Blood Stored In EDTA Tubes Provides Accurate Peanut Basophil Activation Test Results For 48 hours.

BACKGROUND: The peanut basophil activation test (BAT) has demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy with heparinized blood, but its clinical utility is limited by the short stability of samples stored in this anticoagulant. OBJECTIVE: Using EDTA anticoagulated blood, these investigations determined if Peanut BAT sample stability can be extended to 2 days, the minimum stability requirement for diagnostic tests currently offered through American reference laboratories. METHODS: Peanut non-allergic control (NAC), peanut IgE sensitized (PS), and peanut allergic (PA) children aged 6 months through 17 years were recruited from members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. EDTA anti-coagulated blood samples were collected from participants, shipped to a centralized laboratory, and stored at 4oC for peanut BAT testing 1 and 2 days later. RESULTS: Peanut BAT results for 23 unblinded participants were used to establish sample rejection and interpretation criteria that were subsequently validated in a prospective double-blind study involving 112 additional children (39-NAC, 36-PS, 37-PA). Of 105 blinded blood samples tested on each study day, 88 (84%) day-1 and 90 (86%) day-2 peanut BAT results were considered interpretable, with diagnostic accuracies of 95.5% and 94.4%, respectively. Moreover, all interpretable PA results were considered positive (100% sensitivity). CONCLUSION: Using EDTA anti-coagulated blood samples collected remotely, 1 and 2 days before testing, study results highlight the favorable diagnostic performance characteristics of the peanut BAT and provide further evidence that the test could be readily operationalized for clinical use by interested commercial reference laboratories.

Instant catapult steam explosion combined with ammonia water: A complex technology for detoxification of aflatoxin-contaminated peanut cake with the aim of producing a toxicity-free and nutrients retention of animal feed.

Aflatoxin is one of the most toxic biotoxins found in contaminated agricultural products. It has strong mutagenicity, carcinogenesis and teratogenicity to humans and animals. In this study, instant catapult steam explosion combined with ammonia water was examined for its potential to degrade aflatoxin B1 in peanut cake in order to improve its utilization as a toxic-free animal feed. Incubation of AFB1-containing peanut cake followed by processing with Instant Catapult Steam Explosion (ICSE) led to approximately 79.03 % degradation of AFB1, while the degradation of AFB1 was up to 91.48 % under the treatment of ICSE combined with 4 % NH3·H2O at 1.2 MPa in 200 s of process time. After treatment, nutrients in peanut cake were not significantly changed. The toxicity of AFB1 degradation products was evaluated and the results showed that the toxicity of these products were found to be substantially less than that possessed by AFB1. A low chemical pollution, efficient and toxic-free technology system of AFB1 degradation was established, which detoxify aflatoxin-contaminated biomass for sustainable and safe utilization of agricultural biomass as animal feed.

Fertilizer application parameters for drip-irrigated peanut based on the fertilizer effect function established from a "3414" field trial.

Scientific fertilization is an important technical means of achieving high and stable peanut yields. Using soil testing and formula fertilization, the "3414" optimal regression design was used and included 14 nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization treatments. Ternary quadratic functions of the fertilizer effect were established according to three-season field experiments and the regression analysis of fertilizer-yield function was performed to explore the optimal fertilizer application mode and ratio for peanuts under mulched drip irrigation (MDI), and a suitable fertilizer application system was established. The ternary quadratic equation relating peanut yield (y) and the fertilizer application rates of N (N), P (P2O5), and K (K2O) was obtained after fitting, i.e., y = 2912.528 + 21.432N + 16.324P + 6.181K - 0.051N2 - 0.109P2 - 0.061K2 + 0.017NP + 0.023NK + 0.086PK, and significance analysis and typicality assessment were performed. The model R 2 was 0.9709, both values are extremely significant (p < 0.01), which indicates that the obtained ternary quadratic fertilizer effect function is typical and could be used for statistical purposes and fertilization recommendations. Three quadratic fertilizer effect functions were obtained. Among them, the equation for K is extremely significant, and the equations of N and P are significant. According to the assumption that the marginal yield is zero and the marginal profit is zero, the fertilizer application rate with the maximum yield, the fertilizer application rate with the best economic benefits, and the corresponding yields were obtained. The optimal fertilizer application rate predicted by the ternary quadratic fertilizer effect function was relatively high, so the three quadratic fertilizer effect functions were used for prediction. Under the test conditions, the recommended fertilizer application rates for peanuts under MDI are 256.6 kg N per ha, 164.2 kg P2O5 per ha, and 213.2 kg K2O per ha, the recommended fertilization ratio is 1:0.64:0.83, and the recommended ratio under formula fertilization is 23:15:19. The study has developed a data-based decision support system for Xinjiang drip-irrigated peanut, which assists farmers and agricultural managers in making more scientific and precise fertilization decisions based on the specific growth requirements of the crops and soil conditions. This evidence-based methodology enhances the precision of agricultural management, which is conducive to increasing crop yields while reducing resource wastage and environmental impact. However, multipoint and multiyear experiments are still needed to ensure that the findings are adaptable to the diverse soil conditions and fluctuating climate patterns that may be encountered in practice.

Standardizing the skin tape stripping method for sensitization and using it to create a mouse model of peanut allergy.

BACKGROUND: Animal models for food allergies serve as crucial tools in understanding allergy mechanisms and assessing the efficacy of potential desensitization methods. The effectiveness of inducing allergies in mice through intragastric lavage sensitization varies. The intraperitoneal method can trigger systemic anaphylaxis, however it lacks anatomical relevance. Hence, a uniform and reliable allergy induction method in mice is required. Tape stripping can mimic atopic dermatitis (AD), a precursor to lifelong peanut allergies in humans. Furthermore, skin damage triggers the upregulation of skin alarmins and the expansion of small-intestinal mast cells, both implicated in allergy development. METHODS: We standardized a skin-based sensitization method in a mouse model of peanut allergy using skin tape stripping followed by allergen application. We compared this method with intragastric sensitization. RESULTS: Skin-based sensitization led to increased mast cells, goblet cells, and eosinophils in the small intestine, elevated systemic IgE levels, murine mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1), histamine, and eosinophilic activity in peripheral blood. Moreover, it resulted in a significant hypothermic response, with nearly 30% mortality following an oral challenge one-month post-sensitization. CONCLUSION: Our research offers a standardized and readily reproducible method for inducing peanut allergy in mice, which could also be adapted for other food allergens.

Zinc Oxide/Carbon Material-Embedded Supramolecular Drug Delivery System with Photoswitching Properties for Highly Selective and Effective Chemotherapy.

Phototherapy has become a hopeful procedure for the treatment of cancer. Nevertheless, the straightforward creation of a theranostic system that can achieve both tumor localization and production of oxygen species is greatly desired yet remains a challenging endeavor. In this study, we synthesized spherical nanostructures by decorating zinc oxide (ZnO) with peanut shell-based carbon (PNS-C) in an aqueous solution. The PNS-C-decorated ZnO (ZnO/PNS-C)-embedded supramolecular system exhibited spontaneous self-assembly. The nanogels that are produced have several desirable characteristics, including exceptional resistance to degradation by light, highly stable nanostructures that form spontaneously in biological environments, outstanding ability to prevent the destruction of red blood cells, and a high level of sensitivity to changes in pH and light. Under light irradiation, the addition of ZnO/PNS-C-incorporated supramolecular provided high reactive oxygen species production. Moreover, in vitro cellular assays demonstrated ZnO/PNS-C-incorporated supramolecular exhibited highly selective and induced phototoxicity into cancer cells and no effect on the viability of normal cells both before and after irradiation. Overall, the ZnO/PNS-C-incorporated supramolecular system has the potential to stimulate advancements in phototherapy by utilizing highly tumor-selective therapeutic molecules. This can lead to a more effective targeted therapy for cancers.

Prevalence and determinants of food allergy in the era of early allergen introduction: the EarlyNuts population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Infant feeding guidelines in Australia changed in 2016 to recommend introduction of common allergy causing foods by age 1 year to prevent food allergy. Although the majority of Australian infants now eat peanut and egg by age 6-months, some still develop food allergy despite introducing allergens early. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the prevalence of food allergy in a cohort recruited after introducing the nation-wide allergy prevention recommendations; identify characteristics of infants who developed allergy despite early introduction of allergens; and estimate the causal effect of modifiable exposures on food allergy prevalence and whether this differed between infants who were introduced to allergen before or after age 6 months. METHODS: We recruited a population-based sample of 12-month-old infants in Melbourne, Australia. Infants had skin prick tests to 4 foods and parents completed questionnaires. Infants with evidence of sensitisation were offered oral food challenges. Prevalence estimates were adjusted using inverse probability weighting. RESULTS: In a cohort of infants (n=1420) where nearly all infants had been introduced to common allergens such as egg, milk and peanut by one-year-of age, the prevalence of food allergy remained high at 11.3% (95% CI 9.6-13.4%). Infants who developed food allergy despite introducing the allergen by age 6-months were more likely to have Asian-born parents. Early-onset moderate/severe eczema was associated with an increased odds of food allergy, irrespective of whether allergens were introduced before or after age 6 months. Among infants who were introduced to peanut ≤6m, antibiotic use by age 6 months was associated with an increased odds of peanut allergy (aOR 6.03 (95%CI 1.15-31.60). CONCLUSION: In a cohort where early allergen introduction was common, the prevalence of food allergy remained high. Infants who developed food allergy despite introducing the respective allergen by 6 months were more likely to have Asian parents and early-onset eczema. New interventions are needed for infants with a phenotype of food allergy that is not amenable to early allergen introduction.

Utilization of peanut hull hydrochar /beta cyclodextrin/Fe3O4 magnetic composite for lead ion removal from water solution.

This study involves synthesizing peanut hull hydrochar (PHH) and a PHH/ß-CD/Fe3O4 magnetic composite through hydrothermal and chemical precipitation methods, respectively, to use as effective adsorbents for Pb2+ removal. Vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses revealed that the magnetic saturation value and specific active surface area of PHH/ß-CD/Fe3O4 are 31.543 emu/g and 32.123 m2/g, respectively. The impact of key variables on adsorption efficiency was evaluated using the response surface method - central composite design. ANOVA results (F-value: 166.22 and p-value: <0.05) demonstrated that the model effectively assesses the interaction of variables in the adsorption process. Additionally, R2, Adjusted R2, and Predicted R2 values were 0.999, 0.986, and 0.975, respectively, indicating the model's high adequacy in describing response changes. The maximum efficiency for Pb2+ adsorption was found to be 95.35% using PHH and 99.73% with the PHH/ß-CD/Fe3O4 magnetic composite. These measurements were taken at a temperature of 25 °C, an adsorbent dose of 1 g/L, a pH of 6, and a Pb2+ concentration of 5 mg/L, with respective contact times of 130 min and 50 min. Thermodynamic analysis revealed negative enthalpy and Gibbs free energy values, indicating that the adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous. The negative entropy parameter suggests a reduction in random interactions during the process. The Pb2+ adsorption data for both PHH (R2: 0.982) and PHH/ß-CD/Fe3O4 (R2: 0.985) were best described by the Pseudo 2nd order kinetic model. Equilibrium data followed the Freundlich model, with R2 values of 0.981 for PHH and 0.990 for PHH/ß-CD/Fe3O4, highlighting the importance of heterogeneous surfaces in the removal process. The maximum adsorption capacities for Pb2+ were 26.72 mg/g for PHH and 33.88 mg/g for PHH/ß-CD/Fe3O4. Reuse and stability tests confirmed the structural stability and reusability of the adsorbents. Therefore, the PHH/ß-CD/Fe3O4 magnetic composite is a promising option for removing Pb2+ from aqueous solutions.

Implementing a Clinical Decision Support Tool to Increase Early Peanut Introduction Guidance.

BACKGROUND: General pediatric providers are the frontline for early peanut introduction discussions, but many feel ill-equipped to handle such discussions as guidelines have quickly changed. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that a clinical decision support (CDS) tool could improve peanut introduction discussions. METHODS: CDS tools were designed by stakeholders, improved through usability testing, and integrated into the current note templates. Based on queries of electronic health record (EHR), we did a pre-post performance evaluation of peanut introduction conversations, barriers for introduction, and percentage of 12-month WCC visits that had successfully introduced peanut. Providers completed surveys before and after intervention to assess awareness of early peanut introduction and comfort using CDS. RESULTS: Providers' awareness of early peanut introduction guidelines increased from 17.8% to 66.7% after the CDS tool was implemented. 79.1% were comfortable using the tool. The CDS tool improved peanut introduction conversations at the 4-month well-child (WCC) care visit from 2.4% to 81.2%, at the 6-month WCC visit from 3.0% to 84.2%, and at the 12-month WCC visit from 2.7% to 82.9%. 56.6% of families had a plan to introduce peanut at the 4-month WCC visit. Of those who did not have a plan, the most common barrier was family's unawareness of the benefits of early peanut introduction. At the 12-month visit, 62.8% of families had introduced peanut without concerns. CONCLUSION: A point-of-care CDS tool encouraged more discussions by general pediatric providers on early peanut introduction to all patients. CDS tools should be considered in quality improvement projects as an implementation method for the most up-to-date guidelines.

Border row effects improved the spatial distributions of maize and peanut roots in an intercropping system, associated with improved yield.

Background: Border row effects impact the ecosystem functions of intercropping systems, with high direct interactions between neighboring row crops in light, water, and nutrients. However, previous studies have mostly focused on aboveground, whereas the effects of intercropping on the spatial distribution of the root system are poorly understood. Field experiments and planting box experiments were combined to explore the yield, dry matter accumulation, and spatial distribution of root morphological indexes, such as root length density (RLD), root surface area density (RSAD), specific root length (SRL), and root diameter (RD), of maize and peanut and interspecific interactions at different soil depths in an intercropping system. Results: In the field experiments, the yield of intercropped maize significantly increased by 33.45%; however, the yield of intercropped peanut significantly decreased by 13.40%. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of the maize-peanut intercropping system was greater than 1, and the advantage of intercropping was significant. Maize was highly competitive (A = 0.94, CR=1.54), and the yield advantage is mainly attributed to maize. Intercropped maize had higher RLD, RSAD, and SRL than sole maize, and intercropped peanut had lower RLD, RSAD, and SRL than sole peanut. In the interspecific interaction zone, the increase in RLD, RSAD, SRL, and RD of intercropped maize was greater than that of intercropped peanut, and maize showed greater root morphological plasticity than peanut. A random forest model determined that RSAD significantly impacted yield at 15-60 cm, while SRL had a significant impact at 30-60 cm. Structural equation modeling revealed that root morphology indicators had a greater effect on yield at 30-45 cm, with interactions between indicators being more pronounced at this depth. Conclusion: These results show that border-row effects mediate the plasticity of root morphology, which could enhance resource use and increase productivity. Therefore, selecting optimal intercropping species and developing sustainable intercropping production systems is of great significance.

Legume Allergens Pea, Chickpea, Lentil, Lupine and Beyond.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: In the last decade, an increasing trend towards a supposedly healthier vegan diet could be observed. However, recently, more cases of allergic reactions to plants and plant-based products such as meat-substitution products, which are often prepared with legumes, were reported. Here, we provide the current knowledge on legume allergen sources and the respective single allergens. We answer the question of which legumes beside the well-known food allergen sources peanut and soybean should be considered for diagnostic and therapeutic measures. RECENT FINDINGS: These "non-priority" legumes, including beans, pea, lentils, chickpea, lupine, cowpea, pigeon pea, and fenugreek, are potentially new important allergen sources, causing mild-to-severe allergic reactions. Severe reactions have been described particularly for peas and lupine. An interesting aspect is the connection between anaphylactic reactions and exercise (food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis), which has only recently been highlighted for legumes such as soybean, lentils and chickpea. Most allergic reactions derive from IgE cross-reactions to homologous proteins, for example between peanut and lupine, which is of particular importance for peanut-allergic individuals ignorant to these cross-reactions. From our findings we conclude that there is a need for large-scale studies that are geographically distinctive because most studies are case reports, and geographic differences of allergic diseases towards these legumes have already been discovered for well-known "Big 9" allergen sources such as peanut and soybean. Furthermore, the review illustrates the need for a better molecular diagnostic for these emerging non-priority allergen sources to evaluate IgE cross-reactivities to known allergens and identify true allergic reactions.

Tolerance of peanuts and tree nuts in Spanish children with exclusive sensitization to lipid transfer proteins.

BACKGROUND: Allergy to peanuts and tree nuts is a common cause of food allergy in Spain, with lipid transfer proteins (LTP) being the most frequently recognized panallergen. LTP sensitization often leads to multiple food group sensitivities, resulting in overly restrictive diets that hinder patient's quality of life. This study aimed to assess the tolerance of peanuts and tree nuts (hazelnuts and walnuts) in children sensitized to LTP, potentially mitigating the need for such diets. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled individuals diagnosed with allergy to peanuts, hazelnuts, or walnuts. Data were collected from medical records, including demographics and clinical history. Allergological assessment comprised skin prick tests using commercial extracts and the nuts in question, alongside measurements of total and specific IgE to nuts and their primary molecular components. Participants showing positive LTP sensitization without sensitization to seed storage proteins underwent open oral nut challenges. RESULTS: A total of 75 individuals labeled as allergic to peanuts, 44 to hazelnuts, and 51 to walnuts were included. All of them underwent an open oral provocation test with the incriminated nut, showing a high tolerance rate. Peanut was tolerated by 98.6% of patients, 97.72% tolerated hazelnut, and 84.3% tolerated walnut. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the majority of patients allergic to peanuts, hazelnuts, or walnuts, due to LTP sensitization and lacking IgE reactivity to seed storage proteins, can tolerate these nuts. This supports the need for personalized nut tolerance assessments to avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions.

Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Physcion against Sclerotium rolfsii, the Causal Agent of Peanut Southern Blight.

Peanut southern blight, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii, is a widespread and devastating epidemic. Frequently, it is laborious to effectively control by labor-intensive foliar sprays of agrochemicals due to untimely find. In the present study, seed treatment with physcion (PHY) at doses of 0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 g AI kg-1 seed significantly improved the growth and photosynthetic activity of peanuts. Furthermore, PHY seed treatment resulted in an elevated enzymatic activity of key enzymes in peanut roots, including peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase, catalase, lipoxygenase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, as well as an increase in callus accumulation and lignin synthesis at the infection site, ultimately enhancing the root activity. This study revealed that PHY seed treatment could promote the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET) in peanut roots, while also decreasing the content of malondialdehyde levels in response to S. rolfsii infection. The results were further confirmed by transcriptome data and metabolomics. These findings suggest that PHY seed treatment activates the plant defense pathways mediated by SA and JA/ET in peanut roots, enhancing the resistance of peanut plants to S. rolfsii. In short, PHY is expected to be developed into a new plant-derived immunostimulant or fungicide to increase the options and means for peanut disease control.

Developing zinc oxide and peanut shell-derived carbon star-shaped composite materials for effective photo-antibacterial treatment.

The development of new carbon-based materials using natural biowaste for biomedical applications has remained a significant challenge in the past decades. In this study, we successfully synthesized and characterized composite materials made from peanut shell-derived carbon (PNS-C) decorated on ZnO that formed star-shaped particles via a simple hydrothermal technique. The as-prepared composites possess several advantages, including unique optical properties and high photostability. We evaluate the antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli, a gram-negative bacterium and Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive bacterium, under irradiated and non-irradiated conditions. Interestingly, the photo-antibacterial activities of ZnO/PNS-C composites showed great inhibition of bacterial growth as compared to pure ZnO. Moreover, significant disruptions in cellular activities occur when the composites make direct contact with the bacterial cell wall. The electrons and holes produced by excitation in composites provide a pronounced deactivating effect on bacterial activity. In addition, ZnO/PNS-C composites are highly biocompatible with normal cells. Thus, these newly developed composites made from a natural biowaste system with an affordable price, abundance, and non-toxicity could provide a potentially environmentally friendly and fruitful route for antibacterial therapy in future applications.

A Genome-Wide Analysis of the Jasmonic Acid Biosynthesis Gene Families in Peanut Reveals Their Crucial Roles in Growth and Abiotic Stresses.

Abiotic stress is a limiting factor in peanut production. Peanut is an important oil crop and cash crop in China. Peanut yield is vulnerable to abiotic stress due to its seeds grown underground. Jasmonic acid (JA) is essential for plant growth and defense against adversity stresses. However, the regulation and mechanism of the jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathway on peanut defense against abiotic stresses are still limitedly understood. In this study, a total of 64 genes encoding key enzymes of JA biosynthesis were identified and classified into lipoxygenases (AhLOXs), alleno oxide synthases (AhAOSs), allene oxide cyclases (AhAOCs), and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductases (AhOPRs) according to gene structure, conserved motif, and phylogenetic feature. A cis-regulatory element analysis indicated that some of the genes contained stress responsive and hormone responsive elements. In addition to proteins involved in JA biosynthesis and signaling, they also interacted with proteins involved in lipid biosynthesis and stress response. Sixteen putative Ah-miRNAs were identified from four families targeting 35 key genes of JA biosynthesis. A tissue expression pattern analysis revealed that AhLOX2 was the highest expressed in leaf tissues, and AhLOX32 was the highest expressed in shoot, root, and nodule tissues. AhLOX16, AhOPR1, and AhOPR3 were up-regulated under drought stress. AhLOX16, AhAOS3, AhOPR1, and AhAOC4 had elevated transcript levels in response to cold stress. AhLOX5, AhLOX16, AhAOC3, AhOPR1, and AhOPR3 were up-regulated for expression under salt stress. Our study could provide a reference for the study of the abiotic stress resistance mechanism in peanut.

Is Component-Specific Antibody Testing Sufficient to Replace the Oral Food Challenge in the Diagnostics of Peanut-Sensitized Children? A Proof-of-Concept Study.

(1) Peanut allergy is associated with high risk of anaphylaxis which could be prevented by oral immunotherapy. Patients eligible for immunotherapy are selected on the basis of a food challenge, although currently the assessment of antibodies against main peanut molecules (Ara h 1, 2, 3 and 6) is thought to be another option. (2) The current study assessed the relationship between the mentioned antibodies, challenge outcomes, skin tests and some other parameters in peanut-sensitized children. It involved 74 children, divided into two groups, based on their response to a food challenge. (3) Both groups differed in results of skin tests, levels of component-specific antibodies and peanut exposure history. The antibody levels were then used to calculate thresholds for prediction of challenge results or symptom severity. While the antibody-based challenge prediction revealed statistical significance, it failed in cases of severe symptoms. Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between antibody levels, symptom-eliciting doses and the risk of severe anaphylaxis. Although in some patients it could result from interference with IgG4, the latter would not be a universal explanation of this phenomenon. (4) Despite some limitations, antibody-based screening may be an alternative to the food challenge, although its clinical relevance still requires further studies.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Renin-Inhibitory Activities of Protein Hydrolysates Produced by Alcalase Hydrolysis of Peanut Protein.

Hypertension is a major controllable risk factor associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and overall mortality worldwide. Most people with hypertension must take medications that are effective in blood pressure management but cause many side effects. Thus, it is important to explore safer antihypertensive alternatives to regulate blood pressure. In this study, peanut protein concentrate (PPC) was hydrolyzed with 3-5% Alcalase for 3-10 h. The in vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and renin-inhibitory activities of the resulting peanut protein hydrolysate (PPH) samples and their fractions of different molecular weight ranges were determined as two measures of their antihypertensive potentials. The results show that the crude PPH produced at 4% Alcalase for 6 h of hydrolysis had the highest ACE-inhibitory activity with IC50 being 5.45 mg/mL. The PPH samples produced with 3-5% Alcalase hydrolysis for 6-8 h also displayed substantial renin-inhibitory activities, which is a great advantage over the animal protein-derived bioactive peptides or hydrolysate. Remarkably higher ACE- and renin-inhibitory activities were observed in fractions smaller than 5 kDa with IC50 being 0.85 and 1.78 mg/mL. Hence, the PPH and its small molecular fraction produced under proper Alcalase hydrolysis conditions have great potential to serve as a cost-effective anti-hypertensive ingredient for blood pressure management.

Assessment of Peanut Protein Powder Quality by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Generalized Regression Neural Network-Based Approach.

The global demand for protein is on an upward trajectory, and peanut protein powder has emerged as a significant player, owing to its affordability and high quality, with great future market potential. However, the industry currently lacks efficient methods for rapid quality testing. This research paper addressed this gap by introducing a portable device with employed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) to quickly assess the quality of peanut protein powder. The principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS), and generalized regression neural network (GRNN) methods were used to construct the model to further enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the device. The results demonstrated that the newly established NIR method with PLS and GRNN analysis simultaneously predicted the fat, protein, and moisture of peanut protein powder. The GRNN model showed better predictive performance than the PLS model, the correlation coefficient in calibration (Rcal) of the fat, the protein, and the moisture of peanut protein powder were 0.995, 0.990, and 0.990, respectively, and the residual prediction deviation (RPD) were 10.82, 10.03, and 8.41, respectively. The findings unveiled that the portable NIR spectroscopic equipment combined with the GRNN method achieved rapid quantitative analysis of peanut protein powder. This advancement holds a significant application of this device for the industry, potentially revolutionizing quality testing procedures and ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality products to fulfil consumer desires.

Relationships of the wild peanut species, section Arachis: A resource for botanical classification, crop improvement, and germplasm management.

PREMISE: Wild species are strategic sources of valuable traits to be introduced into crops through hybridization. For peanut, the 33 currently described wild species in the section Arachis are particularly important because of their sexual compatibility with the domesticated species, Arachis hypogaea. Although numerous wild accessions are carefully preserved in seed banks, their morphological similarities pose challenges to routine classification. METHODS: Using a high-density array, we genotyped 272 accessions encompassing all diploid species in section Arachis. Detailed relationships between accessions and species were revealed through phylogenetic analyses and interpreted using the expertise of germplasm collectors and curators. RESULTS: Two main groups were identified: one with A genome species and the other with B, D, F, G, and K genomes. Species groupings generally showed clear boundaries. Structure within groups was informative, for instance, revealing the history of the proto-domesticate A. stenosperma. However, some groupings suggested multiple sibling species. Others were polyphyletic, indicating the need for taxonomic revision. Annual species were better defined than perennial ones, revealing limitations in applying classical and phylogenetic species concepts to the genus. We suggest new species assignments for several accessions. CONCLUSIONS: Curated by germplasm collectors and curators, this analysis of species relationships lays the foundation for future species descriptions, classification of unknown accessions, and germplasm use for peanut improvement. It supports the conservation and curation of current germplasm, both critical tasks considering the threats to the genus posed by habitat loss and the current restrictions on new collections and germplasm transfer.