Whey Protein Sodium-Caseinate as a Deliverable Vector for EGCG: In Vitro Optimization of Its Bioaccessibility, Bioavailability, and Bioactivity Mode of Actions.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the principal catechin in green tea, exhibits diverse therapeutic properties. However, its clinical efficacy is hindered by poor stability and low bioavailability. This study investigated solid particle-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate (WPI) and sodium caseinate (NaCas) as carriers to enhance the bioavailability and intestinal absorption of EGCG. Molecular docking revealed binding interactions between EGCG and these macromolecules. The WPI- and NaCas-stabilized emulsions exhibited high encapsulation efficiencies (>80%) and significantly enhanced the bioaccessibility of EGCG by 64% compared to free EGCG after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Notably, the NaCas emulsion facilitated higher intestinal permeability of EGCG across Caco-2 monolayers, attributed to the strong intermolecular interactions between caseins and EGCG. Furthermore, the emulsions protected Caco-2 cells against oxidative stress by suppressing intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. These findings demonstrate the potential of WPI- and NaCas-stabilized emulsions as effective delivery systems to improve the bioavailability, stability, and bioactivity of polyphenols like EGCG, enabling their applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Adenosine monophosphate boosts the cryoprotection of ultrasound-assisted freezing to frozen surimi: Insights into protein structures and gelling behaviors.

Ultrasound-assisted freezing (UAF) is a clean technique for meat cryoprotections; however, its effectiveness is still limited compared to conventional cryoprotectants, e.g., sugars, polyols, especially at high dosages. To resolve this problem, a synergistic cryoprotection strategy was developed in this study. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP), an adenosine-type food additive, was introduced into frozen surimi at a considerably reduced content (0.08%), yet substantially enhanced the efficiency of UAF to comparable levels of commercial cryoprotectant (4% sucrose with 4% sorbitol). Specifically, UAF/AMP treatment retarded denaturation of surimi myofibrillar protein (MP) during 60-day frozen storage, as evidenced by its increased solubility, Ca2+-ATPase activity, sulfhydryl content, declined surface hydrophobicity, particle size, and stabilized protein conformation. Gels of UAF/AMP-treated surimi also demonstrated more stabilized microstructures, uniform water distributions, enhanced mechanical properties and water-holding capacities. This study provided a feasible approach to boost the cryoprotective performance of UAF, thus expanding its potential applications in frozen food industry.

Structure and surface properties of ozone-conjugated octenyl succinic anhydride modified waxy rice starch: Towards high-stable Pickering emulsion.

In the present work, a dual-modified waxy rice starch (OOWRS) fabricated with OSA and ozone was successfully used to stabilize the O/W Pickering emulsion. The molecular structure, surface properties, and underlying stabilizing mechanism were systematically investigated. The results showed that oxidation occurring on the surface of OSA-modified waxy rice starch (OSAWRS) resulted in the presence of indentations and cracks. The relative crystallinity of starch was generally decreased with increasing degree of oxidation. Due to the introduction of carbonyl and the variation in surface structure, the hydrophobicity and acidity of OSAWRS were significantly enhanced after the ozone treatment. Remarkably, OOWRS stabilized Pickering emulsion exhibited a feature of typical O/W emulsion, and the 0.5 h and 1 h OOWRS emulsion exhibited a more uniform droplet size as well as a higher surface potential. We also noted that a weak-gel network was formed within the OOWRS emulsion system as the hydrophilic starch chains played a bridging role. Two reasons for the improved stability of the emulsion were the special gel structure and the enhanced electrical repulsion among the droplets. This research provides that ozone-conjugated OSA modification is a promising strategy for improving the emulsion ability of starch-based Pickering emulsions.

Konjac glucomannan-assisted curcumin alleviated dextran sulfate sodium-induced mice colitis via regulating immune response and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity.

Curcumin has been proven to be an effective strategy for reducing inflammatory responses. However, low bioavailability and instability at the physiological pH have limited its anti-inflammatory activity in ulcerative colitis patients. In the present study, a complex of curcumin and konjac glucomannan (KGM) effectively inhibited intestinal inflammation and this effect was associated with KGM degradation degrees. Results demonstrated that treatment with the complex markedly mitigated colitis symptoms and decreased inflammatory cytokines levels, especially in the complex treatment groups with K110 (KGM treated in 110 °C) and konjac oligosaccharides (KOSs). Furthermore, increasing the KOS content in KOC (the complex of curcumin and KOS) promoted the gene expressions of the intestinal barrier and inhibited the gene expressions of inflammatory cytokines, as well as improved gut microbiota dysregulation. Overall, our studies suggest that the complex of curcumin and KGM exerts effective anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the intestinal immune response and modulating microbiota diversity and composition.

A critical review on inflammatory bowel diseases risk factors, dietary nutrients regulation and protective pathways based on gut microbiota during recent 5 years.

The treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) has become a worldwide problem. Intestinal flora plays an important role in the development and progression of IBDs. Various risk factors (psychology, living habits, dietary patterns, environment) influence the structure and composition of the gut microbiota and contribute to the susceptibility to IBDs. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview on risk factors regulating intestinal microenvironment which was contributed to IBDs. Five protective pathways related to intestinal flora were also discussed. We hope to provide systemic and comprehensive insights of IBDs treatment and to offer theoretical guidance for personalized patients with precision nutrition.

Senegalia macrostachya seed polysaccharides attenuate inflammation-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction in a Caco-2 and RAW264.7 macrophage co-culture model by inhibiting the NF-κB/MLCK pathway.

The intestinal barrier dysfunction associated with chronic inflammation is a major health concern. This work aimed to investigate the protective effect and molecular mechanism of Senegalia macrostachya seed polysaccharide fraction (SMSP2) on inflammation-induced barrier dysfunction using Caco-2 cells and RAW264.7 macrophage co-culture model. The results showed that LPS stimulation of the basolateral RAW264.7 compromised the integrity of the apical differentiated Caco-2 cells monolayer, resulting in decreased transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and increased inflammatory markers. SMSP2 apical treatment maintained a higher TER value and reduced the epithelial permeability to lucifer yellow (LY) dye. In addition, the SMSP2 group showed a significant decrease in the mRNA level of inflammatory factors such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the Caco-2 monolayer compared to the LPS group. Moreover, SMSP2 increased the expression of the tight junctions (TJ) zonula occludens (ZO-1), occludin, and claudin-1 at the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, the immunofluorescence assay showed that SMSP2 ameliorated the overall distribution of the TJ proteins in the Caco-2 monolayer. SMSP2 application also resulted in the downregulation of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) phosphorylation and the myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) expression, which implies that SMSP2 preserved the monolayer integrity from the inflammation-induced barrier disruption through the inhibition of the NF-kB-mediated MLCK signaling pathway activation. Senegalia macrostachya seeds could therefore be a promising functional food that could be used to improve intestinal barrier function.

Beyond particle stabilization of emulsions and foams: Proteins in liquid-liquid and liquid-gas interfaces.

In the early 20th century, Pickering and Ramsden revealed that solid particles could be utilized as emulsion stabilizers. Later, it was shown that particles can be used to aid in stablilization of foam as well. Differentiated from the emulsions/foams constructed by using surfactant agents, particle-stabilization offers significant advantages, such as better interfacial stability, non-toxicity, and less sensitive to environmental influences. Therefore, particle-stabilized foam and emulsion systems have the potential to gain more applications in the food, drug delivery, and cosmetic field. The internal mechanism and principle of particle stabilization interface have been clarified by introducing the classic mechanism of Pickering stabilization. By summarizing the additional/different effects of the protein, the relationship between the adaptive behavior of the protein in the interface and the protein structure has been explained. Furthermore, the functions of protein besides interface stabilization are introduced, such as encapsulation, taste masking and the catalytic properties of Pickering particles. Finally, deep thinking was triggered based on the existing research foundation, a new concept of "edible capillary foam" was proposed, and a new outlook was made. It is anticipated that the perception acquired from the current intense activity in this field will help researchers to reform existing materials and invent additional formulations, facilitating the exploration of additional engineering applications.

Evaluation of the effect of prebiotic sesame candies on loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal tract symptoms. In this study, prebiotic sesame sugar (PSC) was prepared from isomalto-oligosaccharide, konjac glucomannan and sesame, and the relieving effect of PSC on constipation induced by loperamide was explored. The results showed that PSC treatment profoundly improved the defecation function and boosted intestinal motility. Moreover, PSC repaired gastrointestinal tissue injury and inflammation induced by constipation, which confirmed the effectiveness of PSC intervention in the treatment of constipation. The mechanism of PSC improving constipation might be that PSC improved the imbalance of gastrointestinal neurotransmitters and increased the content of short-chain fatty acids in feces. In conclusion, PSC dietotherapy could effectively alleviate the symptoms and lay a theoretical foundation for the development of an anti-constipation diet.

Preparation and characterization of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and deacetylated KGM (Da-KGM) obtained by sonication.

BACKGROUND: Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has been widely applied in the food industry as a thickening and gelation agent because of its unique colloidal properties of viscosity enhancement and gelling ability. The current study aimed to prepare and characterize KGM and deacetylated KGM (Da-KGM) samples obtained by sonication in neutral and alkali ethanol-water solutions. RESULTS: The results showed that the deacetylation degree (DD) of Da-KGM increased exponentially with alkali concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry further confirmed the deacetylation reaction through the dramatic decrease in the acetyl group band at 1740 cm-1 . Besides, the high similarity among the tested groups in terms of X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra implied a similar crystalline structure, while differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves revealed that the water binding capacity and decomposition temperature of KGM changed slightly with alkali and sonication treatment. The rheological profiles indicated that apparent viscosity (η0 ) of sonicated KGM samples was unchanged except for the T60 group (60 min sonication treatment). Particularly, ultrasonic treatment under high alkaline conditions (0.10 mol L-1 NaOH) was noted to promote the deacetylation reaction, and the obtained samples showed decreased apparent viscosity and weakened the gelation process in aqueous solution. Partial correction analysis indicated that alkali rather than ultrasonic treatment resulted in the change of DD and η0 in Da-KGM. Moreover, sonication contributed to off-white color by reducing the browning caused by alkali in Da-KGM products. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-mediated heterogeneous deacetylation reaction is a feasible way to prepare Da-KGM samples with lightened browning and controllable DD. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Probiotic Supplements: Their Strategies in the Therapeutic and Prophylactic of Human Life-Threatening Diseases.

Chronic diseases and viral infections have threatened human life over the ages and constitute the main reason for increasing death globally. The rising burden of these diseases extends to negatively affecting the economy and trading globally, as well as daily life, which requires inexpensive, novel, and safe therapeutics. Therefore, scientists have paid close attention to probiotics as safe remedies to combat these morbidities owing to their health benefits and biotherapeutic effects. Probiotics have been broadly adopted as functional foods, nutraceuticals, and food supplements to improve human health and prevent some morbidity. Intriguingly, recent research indicates that probiotics are a promising solution for treating and prophylactic against certain dangerous diseases. Probiotics could also be associated with their essential role in animating the immune system to fight COVID-19 infection. This comprehensive review concentrates on the newest literature on probiotics and their metabolism in treating life-threatening diseases, including immune disorders, pathogens, inflammatory and allergic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, and COVID-19 infection. The recent information in this report will particularly furnish a platform for emerging novel probiotics-based therapeutics as cheap and safe, encouraging researchers and stakeholders to develop innovative treatments based on probiotics to prevent and treat chronic and viral diseases.

Role of green tea nanoparticles in process of tea cream formation - A new perspective.

Green tea nanoparticles (gTNPs) are considered as the precursors of tea cream, while the role of gTNPs in the process of tea cream formation remains obscure. This study indicated that gTNPs could be coated with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-caffeine (CAF) complexes to form a ternary aggregate participating in tea cream formation. First, the ζ-potentials of gTNPs and EGCG-CAF complexes were adjusted by charge screening. Then, gTNPs were introduced into EGCG + CAF mixture solutions under different ζ-potential conditions to examine their effect on turbidity, particle size and components of mixture solutions. Finally, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was applied to investigate the influence of gTNPs on the thermal effects of the interaction between EGCG and CAF. Our results reveal that hydrophobic interaction exceeded electrostatic repulsion to dominate the interaction between gTNPs and EGCG-CAF complexes at the low ζ-potential condition, thus forming the gTNPs/EGCG/CAF ternary aggregate.

Encapsulation of tangeretin in PVA/PAA crosslinking electrospun fibers by emulsion-electrospinning: Morphology characterization, slow-release, and antioxidant activity assessment.

In this work, water-resistant poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) electrospun fibers encapsulating tangeretin (Tan) were fabricated by emulsion-electrospinning. To optimize the electrospinning condition, the size and morphology of electrospun fibers were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), optical light microscope, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The optimized initial concentration of PVA/PAA was 10% (w/w) with a mass ratio of 3:7. The time and temperature of optimized thermal crosslinking treatment were 2 h and 145 °C, respectively. The results of XRD and SEM showed that the Tan was successfully incorporated into smooth PVA/PAA electrospun fibers and those fibers possessed nano-diameter size and high porosity. The encapsulation of Tan had no significant impact on the antioxidant activity of PVA/PAA/Tan crosslinking electrospun fibers. The in vitro release test showed the PVA/PAA/Tan crosslinking electrospun fibers achieved durable release profiles and lower burst release rates than that from the pure Tan emulsion. Based on these results, it is concluded that PVA/PAA/Tan crosslinking electrospun fibers prepared by emulsion-electrospinning serve as a promising technique in the fields of water-insoluble drug delivery and slow-release.

Facile in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles on tannic acid/zein electrospun membranes and their antibacterial, catalytic and antioxidant activities.

This study demonstrates the development of biocompatible Ag nanoparticles/Tannic acid/Zein electrospun membranes with synergistic antibacterial, catalytic and antioxidant activity. The optimal spinning concentration of zein was 32 wt%. The prepared zein electrospun membranes were immersed into tannic acid (TA) solution to investigate the effects of TA concentrations, pH, temperature and time on the loading amount of TA. Then, the TA/Zein electrospun membranes were immersed into a silver nitrate solution to reduce the AgNPs in situ. The morphology of the electrospun membranes was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UV-visible spectrophotometer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to carry out the loading amount of TA and Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). Finally, the antioxidant, antibacterial and catalytic activity of TA/Zein and AgNPs/TA/Zein electrospun membranes were studied. It was found that the AgNPs/TA/Zein electrospun membranes with different TA concentrations have certain antibacterial, antioxidation and catalytic ability, which may be of interest for the development of active packaging that could extend the shelf life of perishable foods.

The noncovalent conjugations of bovine serum albumin with three structurally different phytosterols exerted antiglycation effects: A study with AGEs-inhibition, multispectral, and docking investigations.

The antiglycation effects of three structurally different phytosterols (PS) including stigmasterol, ß-sitosterol, and γ-oryzanol on bovine serum albumin (BSA) were deeply studied in a BSA-glucose model by measuring the glycoxidation-based products, SDS-PAGE intensity, free lysine, and their fluorescence microscopy clicks. For the first time, the underlying mechanisms of the antiglycation effects of PS were wholly elucidated by measuring their interaction ability with BSA and their antiradical activity during the glycation reactions. The results showed that PS could partially inhibit the formation of advance glycation end products, block some of the lysyl residues of BSA (Lys127, 357, 434, and 524), prevent the glucose-BAS bonding, and their disaggregation effects on the glycated BSA. Throughout the underlying mechanism behind the antiglycation activity, PS were found to structurally quench the fluorescence intensity of BSA in a static mode, leading to fluctuations in its Z-average size, UV-vis spectrum, and secondary structure. Additionally, PS mitigated the formation the advanced glycation end products by scavenging the radicals produced during the glycation reactions. Overall, these results unleash that PS prevent the glycation reactions and their subsequent changes through shielding the NH2 groups via H-bonding with their OH-groups and pi-pi interaction of the steroid core, besides the antiradical activity of PS on the free radicals generating during the glycation reactions.

Characteristic of interaction mechanism between ß-lactoglobulin and nobiletin: A multi-spectroscopic, thermodynamics methods and docking study.

Nobiletin (Nob) is a major component among the most reported polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), which possesses multiple efficacious healthcare activities. Owing to its high melting point and poor water solubility, the oral bioavailability of Nob needs to be improved via loading Nob on carriers. To take full advantage of Nob, the interaction mechanism between Nob and vehicles should be clarified. Herein, ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) was selected as the vehicle and further investigated the binding mechanism between Nob and ß-LG. The binding stoichiometry of complex was found to be 1:1 by analysis of intrinsic fluorescence experiment. The results also confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurement that the binding behavior between ß-LG and Nob was a spontaneously endothermic process driving mainly by hydrophobic interaction. Moreover, competitive binding and molecular docking method indicated the Nob was primary bound to internal calyx of ß-LG at neutral pH. UV spectrophotometry revealed that the solubility of Nob was enhanced to 3 times by forming complex. Furthermore, Nob could alter secondary structure of ß-LG by a transition from α-helix to ß-sheet and lead to small increase on surface hydrophobicity of ß-LG. This work will provide some valuable information on clarifying the interaction between protein and PMFs, which contributing to improve the poor bioavailability of PMFs.

Foaming Properties and Linear and Nonlinear Surface Dilatational Rheology of Sodium Caseinate, Tannin Acid, and Octenyl Succinate Starch Ternary Complex.

In this paper, the foaming and surface properties of sodium caseinate (SC), sodium caseinate/tannin acid (SC/TA), sodium caseinate/octenyl succinate starch (SC/OSA-starch), and sodium caseinate/tannin acid/octenyl succinate starch (SC/TA/OSA-starch) complex systems are described. First, foaming properties of different samples were compared at pH 6.0. The interface adsorption and linear surface dilatational rheological of different samples were characterized in the linear viscoelastic region to explore the relationship between macroscopic foaming properties and surface properties. At equal protein concentrations, the foamability and foam stability of the SC/TA/OSA-starch complex was markedly higher than that of the SC/TA complex. Meanwhile, the surface properties of the SC/TA/OSA-starch complex were also superior to those of the SC/TA complex. Finally, to investigate the nonlinear surface dilatational rheological behavior of the air/water interface stabilized by complex systems, the large-amplitude oscillatory dilatational rheology and Lissajous plots were studied. For the SC/TA/OSA-starch complex, the OSA-starch increases the degree of strain softening in extension, suggesting that the surface structure may change from a surface gel to a mixed phase of SC/TA patches and OSA-starch domains. These findings indicate that the complex formed between polyphenols, proteins, and polysaccharides could be used as a good alternative to understand and, consequently, improve the surface and foaming properties in food matrices.

Partial removal of acetyl groups in konjac glucomannan significantly improved the rheological properties and texture of konjac glucomannan and κ-carrageenan blends.

The main aim of the current study was to research the effect of the degree of konjac deacetylation on the rheological and textural properties of konjac glucomannan (KGM) and κ-carrageenan blends. A series of deacetylated konjac glucomannan (Da-KGM) with different degrees of deacetylation (0, 20.35%, 35.62%, 57.19%, and 74.01%) was prepared by a heterogeneous deacetylation method. The rheological and textural properties of mixed sols and gels of Da-KGM with different degrees of deacetylation and κ-carrageenan were determined. The results showed that the viscosities of mixed sols of Da-KGM and κ-carrageenan decreased with increasing degree of deacetylation. The partial removal of acetyl groups from konjac glucomannan could significantly improve the hardness and springiness of mixed gels of KGM and κ-carrageenan. Meanwhile, decreasing the acetyl content could decrease the syneresis of mixed gels. By regulating the deacetylation degree of konjac, gels with high gel strength could be prepared, which provides a new idea for the production of high-strength gelatin food.

Bulk, Foam, and Interfacial Properties of Tannic Acid/Sodium Caseinate Nanocomplexes.

For this work, the aim was to investigate the adsorption of the tannic acid (TA)/sodium caseinate (SC) nanocomplexes at the air/water interface and then to research its relationship with foam properties. First, nanocomplexes were prepared in a different mass ratio of TA and SC. The bulk behavior of nanocomplexes was evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), signal-intensifying fluorescence probe (ANS), etc. As the concentration of TA increased, the z-average siameter ( D z) of TA/SC nanocomplexes decreased gradually and the negative charge increased. Meanwhile, the surface hydrophobicity ( So) of the SC also decreased after the addition of TA. The interfacial properties were determined by dynamic surface tension and dilational rheology. The presence of polyphenols decreased the surface pressure (π) that resulted in poor foamability. However, the elastic ( Ed) component of the dilational modulus of films also increased as polyphenols concentration increased, which gave rise to admirable foam stability. The contribution of polyphenols to stabilize foam columns may be caused by interfacial interaction between proteins and polyphenols.

Enhancement of antioxidant and antibacterial properties for tannin acid/chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles filled electrospinning films: Surface modification of sliver nanoparticles.

The tannin acid/chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles were encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/poly-acrylic acid (PAA) electrospinning films by electrostatic spinning technology. To optimize the prepared condition, properties and morphology of nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The optimized initial concentration of tannin, chitosan and tripolyphosphate solutions were 1, 1, 0.5mg/ml, respectively, with adding proportion for 5:5:1. The average diameter of tannin acid/chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles was ∼80nm. The electrospinning films showed an excellent water-resistant property with 0.5wt%N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA). Due to the antioxidant and antibacterial of tannic acid, the films possessed these properties. The antioxidant and antibacterial of these fibers significantly improved after in situ formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Electrospun films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).