooled using random-effects models. Results. Twenty-nine eligible trials were included. Grape and its products significantly increased the catalase activity (n = 3 studies, 64 participants; WMD = 5.49 U/mg protein, 95% CI: 4.76, 6.22; ;  = 0%; P-heterogeneity = 0.98), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (n = 5 studies, 206 participants; WMD = 90.06 µmol/l TE, 95% CI: 35.97, 144.15; ;  = 35.6%; P-heterogeneity = 0.18), and total antioxidant capacity (n = 4 studies, 224 participants; WMD = 62.48 µmol/l, 95% CI: 31.62, 93.33; ;  = 55.2%; P-heterogeneity = 0.08) and decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels (n = 5 studies, 153 participants; WMD = −0.17 nmol/mg, 95% CI: −0.31, −0.03; ;  = 34.2%; P-heterogeneity = 0.19). No significant change was observed for inflammatory markers. Conclusion. Although grape/grape products elicited increases in antioxidant agents, they had no significant effect on inflammatory factors. This may be related to the low levels of baseline inflammatory factors, as none of the included studies enrolled patients with acute inflammation. Further well-designed studies are warranted to examine grape’s efficacy on inflammation and oxidative stress.

Background. Medicinal plants have been remarkable sources of current chemotherapeutic agents. Ethnobotanical utilization of Bryonia species goes back to the old era, and contemporary but preliminary studies have evidenced the anticancer effects of this kind of plant. Methods. The MTT assay was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of a range of concentrations from different extracts of Bryonia aspera root in cancer and noncancer cells. The apoptosis was assessed using annexinV-FITC/PI flow cytometry assay. The expression of selected hallmark genes from different cell death modalities, including apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, was investigated using the qPCR method. The ROS production was also measured by the fluorescence technique. Results. Compared to the normal cells, all three extracts could induce significant cell death in lower doses in breast, ovarian, and glioblastoma cancer cells. Flow cytometry and gene expression studies revealed that different extracts of Bryonia aspera tend to induce different types of cell death in the selective cancer cell lines. ROS production was not impacted significantly by any of those three extracts in none of the cancer cells. Conclusion. The findings showed that all three extracts of Bryonia aspera root contain biologically active compounds that induce different types of programmed cell death in the investigated breast, ovarian, and glioblastoma cancer cells in concentrations significantly less than the doses affecting normal cells.

This study investigated the effects of low-voltage electrostatic field (LVEF), electron beam irradiation (EBI), and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on protein and lipid oxidation of pigeon meat (PM) during chilled storage. The water-holding capacity (WHC) and color reflected that the difference between the LVEF-treated (1.20 kV/m) group and the fresh groups was the smallest. The oxidation analysis of protein showed that the LVEF-treated group had smaller values of carbonyl concentration (0.0551 ± 0.0048 μmol/g), larger values of sulfhydryl concentration (0.737 ± 0.0364 μmol/g), and higher Ca²⁺-ATPase activity (30.10 ± 1.52 U/g) than the C4 group (0.0649 ± 0.0013 μmol/g, 0.510 ± 0.0225 μmol/g, and 25.18 ± 1.42 U/g, respectively). SDS-PAGE demonstrated the ability of LVEF to inhibit the hydrolysis and cross-linking of proteins. Meanwhile, the LVEF-treated group had lower values of TBARs (2.26 ± 0.0371 μg/kg) than the other groups and had a lower lipid oxidation level. In addition, the fatty acids in the LVEF-treated group were similar to those in the fresh group and were beneficial to human health. In conclusion, LVEF (1.20 kV/m) could inhibit protein and lipid oxidation of PM during chilled storage.