The Nexus of Gut Microbiota, Diet, and Health

The gut microbiome incorporates the ecological niche specific to the totality of the microorganisms in the human gut. Unique to every individual, the blueprint of the microbiome sets up at birth and functions as a human organ and plays a significant role in digestion, detoxification, fighting pathogens, modulating the immune system, and improving health. The gut microbiota and associated health implications are influenced by factors such as birth and age, diseases, use of antibiotics and food components (e.g., complex carbohydrates and dietary fibers, plant proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, and functional compounds of natural origin such as flavones, flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants). Toward this end, diet and the gut microbiome interact and govern each other’s fate. Herein, gut dysbiosis, the alteration of natural state and composition of the gut microbiome, and the gut microflora diversity modulated by food constituents and associated health effects have been discussed. The gut microbiota composition and related metabolites are influenced by the diet which in turn modulates human health. The outcome is deemed to aid in developing personalized diet recommendations (based on the unique gut microbiome) toward improving human health

A Review on Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles as Efficient and Effective Antidiabetic Agents

The frontiers of nanomedicine are consistently being challenged by the gradually expanding knowledge of the properties of nanoparticles. Toward this end, biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles utilizing natural compounds in plants as reducing and capping agents grabbed considerable attention, in lieu of synthetic hazardous physical and chemical techniques. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has proven safe and effective in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. Currently, biogenic silver nanoparticles have gained importance as safe and efficient antiglycation agents. Therapeutic strategies by employing nanomedicines from natural sources have been initiated to end the limitations of currently available medications for the treatment of various disorders, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and hepatitis. This article highlights the medicinal efficacy of silver nanoparticles synthesized from different plant extracts for their antidiabetic potential characterized through various in vivo and in vitro assays and unravels their unique properties. This article also focuses on the signaling pathways linked to type II diabetes and the demand for nanomedicine and greener pathways for future pharmacological industries

Editorial: \u3cem\u3eResearch Advances of Modification and Nutrition Properties of Food Carbohydrates, Volume I\u3c/em\u3e

As a group of essential biopolymers, carbohydrates exist widely in living organisms and play many known and unknown biological roles in life activities via different pathways. Carbohydrates are widely used in foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and biomaterials, to name a few. Parallelly, a growing understanding and deeper investigation drive the development of natural carbohydrates for novel applications, especially for treating chronic diseases, e.g., hyperlipidemia, obesity, and diabetes. The emerging evidence indicates that carbohydrates are effective for modulating gut microbiota, a vital organ in health and diseases. In addition, modifying carbohydrates alters and/or enhances nutrition properties, further expanding their application potential. Notably, the nutritional properties of carbohydrates depend on their chemical structures and chain conformations. Thus, structural identification of carbohydrates and their derivatives helps expand their food, pharmaceutical, and related applications. To this end, a Research Topic entitled “Research Advances of Modification and Nutrition Properties of Food Carbohydrates” was launched by Frontiers in Nutrition, Food Chemistry (Frontiers) to provide a forum for researchers to disseminate their latest research findings on starch, non-starch polysaccharides, dietary fiber, pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and other food components. A total of 16 manuscripts from various countries were submitted, of which 12 were accepted for publication after the peer review, including two reviews and 10 research articles

A Novel Superabsorbent Material Based on Soybean Straw: Synthesis and Characterization

A novel superabsorbent copolymer (SAP) was developed by grafting acrylic acid onto the pretreated soybean straw (PSBS) using gamma-ray irradiation. The structure of soybean straw, treated soybean straw, and SAP were characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo- gravimetric analysis (TG), and scanning electron micro- scopy (SEM). The effect of irradiation dose, the dosage of cross-link agent, and the monomer ratio of the graft copolymer on the water absorbency of the SAP was inves- tigated. The highest water absorbency of 1,489 g/g in dis- tilled water and 56 g/g in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution was obtained, when the ratio of acrylic acid (AA) to PSBS was 6:1. This irradiation technique is superior to tradi- tional methods with advantages such as less heavy pollu- tion, low-energy consumption, and high-water retention performance. The outcome is deemed to open up new pathways to synthesize environmentally safe superabsor- bents with applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and medical industrie

X-ray structural characterization of dicyclohexylammonium chloride and its conversion to bromo-, iodo- and hexafluorophosphate derivatives

47-4

Antioxidant and anti-dyslipidemic effects of polysaccharidic extract from sea cucumber processing liquor

Sea cucumber is a seafood of high nutritional value. During its processing, sea cucumber processing liquor is routinely produced, which is usually discarded as waste. The chemical composition of this processing liquor is similar to sea cucumbers themselves. Hence, valuable ingredients, such as functional polysaccharides, could be obtained from them. Results Biologically active polysaccharides from sea cucumber processing liquor were extracted through protease hydrolysis and electroosmosis. The analysis revealed that the polysaccharide extract from sea cucumber processing liquor (PESCPL) is predominantly composed of mannose, in addition to some glucose and fucose. The antioxidant activity of PESCPL was analyzed using in vitro. It was demonstrated that PESCPL could effectively scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion radicals. The effect of PESCPL was investigated in vivo by using mice model fed with high-fat diets with/without PESCPL supplement. It was shown that PESCPL could increase the catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in the serum and decrease serum malonaldehyde content. Furthermore, mice fed with PESCPL diet showed a considerable decrease in the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Conclusions Our research highlights that PESCPL is a natural antioxidant and could be utilized as a therapeutic supplement for dyslipidemia

Antioxidant and anti-dyslipidemic effects of polysaccharidic extract from sea cucumber processing liquor

Background: Sea cucumber is a seafood of high nutritional value. During its processing, sea cucumber processing liquor is routinely produced, which is usually discarded as waste. The chemical composition of this processing liquor is similar to sea cucumbers themselves. Hence, valuable ingredients, such as functional polysaccharides, could be obtained from them. Results: Biologically active polysaccharides from sea cucumber processing liquor were extracted through protease hydrolysis and electroosmosis. The analysis revealed that the polysaccharide extract from sea cucumber processing liquor (PESCPL) is predominantly composed of mannose, in addition to some glucose and fucose. The antioxidant activity of PESCPL was analyzed using in vitro. It was demonstrated that PESCPL could effectively scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion radicals. The effect of PESCPL was investigated in vivo by using mice model fed with high-fat diets with/without PESCPL supplement. It was shown that PESCPL could increase the catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in the serum and decrease serum malonaldehyde content. Furthermore, mice fed with PESCPL diet showed a considerable decrease in the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Conclusions: Our research highlights that PESCPL is a natural antioxidant and could be utilized as a therapeutic supplement for dyslipidemia

Biodegradable Packaging Films From Banana Peel Fiber

Plastics are the most popular choice for packaging materials due to their strength, flexibility, and affordability. Their non-biodegradability, however, is an environmental concern and a serious human health issue that necessitates the development of sustainable and biodegradable alternatives. Towards this end, lignocellulosic residue from biowaste stands out as a viable option due to its robust structure, biocompatibility, biodegradability, low density, and non-toxicity. Herein, the lignocellulosic fiber from banana peel was extracted by alkali and bleaching treatment, solubilized in 68% ZnCl2 solution, and crosslinked through a series of Ca2+ ion concentrations, and films prepared. Results suggest that increasing Ca2+ ions concentration significantly increases the film\u27s tensile strength but decreases moisture content, transparency, moisture absorption, water solubility, water vapor permeability, and percentage elongation. Films have a half-life of 15.26–20.72 days and biodegrade more than 50% of their weight within 3 weeks at a soil moisture of 21%. Overall, banana peel fiber could aid in designing and developing biodegradable films and offer a sustainable solution to limit the detrimental effects of plastics