Browse publications by year: 2025

Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid and diacylglycerol on the crystallization behaviors of palm-based oil

Ke W, Lee YY, Tan CP, Li A, Zhang Y, Wang Y, et al.

Food Chem, 2025 Feb 01;464(Pt 2):141722.
PMID: 39442221 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141722

Diacylglycerol (DAG) is a novel functional structural lipid, but its application in base oils remains underexplored. This research investigated the effect of three liquid oils (groundnut oil, corn oil, and flaxseed oil), with varying polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (39.60, 69.50, and 77.65 %) and DAG content (0.00, 40.00, 80.00 %), on the crystallization behaviors of palm-based oil. DAG (40.00 %), obtained through enzymatic glycerolysis and molecular distillation, was found to stabilize the binary system with good compatibility and fine crystal structure. "Liquid" DAG played a dual role: diluting solid lipids, and promoting crystallization. Increasing DAG content led to larger crystalline domain size, while higher PUFA content accelerated crystallization and increased crystal orderliness, though decreasing crystal density. These results demonstrated the clear influence of PUFA and DAG content on palm-based oil crystallization. This knowledge can guide the utilization of different unsaturated DAGs for tailored fat crystallization in food application.

MeSH terms: Crystallization*; Plant Oils/chemistry
Gene Expression Profiling of Maslinic Acid-treated MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Using Nanostring nCounter Pancancer Pathway Panel

Tan SY, Foo CN, Ng FL, Tan CH, Lim YM

Gene, 2025 Jan 30;935:149043.
PMID: 39486662 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.149043

Breast cancer remains a significant global health concern, impacting millions of women every year. Maslinic acid (MA), a pentacyclic triterpene has been found to exert promising anticancer effect in various cancers, including breast cancer, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the anticancer properties of MA via gene expression profiles in breast cancer cells. Cytotoxicity assay results revealed that MCF-7 exerts the highest sensitivity after 72 h of MA treatment followed by T-47D and MDA-MB-231. MCF-7 were then selected for in-depth analysis using the Nanostring nCounter Pancancer Pathway Panel to analyze the differential expression of genes (DEGs). Across three time points (24, 48, and 72 h), 20 significant DEGs were identified, of which 5 were upregulated and 15 were downregulated. In silico analysis indicated that these DEGs were involved in Pathway of Cancer, Focal Adhesion-PI3K-mTOR Signaling Pathway, PI3K-Akt, and Ras Signaling Pathway. The regulation of these DEGs contributes to several cellular activities such as apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, cell cycle and survival, reduction of glycolysis, angiogenesis, and DNA repair. Additionally, the unfolded protein response emerged as a noteworthy biological process in this study. This study unravels the molecular mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic potential of MA against breast cancer.

MeSH terms: Female; Humans; Oleanolic Acid/analogs & derivatives; Apoptosis/drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; MCF-7 Cells
Liquid biopsy for renal cell carcinoma

Rajandram R, Suren Raj TL, Gobe GC, Kuppusamy S

Clin Chim Acta, 2025 Jan 15;565:119964.
PMID: 39265757 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119964

Liquid biopsies offer a less invasive alternative to tissue biopsies for diagnosis, prognosis, and determining therapeutic potential in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Unfortunately, clinical studies using liquid biopsy biomarkers in RCC are limited. Accordingly, we examine RCC biomarkers, derived from urine, plasma, serum and feces of potential impact and clinical outcome in these patients. A PRISMA checklist was used to identify valuable liquid biopsy biomarkers for diagnosis (plasma cfDNA, serum- or urine-derived circulating RNAs, exosomes and proteins), prognosis (plasma cfDNA, plasma- or serum-derived RNAs, and proteins), and therapeutic response (plasma- and serum-derived proteins). Although other analytes have been identified, their application for routine clinical use remains unclear. In general, panels appear more effective than single biomarkers. Important considerations included proof of reproducibility. Unfortunately, many of the examined studies were insufficiently large and lacked multi-center rigor. Cost-effectiveness was also not available. Accordingly, it is clear that more standardized protocols need to be developed before liquid biopsies can be successfully integrated into clinical practice in RCC.

MeSH terms: Humans
Reheating-induced gel properties change and flavor evolution of surimi-based seafood: Effects and mechanisms

Bao L, Yang R, Diao D, Tian F, Chen Y, Zheng B, et al.

Food Chem, 2025 Feb 01;464(Pt 1):141466.
PMID: 39406135 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141466

This study investigated the effect of different reheating treatments on gel properties and flavor changes of surimi products. As the reheating temperature increased from 90 °C to 121 °C, the heat-induced proteolysis produced more abundant umami and sweet amino acids, which took part in the conversion of IMP to AMP, thus enhancing the taste profiles. Reheating increased the exposure of active -NH2 terminals in proteins, which boosted Maillard and Strecker reactions with carbonyl compounds originated from fatty acid oxidation, thus not only reducing the aldehydes and esters contents but also lowering the whiteness of surimi products. Reheating at 90 °C prohibited the production of warmed-over flavor (WOF) and well-preserved the textural characteristics, but high temperatures ≥100 °C were prone to generate furan as the major WOF substance and to destroy gel structures. Collectively, this study provides new insights on understanding the role of reheating on sensory properties of surimi products.

MeSH terms: Amino Acids/analysis; Amino Acids/chemistry; Animals; Cooking; Flavoring Agents/chemistry; Hot Temperature; Humans; Taste*; Maillard Reaction; Seafood/analysis
Improved solubility and bioavailability of cyclolinopeptides by diacylglycerol in the β-cyclodextrin Pickering emulsions

Liu Z, Lee YY, Tan CP, Wang Y, Qiu C

Food Chem, 2025 Feb 01;464(Pt 1):141553.
PMID: 39406140 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141553

Cyclolinopeptides (CLs) have anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporosis, and anti-tumor effects, however, low water and oil solubility greatly limit their application. Herein, CLs-loaded β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) emulsions were prepared with different oil phases. The in vitro digestibility, cellular absorption, and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated. Camellia oil diacylglycerol (CO DAG) showed enhanced dissolving ability for CLs due to high polarity. β-CD formed inclusion complexes with DAG through hydrogen bond and the emulsions showed smaller size and higher physical stability with 50 % (w/w) oil. The in vitro digestibility of the DAG emulsion was increased and the CLs' bioavailability was 13.6-fold higher than CLs in oil. The CLs-loaded Pickering emulsion digesta exhibited a higher nitric oxides (NO) inhibition rate (58.62 %) and Caco-2 cell penetration (3.09 × 10-6 cm/s). Therefore, emulsion formulated with β-cyclodextrin and DAG can effectively improve the solubility and bioavailability of CLs, which has significant potential for application in functional foods and pharmaceutical industry.

MeSH terms: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry; Biological Availability*; Humans; Particle Size; Solubility*; Caco-2 Cells
Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Resource-Limited Settings

Beam M, Abdull Wahab SF, Ramos M

Med Clin North Am, 2025 Jan;109(1):313-324.
PMID: 39567101 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2024.06.005

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) bridges diagnostic gaps across the continuum of care worldwide and is a particularly potent tool in resource-limited settings (RLS). To capture the scope of its current impact in RLS, this narrative review of POCUS use in public health, primary care, outpatient specialty, pre-hospital, and palliative care settings discusses its use in reducing diagnostic health care inequities. Disease-specific protocols, longitudinal training, quality assurance, and task shifting are key to robust expansion of POCUS in RLS.

MeSH terms: Developing Countries; Health Resources; Humans; Primary Health Care; Point-of-Care Systems*
Recent advancements in xanthan gum-based gastroretentive floating formulations: Chemical modification, production and applications

Bhardwaj BY, Vihal S, Pahwa R, Agarwal S, Gupta B, Yang JC, et al.

Carbohydr Polym, 2025 Jan 15;348(Pt A):122809.
PMID: 39562084 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122809

Non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and bioadhesive, characteristics, of natural polysaccharides, are widely recognized and well accepted. Their usage in dietary, medicinal, biomedical, and cosmetic, applications is due to their unique and fascinating attributes. Xanthan gum, a microbial polysaccharide possesses diverse-wonderful features. It is a naturally occurring heteropolysaccharide, with large molecular weight, derived from the Gram-negative bacteria, Xanthomonas Campestris. This biopolymer has been studied extensively as a matrix for tablets, nanoparticles, microparticles, hydrogels, and various other formulation types. However, indigenous xanthan gum has its own set of restrictions, which may be overcome by chemical modification, to fine-tune the characteristics of the native gum, for attaining unmet demands. This approach has huge potential in the drug delivery and numerous other promising applications. The objective of this review is to provide a consolidated source of information on xanthan gum-based gastroretentive systems. Several approaches of floating techniques, with recent research avenues and patents, utilizing the natural polysaccharide xanthan gum is also discussed.

MeSH terms: Animals; Drug Carriers/chemistry; Drug Compounding/methods; Humans; Drug Delivery Systems; Xanthomonas campestris
Efficient encapsulation of a model drug in chitosan cathodic electrodeposition: Preliminary analysis using FTIR, UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopy

Nordin N, Zaini Ambia NFA, Majid SR, Abu Bakar N

Carbohydr Polym, 2025 Jan 15;348(Pt A):122830.
PMID: 39562104 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122830

This study investigates the preliminary efficacy of drug encapsulation in chitosan hydrogels by cathodic electrodeposition for the encapsulation of the aromatic dye methyl orange to enhance drug delivery in biological systems. Chitosan, a biocompatible and transparent polymer, is known for its ability to effectively encapsulate and transport therapeutic agents, which is critical for sustained and targeted drug release. Methyl orange was selected as a model drug to study the effects of deposition and immersion times on encapsulation efficiency. The effects of deposition and immersion times on encapsulation efficiency were analyzed by synthesizing multilayer hydrogels via electrochemical oxidation. Characterization techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, and NMR, were employed; FTIR indicated an effective absorption of 4.34 % for Td50Ti60, while UV-Vis showed 46.41 % at Td60Ti50. NMR analysis revealed effective concentrations of 0.47 mM for Td70Ti60 and 0.38 mM for Td60Ti50, indicating that longer immersion times enhance absorption. These findings provide a foundation for further studies aimed at optimizing drug delivery strategies and improving the therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated agents in biological applications.

MeSH terms: Drug Carriers/chemistry; Drug Compounding/methods; Electrodes; Electroplating/methods; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared/methods; Hydrogels/chemistry; Drug Liberation
Fulltext Unveiling active sites in FeOOH nanorods@NiOOH nanosheets heterojunction for superior OER and HER electrocatalysis in water splitting

Hua S, Shah SA, Nsang GEO, Sayyar R, Ullah B, Ullah N, et al.

J Colloid Interface Sci, 2025 Feb;679(Pt A):487-495.
PMID: 39374558 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.219

The development of cost-effective, highly active, and stable electrocatalysts for water splitting to produce green hydrogen is crucial for advancing clean and sustainable energy technologies. Herein, we present an innovative in-situ synthesis of FeOOH nanorods@NiOOH nanosheets on nickel foam (FeOOH@NiOOH/NF) at an unprecedentedly low temperature, resulting in a highly efficient electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. The optimized FeOOH@NiOOH/NF sample, evaluated through time-dependent studies, exhibits exceptional oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance with a low overpotential of 261 mV at a current density of 20 mA cm-2, alongside outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with an overpotential of 150 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, demonstrating excellent stability in alkaline solution. The water-splitting device featuring FeOOH@NiOOH/NF-2 electrodes achieves a voltage of 1.59 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, rivalling the state-of-the-art RuO2/NF||PtC/NF electrode system. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations unveil the efficient functionality of the Fe sites within the FeOOH@NiOOH heterojunction as the active OER catalyst, while the Ni centres are identified as the active HER sites. The enhanced performance of OER and HER is attributed to the tailored electronic structure at the heterojunction, modified magnetic moments of active sites, and increased electron density in the dx2-y2 orbital of Fe. This work provides critical insights into the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts for efficient water splitting.
The role of microalgal extracts and their combination with tamoxifen in the modulation of breast cancer immunotherapy (Review)

Al-Shajrawi OM, Tarawneh IAM, Tengku Din TADAADAA, Afolabi HA

Mol Clin Oncol, 2025 Jan;22(1):6.
PMID: 39559458 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2024.2801

Cancer is one of the deadliest health menaces humans have ever witnessed. It is a leading cause of human mortality. Today, it remains a main leading cause of death globally primarily due to lifestyle changes and population ageing. A total of ~12.7 million cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths were reported in 2008. In developing countries, cancer accounted for 56% of cases and 64% of deaths. Tamoxifen is the most reputable and recommended specific oestrogen receptor modulator drug used for the treatment of breast cancer. In the past decade, algae have demonstrated remarkable potency for advanced life applications. They can remain a focus of interest in the coming decades because they are one of the most diverse organisms in the entire ecosystem with immense bio nutritional benefits. Algae and their extracts play a pivotal role in the pharmaceutical industry as bioactive compounds and new drugs and nutraceutical industry as probiotics and antioxidants. However, a broad range of the health benefits of these organisms remains to be explored. The present review highlights the applications and co-application of microalgal crude extracts with tamoxifen for breast cancer immunotherapy. Given that recent studies have suggested that tamoxifen is an essential and primary treatment for breast cancer, the present review focused on the identification of a new treatment approach involving the co-application of tamoxifen and microalgal extracts to provide promising anticancer activity with few side effects on normal cells. The present review includes a general background and blueprint for the use of microalgal extracts as potential and affordable treatments or adjuncts for breast cancer management.
Fulltext Application of multiple linear regression model and long short-term memory with compartmental model to forecast dengue cases in Selangor, Malaysia based on climate variables

Lu X, Teh SY, Tay CJ, Abu Kassim NF, Fam PS, Soewono E

Infect Dis Model, 2025 Mar;10(1):240-256.
PMID: 39559512 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2024.10.007

Despite the implementation of various initiatives, dengue remains a significant public health concern in Malaysia. Given that dengue has no specific treatment, dengue prediction remains a useful early warning mechanism for timely and effective deployment of public health preventative measures. This study aims to develop a comprehensive approach for forecasting dengue cases in Selangor, Malaysia by incorporating climate variables. An ensemble of Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Susceptible-Infected mosquito vectors, Susceptible-Infected-Recovered human hosts (SI-SIR) model were used to establish a relation between climate variables (temperature, humidity, precipitation) and mosquito biting rate. Dengue incidence subject to climate variability can then be projected by SI-SIR model using the forecasted mosquito biting rate. The proposed approach outperformed three alternative approaches and expanded the temporal horizon of dengue prediction for Selangor with the ability to forecast approximately 60 weeks ahead with a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 13.97 for the chosen prediction window before the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia. Extended validation across subsequent periods also indicates relatively satisfactory forecasting performance (with MAPE ranging from 13.12 to 17.09). This research contributed to the field by introducing a novel framework for the prediction of dengue cases over an extended temporal range.
Chemical composition and pharmacological aspects of Malaysian stingless bee propolis: An up‑to‑date systematic review

Jusril NA, Mohd KS, Abd Mutalib N, Mohd Badiazaman AA

Biomed Rep, 2025 Jan;22(1):9.
PMID: 39559820 DOI: 10.3892/br.2024.1887

Propolis is a sticky substance produced by stingless bees for construction and defence of their hive. It has notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-hyperglycemic, and wound healing effects. The present review summarised and examined the phytochemical properties, mode of action and current research prospects of Malaysian propolis. A database search using Google Scholar, Web of Science and ScienceDirect generated 780 references; 30 relevant articles were included in the present review, of which 23 were in vitro studies and 7 were in vivo or animal studies. Propolis demonstrated antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic properties, indicating potential as a wound healing agent. Despite favourable findings, due to the scarcity of studies in the literature, more in-depth research and clinical validation on the synergistic effects, efficacy and optimum dosage of propolis are needed.
Benzofurans and dibenzofurans from galls on twigs of the endangered Chinese endemic tree Parrotia subaequalis and their inhibitory properties against Staphylococcus aureus and ATP-citrate lyase

Zhou PJ, Wu XY, Zhao ZY, Zang Y, Sun ZS, Li YL, et al.

Phytochemistry, 2025 Jan;229:114309.
PMID: 39427693 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114309

Parrotia subaequalis, an endangered Tertiary relict tree native to China and a member of the Hamamelidaceae family, is one of several host plant species in this family that exhibit unique ecological habits, such as gall formation. Tree galls are the results of complex interactions between gall-inducing insects and their host plant organs. The formation of galls may serve to protect other regions of the plant from potential damage, often through the production of phytoalexins. In this study, a preliminary investigation was carried out on the metabolites of the 90% MeOH extract derived from the closed spherical galls on the twigs of P. subaequalis. Consequently, nine previously undescribed benzofuran-type and dibenzofuran-type phytoalexins (parrotiagallols A-I, 1-9, respectively) were isolated and characterized, along with several known miscellaneous metabolites (10-17). Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, a combination of calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism data, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Among these compounds, 1 and 2 are identified as neolignan derivatives, while compounds 3-5 are classified as 9,10-dinorneolignans. Compound 6 represents a rare 2,3-seco-neolignan, and compounds 7-9 are dihydroxy-dimethyl-dibenzofuran derivatives. Parrotiagallol A (1) showed considerable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with an MIC value of 14 μM. Additionally, parrotiagallol E (5) and methyl gallate (17) exhibited inhibitory effects against ATP-citrate lyase (ACL), a potential therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia, with IC50 values of 5.1 and 9.8 μM, respectively. The findings underscore that galls not only serve as physical defense barriers but also benefit from the chemical defense system of the host plants. These insights provide avenues for exploring potential new therapeutic agents for S. aureus infections and ACL-related diseases, while also promoting scientific conservation strategies for P. subaequalis.

MeSH terms: China; Enzyme Inhibitors/isolation & purification; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology; Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Structure-Activity Relationship; Molecular Structure; Endangered Species; Dibenzofurans/isolation & purification; Dibenzofurans/pharmacology; Dibenzofurans/chemistry
Potential prebiotic properties and proliferation mechanism of fermented milk-derived polypeptides

Cheng L, Wang F, Guo Y, Du Q, Zeng X, Wu Z, et al.

Food Chem, 2025 Jan 15;463(Pt 3):141335.
PMID: 39316909 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141335

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential prebiotic properties and proliferation mechanism of fermented milk-derived peptides. In this study, fermented milk-derived polypeptides were obtained by extraction, separation, and purification. The purified peptides were used to culture fecal flora in vitro, and the relative abundance and composition of the flora were analyzed by high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The results showed that peptides can promote the proliferation of beneficial bacteria Lactococcus in the intestine and inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria Escherichia coli-Shigella. The amino acid sequence of polypeptide components was determined and synthesized in vitro to verify the proliferation of intestinal flora; the proliferation mechanism of peptides on Lactococcus lactis was studied using non-targeted LC-MS metabolomics technology. Five important peptides with molecular weights of 1000-2000 Da were identified by LC-MS: GRP1 (LTEEEK), GRP2 (ENDAPSPVM*K), GRP3 (ITVDDK), GRP4 (EAM*APK) and GRP5 (LPPPEK). The results showed that the peptides could affect the arginine biosynthesis pathway and the amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism of Lactococcus lactis. In addition, the peptides increased the expression of organic acids and their derivatives in Lactococcus lactis. This study provides a research basis for expanding the potential sources of new prebiotics and also opens up a new idea for discovering new prebiotics in vitro.

MeSH terms: Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Animals; Cattle; Feces/microbiology; Feces/chemistry; Fermentation; Humans; Milk/metabolism; Milk/microbiology; Milk/chemistry
Determination of pesticide residues in beans using QuEChERS technique coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: Multivariate optimization of CEN and AOAC methods

Abdulra'uf LB, Junaid AM, Lawal AR, Ibrahim HB, Tan GH

Food Chem, 2025 Jan 15;463(Pt 4):141464.
PMID: 39369599 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141464

The use of pesticides has led to environmental pollution and posed a global health risk, since they remain as residues on foods. Beans one of the most widely cultivated crop in Africa, and susceptible to attack by insects both on field and during storage, leading to the application of pesticides to control pests' infestation. However, misuse of these chemicals by farmers on beans has resulted in the rejection of beans exported to European countries, due to the presence of pesticide residues at concentrations higher than the maximum residues levels (MRLs). In this study, the effectiveness of the Association Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) Official Method and the European Committee of Standardization (CEN) Standard Method, were determined using multivariate approach for the analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues in 6 varieties of beans samples. The significance of factors (mass of sample, volume of acetonitrile, mass of magnesium sulphate, sample pH, centrifugation time and speed) affecting the efficiency of extraction was estimated using Plackett-Burman design, while central composite design was used to optimize the significant factors. The following optimum factors were subsequently used for method validation, recovery tests, and real sample analysis: 4 g of sample sludge (1:1 v/v), 10 mL of acetonitrile, 4.45 g of MgSO4, and 5 min of centrifugation at 5000 rpm. The figure of merit of analytical methodology estimated using matrix-matched internal standard calibration method gave linearity ranging from 0.25 to 500 μg/kg, with correlation coefficient (R2) greater than 0.99, the recovery ranged from 75.55 to 110.41 (RSD = 0.70-16.65), with LOD and LOQ of 0.23-1.77 μg/kg and 0.76-5.88 μg/kg, respectively.

MeSH terms: Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/analysis; Fabaceae/chemistry
Antinociceptive and antineuropathic effects of Trifolium resupinatum L. on formalin-induced nociception and cervical spinal cord hemi-contusion: Underlying Mechanisms

Jabbari S, Zakaria ZA, Mohammadi S

J Ethnopharmacol, 2025 Jan 30;337(Pt 2):118913.
PMID: 39369921 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118913

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Trifolium resupinatum L. (Fabaceae), known as Persian clover, ethnomedicinally used in Persian folk medicine to treat peritoneal inflammation, rheumatism, and back pain.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the antineuropathic and antinociceptive activities of Trifolium resupinatum leaves essential oil (TREO) in male Wistar rats, as well as to explore the potential mechanisms of action.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antinociceptive activity of TREO and its main constituents, quercetin (Qc) was assessed using the formalin-induced paw licking test. Moreover, the potential mechanisms of antinociception were evaluated through various competitive and non-competitive antagonisms. Additionally, the antineuropathic potential was investigated using the cervical spinal cord hemi-contusion (CCS) model, and the role of phosphorylated Stat-3 was analyzed using Western blotting.
RESULTS: TREO exerted significant antinociceptive activity (P

MeSH terms: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Formaldehyde*; Cyclic GMP/metabolism; Male; Nitric Oxide/metabolism; Plant Extracts/isolation & purification; Plant Extracts/pharmacology; Plant Extracts/chemistry; Quercetin/analogs & derivatives; Quercetin/isolation & purification; Quercetin/pharmacology; Spinal Cord Injuries/chemically induced; Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy; Spinal Cord Injuries/physiopathology; Potassium Channels/metabolism; Rats, Wistar*; Plant Leaves/chemistry; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism; TRPV Cation Channels/metabolism; Rats; Nociception/drug effects
Duckweed protein: Extraction, modification, and potential application

Sulaiman NS, Mohd Zaini H, Wan Ishak WR, Matanjun P, George R, Mantihal S, et al.

Food Chem, 2025 Jan 15;463(Pt 4):141544.
PMID: 39388881 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141544

Discovering alternative protein sources that are both nutritious and environmentally friendly is essential to meet the growing global population's needs. Duckweed offers promise due to its cosmopolitan distribution, rapid growth, high protein content, and scalability from household tanks to large lagoons without requiring arable land that competes for the major crops. Rich in essential amino acids, particularly branched-chain amino acids, duckweed supports human health. Extraction methods, such as ultrasound and enzymatic techniques, enhance protein yield compared to traditional methods. However, low protein solubility remains a challenge, addressed by protein modification techniques (physical, chemical, and biological) to broaden its applications. Duckweed proteins hold potential as functional food ingredients due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review also includes patents and regulations related to duckweed protein, filling a gap in current literature. Overall, duckweed presents a sustainable protein source with a lower environmental impact compared to conventional crops.

MeSH terms: Humans; Solubility
Eco-friendly encapsulation: Investigating plant-based protein-alginate shells for efficient delivery and digestion of hemp seed oil encapsulated via supercritical CO2 dispersion

Gholivand S, Tan TB, Yusoff MM, Qoms MS, Wang Y, Liu Y, et al.

Food Chem, 2025 Jan 15;463(Pt 4):141515.
PMID: 39395350 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141515

In this study, supercritical carbon dioxide solution-enhanced dispersion (SEDS) was used to encapsulate hemp seed oil (HSO) within matrices of hemp seed protein isolate (HPI), pea protein (PPI) and soy protein (SPI) (0.5 % w/v) in complex with alginate (AL) (0.01 % w/v). The effects of different pH levels (3-9), NaCl concentrations (0-200 mmol/L) and simulated gastrointestinal conditions on HSO release and digestion patterns were analyzed. The findings revealed that SPI/AL microcapsules effectively maintained structural integrity and controlled oil release across diverse pH levels and salt concentrations. During gastrointestinal phases, minimal oil release was observed during oral digestion (<25 % for all samples), while significant (P

MeSH terms: Capsules/chemistry; Digestion*; Drug Compounding; Hexuronic Acids/chemistry; Humans; Glucuronic Acid/chemistry
Sugarcane disease recognition through visible and near-infrared spectroscopy using deep learning assisted continuous wavelet transform-based spectrogram

Ong P, Jian J, Li X, Zou C, Yin J, Ma G

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc, 2025 Jan 05;324:125001.
PMID: 39180971 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.125001

Utilizing visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometrics methods has been widespread for identifying plant diseases. However, a key obstacle involves the extraction of relevant spectral characteristics. This study aimed to enhance sugarcane disease recognition by combining convolutional neural network (CNN) with continuous wavelet transform (CWT) spectrograms for spectral features extraction within the Vis-NIR spectra (380-1400 nm) to improve the accuracy of sugarcane diseases recognition. Using 130 sugarcane leaf samples, the obtained one-dimensional CWT coefficients from Vis-NIR spectra were transformed into two-dimensional spectrograms. Employing CNN, spectrogram features were extracted and incorporated into decision tree, K-nearest neighbour, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and random forest (RF) calibration models. The RF model, integrating spectrogram-derived features, demonstrated the best performance with an average precision of 0.9111, sensitivity of 0.9733, specificity of 0.9791, and accuracy of 0.9487. This study may offer a non-destructive, rapid, and accurate means to detect sugarcane diseases, enabling farmers to receive timely and actionable insights on the crops' health, thus minimizing crop loss and optimizing yields.

MeSH terms: Plant Diseases*; Discriminant Analysis; Least-Squares Analysis; Plant Leaves/chemistry; Wavelet Analysis*
Fulltext Evidence to support cultivated fruiting body of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Ascomycota)'s role in relaxing airway smooth muscle

Booi HN, Pang LY, Lee MK, Fung SY, Ng CL, Ng ST, et al.

J Ethnopharmacol, 2025 Jan 10;336:118727.
PMID: 39182700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118727

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) is a genus of Ascomycete fungus that is endemic to the alpine meadows of the Tibetan Plateau and adjoining Himalayas. It has been used traditionally as a tonic to improve respiratory health in ancient China as well as to promote vitality and longevity. Bioactive components found in O. sinensis such as adenosine, cordycepin, 3-deoxyadenosine, L-arginine and polysaccharides have gained increasing interest in recent years due to their antioxidative and other properties, which include anti-asthmatic, antiviral, immunomodulation and improvement of general health.
AIM OF THE STUDY: This study's primary aim was to investigate the effect of a cultivated fruiting body of O. sinensis strain (OCS02®) on airways patency and the secondary focus was to investigate its effect on the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cultivated strain, OCS02®, was employed and the metabolic profile of its cold-water extract (CWE) was analysed through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Organ bath approach was used to investigate the pharmacological properties of OCS02® CWE when applied on airway tissues obtained from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The airway relaxation mechanisms of OCS02® CWE were explored using pharmacological tools, where the key regulators in airway relaxation and constriction were investigated. For the longevity study, age-synchronised, pos-1 RNAi-treated wild-type type Caenorhabditis elegans at the L4 stage were utilised for a lifespan assay.
RESULTS: Various glycopeptides and amino acids, particularly a high concentration of L-arginine, were identified from the LC-MS analysis. In airway tissues, OCS02® CWE induced a significantly greater concentration-dependent relaxation when compared to salbutamol. The relaxation response was significantly attenuated in the presence of NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and several K+ channel blockers. The longevity effect induced by OCS02® CWE (5 mg/mL and above) was observed in C. elegans by at least 17%.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the airway relaxation mechanisms of OCS02® CWE involved cGMP-dependent and cGMP-independent nitric oxide signalling pathways. This study provides evidence that the cultivated strain of OCS02® exhibits airway relaxation effects which supports the traditional use of its wild O. sinensis in strengthening respiratory health.

MeSH terms: Animals; Hypocreales; Longevity/drug effects; Male; Muscle Relaxation/drug effects; Trachea/drug effects; Trachea/metabolism; Rats, Sprague-Dawley*; Rats

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