A review on protective role of genistein against oxidative stress in diabetes and related complications.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is metabolism related problems that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia, which is triggered by a complicated interaction of hereditary and environmental elements. It is the main reason for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), amputations of the traumatic lower extremity, and grown-up visual impairment. It additionally inclines to neurodegenerative and cardiovascular sicknesses. With an expanding rate around the world, DM may be the main motive of morbidity and mortality within the foreseeable future. The objective of treatment for DM is to inhibit mortality and difficulties through normalizing blood glucose stage. Genistein, a naturally available soy isoflavone, is accounted for to have various medical advantages credited to numerous natural capacities. In the course of recent years, various examinations have shown that genistein has hostile to diabetic impacts, specifically, direct consequences for ß-cell expansion, glucose-triggered insulin discharge, and safety towards apoptosis, unbiased of its functions as an estrogen receptor agonist, cancer prevention agent, or tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The present evaluation emphases on the promising molecular and biochemical paths associated with DM complications and, specifically, the multi-target method of genistein in diminishing diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy.

Edible Gum-Phenolic-Lipid Incorporated Gluten Films for Food Packaging.

The aim of this investigation was to improve the barrier and mechanical properties of gluten films and further explore their application in the packaging of seasonings. The effects of flaxseed gum (FG), oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), and lauric acid (LA) on the water vapor permeability (WVP), mechanical properties, and peroxide value (POV) were determined. FG and OPCs improved the WVP properties of the gluten films, whereas LA significantly improved the oxygen-barrier properties. The FG/OPCs/LA/GP composite film was then optimized, and the morphological, microstructural, and thermal properties of the composite gluten film were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, surface hydrophobicity analysis; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; thermal gravimetric analysis, respectively. The results confirmed that gluten is compatible with FG, OPCs, and LA, thereby leading to the formation of a more uniform, dense, and hydrophobic film. The changes in the preservation properties (appearance, POV, and acid value) of the composite gluten film for oil, salt, and vegetable packaging were also examined. The composite gluten film maintained some degree of seasoning packaging capacity over a 75-day storage period, indicating its potential for uses as a packaging material for seasonings in food production. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The edible composite film will be produced in industry according to the data provided in our paper; the film can be used as packaging material for seasonings in food production.

Impact of oligomeric procyanidins on wheat gluten microstructure and physicochemical properties.

We found that oligomeric procyanidins improve the physicochemical properties of wheat flour, and that a more compact and denser gluten microstructure is formed when an increasing amount of oligomeric procyanidins is incorporated. Further, we found that oligomeric procyanidins alter the rheological properties, molecular weight distribution, secondary structure, and thermal stability of gluten, and that oligomeric procyanidins alleviate the loss of extensibility and viscosity after the dough is exposed to high temperatures. Collectively, these results imply that oligomeric procyanidins improve the rheological properties of flour-based foods, likely by (1) regulating sulfhydryl/disulfide redox reactions in the gluten network and impairing the formation of large polymers, and by (2) binding to hydrophobic sites in gluten proteins and altering their conformation.

Determination of the neuropharmacological drug nodakenin in rat plasma and brain tissues by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry: Application to pharmacokinetic studies.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry detection using selected reaction monitoring in positive ionization mode was developed and validated for the quantification of nodakenin in rat plasma and brain. Pareruptorin A was used as internal standard. A single step liquid-liquid extraction was used for plasma and brain sample preparation. The method was validated with respect to selectivity, precision, accuracy, linearity, limit of quantification, recovery, matrix effect and stability. Lower limit of quantification of nodakenin was 2.0 ng/mL in plasma and brain tissue homogenates. Linear calibration curves were obtained over concentration ranges of 2.0-1000 ng/mL in plasma and brain tissue homogenates for nodakenin. Intra-day and inter-day precisions (relative standard deviation, RSD) were <15% in both biological media. This assay was successfully applied to plasma and brain pharmacokinetic studies of nodakenin in rats after intravenous administration.

Effects of oligomeric procyanidins on the retrogradation properties of maize starch with different amylose/amylopectin ratios.

The effect of oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs) on the retrogradation of maize starch with different amylose/amylopectin ratios was investigated. The apparent amylose contents in high-amylose maize (HAM), normal maize (NM), and amylopectin maize (APM) starches are 79.05%, 25.43% and 0%. Structural characterizations of retrograded maize starches in the presence of OPCs were conducted by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results suggest that OPCs inhibit the retrogradation of maize starches in low concentrations (1.5-2.5%) with different inhibitory effects for HAM, NM and APM starches. It may be attributed to the variations on interaction ways and binding capabilities between different types of starches and OPCs. The in vitro enzymatic digestion result indicates HAM starch and OPCs have stronger interactions with the formation of resistant structures. These findings provide a further evidence for exploring the interactions between starches and phenolic compounds.

[Influence of different types of surface on the diversity of soil fauna in Beijing Olympic Park].

Soil fauna are impacted by urbanization. In order to explore the stress of different surface covers on diversity and community structure of soil fauna, we conducted this experiment in Beijing Olympic Park. In autumn of 2013, we used Baermann and Tullgren methods to study the diversity of soil fauna in the depth of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm under four different land covers i.e. bared field (BF), totally impervious surface (TIS), partly impervious surface (PIS) and grassland (GL). The results showed that the total number of soil fauna in 100 cm3 was in order of GL (210) > PIS (193) > TIS (183) > BF (90), and the number of nematodes accounted for 72.0%-92.8% of the total number. On the vertical level, except for the TIS, the other three types of surface soil fauna had the surface gathered phenomenon. The Shannon diversity index and the Pielou evenness index of BF were lower, but the Simpson dominance index was higher than in the other land covers. The Shannon index and Margalef richness indes of GL were higher than those of the other land covers. The Shannon indexes of TIS and PIS were between the BF and GL. Except for the TIS and GL, the similarity indexes were between 0.4-0.5, indicating moderate non-similar characteristics. The diversity of soil fauna was significantly correlated with temperature, pH and available potassium.