Effect of topical application of two Polygala tenuifolia species decoction on guinea pig skin

Purpose: To investigate the effect of the topical decoction of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. and Polygala sibirica L. on a guinea pig model of sore and ulcer.Method: A guinea pig model of sore and ulcer was produced by Staphylococcus aureus, and 80 guinea pigs were evenly divided into eight groups, consisting of five males and five females in each group. Another 10 (5 male and 5 female) guinea pigs were used as the control group. The corresponding liquid medicine was applied to the ulcer site of the animals in each group, and administered the medicine for 6h daily with a continuous applicator for 12 d. Lysozyme content in serum was measured to determine its effects on body tissue morphology.Results: Compared with the control group, the sore skin score of guinea pigs in each dose group of decoction of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. and Polygala sibirica L. was significantly decreased. The skin showed apparent positive pathological changes and serum lysozyme concentration increased significantly (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Decoctions of the two Polygala tenuifolia species exert a good therapeutic effect on the guinea pig model of sore and ulcer for topical use.Keywords: Polygala species, Topical application, Guinea pig, Skin diseases, Lysozyme, Decoctio

Purification and characterization of three laccase isozymes from the white rot fungus Trametes sp. HS-03

Three laccase isozymes (LacI, LacII and LacIII) were isolated from the culture supernatant solution of Trametes sp. HS-03. Diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-sepharose fast flow anion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 size-exclusion chromatography was performed to achieve electrophoretic homogeneity. The molecular masses (64.2, 60.7 and 38.9 kDa), isoelectric points [pIs (7.3, 4.7 and 3.5), and N-terminal amino acid sequences (G-I-G-P-V, A-I-G-P-T and S-I-G-P-V) were found to be different for the three laccase isozymes. LacI and II have similar thermostability, while LacIII showed better thermostability. LacIII also showed optimal activity at 80°C, with a half-life of 125 min at 70°C. The pI-value of LacI and the molecular mass of LacIII differ significantly from previously described fungal laccases.Keywords: Trametes sp. HS-03, laccase isozymes, purification, characterizatio

Effect of superfine grinding on physicochemical and antioxidant properties of soybean residue powder

Soybean residue is an underutilized, nutrient-rich by-product of soybean processing. To enhance its value, we subjected soybean residue to superfine grinding and measured the resulting physiochemical properties and antioxidant activities. We prepared powders with particle sizes of 115.35, 77.93, 39.38, 25.01, and 20.44 μm. As particle size decreased, the surface area (from 96.46 to 198.32 m2/kg) and swelling capacity (from 2.05 to 10.62 ml/g) increased. Conversely, we observed decreases in the surface-number mean (from 23.07 to 11.20 μm), volume-surface mean (from 141.70 to 27.96 μm), angles of repose (from 48.30° to 31.46°), water holding capacity (from 7.86 to 4.39 g/g), and oil binding capacity (from 1.78 to 1.42 g/g). The water solubility index and antioxidant activity (reducing power and free radical scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid)) improved as particle size decreased. In conclusion, superfine grinding improved some properties of soybean residue. Additionally, our findings provide theoretical support for using superfine grinding in industrial food applications

Effect of Two Different Polysaccharides on the Stability of Emulsion Formed by Rapeseed Oil Bodies

In order to improve the stability of emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies under different environmental conditions. The soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) with negative electric charge and konjac glucomannan (KGM) without electric charge were used to form the emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies. Laser scattering particle analyzer and microscope were used to analyze the particle size and observe the microstructure of rapeseed oil body emulsions. The stability of emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies with two different polysaccharides under different environment stresses (pH, salt concentrations and heat treatments) was investigated, and the emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies without polysaccharide were used as control. The results of experiment showed that the particle of emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies decreased along with the increase of SSPS and KGM concentrations. In addition to pH2.0, the particle size of emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies without polysaccharide at different pH was significantly higher (P0.05) for the particle size of emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies without polysaccharide at different salt concentrations, the particle size was significantly higher (P0.05) on the particle size of emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies with SSPS. Comprehensive above results, KGM and SSPS can significantly improve the stability of the emulsions of rapeseed oil bodies, SSPS shows a better effect

High-Density Mapping of an Adult-Plant Stripe Rust Resistance Gene YrBai in Wheat Landrace Baidatou Using the Whole Genome DArTseq and SNP Analysis

Stripe rust, caused by the biotrophic fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most widespread and destructive wheat diseases worldwide. Growing resistant cultivars is an effective approach for controlling this disease. However, because host resistance genes were easily overcome by new virulent Pst races, there is a continuous demand for identifying new effective wheat stripe rust resistance genes and develop closely linked markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS). Baidatou, an old Chinese wheat landrace, has been grown for several decades in Longnan region, Gansu Province, where stripe rust epidemics are frequent and severe. In our previous study, a single dominant gene YrBai in Baidatou was identified to control the adult-plant resistance (APR) to Chinese prevalent Pst race CYR33. And the gene was located on wheat chromosome 6DS by four polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) and two sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers, with the genetic distances of two closely linked markers 3.6 and 5.4 cM, respectively. To further confirm the APR gene in Baidatou and construct the high-density map for the resistance gene, adult plants of F1, F2, F3, and F5:6 populations derived from the cross Mingxian169/Baidatou and two parents were inoculated with CYR33 at Yangling field, Shaanxi Province during 2014–2015, 2015–2016, and 2016–2017 crop seasons, respectively. The field evaluation results indicated that a single dominant gene confers the APR to Pst race CYR33 in Baidatou. 92 F3 lines and parents were sequenced using DArTseq technology based on wheat GBS1.0 platform, and 31 genetic maps consisted of 2,131 polymorphic SilicoDArT and 952 SNP markers spanning 4,293.94 cM were constructed. Using polymorphic SilicoDArT, SNP markers and infection types (ITs) data of F3 lines, the gene YrBai was further located in 0.8 cM region on wheat chromosome 6D. These closely linked markers developed in this study should be useful for MAS for Baidatou in crop improvement and map-based clone this gene

A Comparison of In-House Real-Time LAMP Assays with a Commercial Assay for the Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria

Molecular detection of bacterial pathogens based on LAMP methods is a faster and simpler approach than conventional culture methods. Although different LAMP-based methods for pathogenic bacterial detection are available, a systematic comparison of these different LAMP assays has not been performed. In this paper, we compared 12 in-house real-time LAMP assays with a commercialized kit (Isothermal Master Mix) for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157, E. coli O26, E. coli O45, E. coli O103, E. coli O111, E. coli O121, E. coli O145 and Streptococcus agalactiae. False-positive results were observed in all 12 in-house real-time LAMP assays, while all the negative controls of Isothermal Master Mix remained negative after amplification. The detection limit of Isothermal Master Mix for Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157, E. coli O26, E. coli O45, E. coli O103, E. coli O111, E. coli O121 and Streptococcus agalactiae was 1 pg, whereas the sensitivity of the commercialized kit for E. coli O145 was 100 pg. In conclusion, the 12 in-house real-time LAMP assays were impractical to use, while the commercialized kit Isothermal Master Mix was useful for the detection of most bacterial pathogens

Correction: Zhang et al. Fucoidan from <i>Laminaria japonica</i> Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Association with Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Streptozocin-Treated Mice. <i>Foods</i> 2023, <i>12</i>, 33

In the original publication, there was a mistake in Figure 3 as published [...

Fucoidan from <i>Laminaria japonica</i> Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Association with Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Streptozocin-Treated Mice

Chronic diseases have been a leading cause of death worldwide, and polysaccharide supplementation is an effective therapeutic strategy for chronic diseases without adverse effects. In this study, the beneficial effect of Laminaria japonica fucoidan (LJF) on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was evaluated in streptozocin-treated mice. LJF ameliorated the symptoms of T2DM in a dose-dependent manner, involving reduction in weight loss, water intake, triglyceride, blood glucose, cholesterol and free fatty acids, and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, catalase, glucagon-like peptide-1, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, LJF regulated the balance between insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, reduced islet necrosis and β-cell damage, and inhibited fat accumulation in T2DM mice. The protective effect of LJF on T2DM can be associated with modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolites, e.g., increases in Lactobacillus and Allobaculum. Untargeted and targeted metabolomics analysis showed that the microbiota metabolite profile was changed with LJF-induced microbiota alterations, mainly involving amino acids, glutathione, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism pathways. This study indicates that LJF can be used as a prebiotic agent for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and microbiota-related diseases

Effect of Heat-moisture Treatment on the Properties of Sweet Potato Starch

To explore the effects of heat-moisture treatment on the physicochemical and structural properties of sweet potato starch, five types of sweet potato starch were used as the raw material, and their solubility, swelling power, water holding capacity, transmittance, and sedimentation were determined. Furthermore, the influence of heat-moisture treatment on the water absorption characteristics and crystal structure of sweet potato starch with different initial water contents was explored. The results showed that the solubility, swelling power, sedimentation, and transmittance of the five sweet potato starches treated with heat-moisture were all decreased when compared with the original starch, but their water holding capacity was increased, indicating that both sweet potato varieties and heat-moisture treatment had no significant effect on starch properties. There was no new diffraction characteristic peaks were found in sweet potato starch after heat-moisture treatment, the crystal type of those treated starch remained a C-type structure, but the diffraction intensity and crystallinity were decreased. The time required for the heat-moisture treated starch to reach equilibrium in water absorption was shorter than that of the original starch, and the saturated water absorption tended to decrease compared to the original starch. The soaking kinetic constants K1 and K2 from the Peleg model equation were calculated, and the water absorption kinetics equation of sweet potato starch after heat-moisture treatment was confirmed, achieving accurate prediction of its water content during the soaking process

Regeneration of articular cartilage defects: Therapeutic strategies and perspectives

Articular cartilage (AC), a bone-to-bone protective device made of up to 80% water and populated by only one cell type (i.e. chondrocyte), has limited capacity for regeneration and self-repair after being damaged because of its low cell density, alymphatic and avascular nature. Resulting repair of cartilage defects, such as osteoarthritis (OA), is highly challenging in clinical treatment. Fortunately, the development of tissue engineering provides a promising method for growing cells in cartilage regeneration and repair by using hydrogels or the porous scaffolds. In this paper, we review the therapeutic strategies for AC defects, including current treatment methods, engineering/regenerative strategies, recent advances in biomaterials, and present emphasize on the perspectives of gene regulation and therapy of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as circular RNA (circRNA) and microRNA (miRNA)