Quantifying chemical correlations between fruits and processed fruit products: A non-targeted analysis approach.

Juices and beverages are produced by industry for long-distance distribution and shelf-stability, providing valuable nutrients. However, their nutritional value is often underestimated due to insufficient analytical methods. We have employed non-targeted analysis through a standardized analytical protocol, taking advantage of Data Independent Acquisition (DIA) technique and a novel Chromatographic Retention Behavior (CRB) data deconvolution algorithm. After analyzing 9 fruits and their products, correlations between fruits and their juices are accurately digitalized by similarities of their LC-MS fingerprints. We also specify non-targeted molecules primarily associate with nutrient loss in these analyzed juice products, including nitrogenous nutrients, flavonoids, glycosides, and vitamins. Moreover, we unveiled previously unreported fruit-characteristic metabolites, of which reconstituted-from-concentrate (RFC) juices contain over 40% of the content found in their fresh counterparts. Conclusively, our method establishes a quantitative benchmark for rational selection of RFC juices to substitute natural fruits.

Biogenic Solution Map Based on the Definition of the Metabolic Correlation Distance between 4-Dimensional Fingerprints.

Accurate discrimination and classification of unknown species are the basis to predict its characteristics or applications to make correct decisions. However, for biogenic solutions that are ubiquitous in nature and our daily lives, direct determination of their similarities and disparities by their molecular compositions remains a scientific challenge. Here, we explore a standard and visualizable ontology, termed "biogenic solution map", that organizes multifarious classes of biogenic solutions into a map of hierarchical structures. To build the map, a novel 4-dimensional (4D) fingerprinting method based on data-independent acquisition data sets of untargeted metabolomics is developed, enabling accurate characterization of complex biogenic solutions. A generic parameter of metabolic correlation distance, calculated based on averaged similarities between 4D fingerprints of sample groups, is able to define "species", "genus", and "family" of each solution in the map. With the help of the "biogenic solution map", species of unknown biogenic solutions can be explicitly defined. Simultaneously, intrinsic correlations and subtle variations among biogenic solutions in the map are accurately illustrated. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that samples of the same analyte but prepared by alternative protocols may have significantly different metabolic compositions and could be classified into different "genera".

Effects of Auricularia auricula Polysaccharides on Gut Microbiota Composition in Type 2 Diabetic Mice.

In previous studies, Auriculariaauricula polysaccharides (AAP) has been found to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus, but its mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we sought to demonstrate that AAP achieves remission by altering the gut microbiota in mice with type 2 diabetes. We successfully constructed a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozotocin (STZ), following which fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and oral glucose tolerance test (OTGG) were observed to decrease significantly after 5 weeks of AAP intervention. Furthermore, AAP enhanced the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) to alleviate the oxidative stress injury. AAP-M (200 mg/kg/d) displayed the best improvement effect. Moreover, 16S rRNA results showed that AAP decreased the abundance of Firmicutes and increased that of Bacteroidetes. The abundance of beneficial genera such as Faecalibaculum, Dubosiella, Alloprevotella, and those belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae was increased due to the intake of AAP. AAP could reduced the abundance of Desulfovibrio, Enterorhabdus, and Helicobacter. In all, these results suggest that AAP can improve the disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism by regulating the structure of the gut microbiota.

Hypoglycemic effects of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides on high fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice using metabolomics analysis.

This study evaluated the hypoglycemic effect of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides (AAPs) on streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice using metabolomic analysis. The results of fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, fasting serum insulin level, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance index, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and histopathological observation demonstrated that 200 mg per kg body weight per day AAP led to significant hypoglycemic activities. The metabolic profile of the mice was significantly changed after AAP intervention. 45 differential metabolites were screened as biomarkers for AAP adjuvant treatment, and AAPs' effects on the metabolism of amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, bile acids, and glycerophospholipids were analyzed. Thus, the current results elucidated the metabolic pathway of AAPs for T2DM alleviation and provided guidance for functional food adjuvant development for T2DM treatment.