Dissipation, residues analysis and risk assessment of metconazole in grapes under field conditions using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Metconazole (MEZ) is widely used in prevention and control of fruit and vegetable diseases. Here, a simple and reliable gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method, using modified QuEChERS (“quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe”) extraction method, was developed for determining the dissipation and residue of MEZ in grapes and soil, and the dietary risk of MEZ residues in grapes was evaluated for Chinese people. The average recoveries of MEZ in two matrices were 80.72–100.36% with relative standard deviations of 1.56–6.16%. The same limits of detection and quantification in grapes and soil were 0.0006 mg/kg and 0.002 mg/kg, respectively. Under field conditions, the half-life of MEZ dissipation in grapes ranged from 11.75 to 20.39 days. The final residues of MEZ in grapes and soil ranged from 0.002 mg/kg to 0.19 mg/kg at pre-harvest intervals of 7, 14 and 21 days. The whole dietary risk assessment indicated acute hazard index and hazard quotient to be less than 1, implying the risk of MEZ was acceptable. This is the first study conducted on the dissipation, residue analysis and risk assessment of MEZ in grapes, thus providing reference for the detection and risk assessment of MEZ in other agricultural products.

Integrated reverse supply chain model for food waste based on industry 4.0 revolutions

The present research offeres a model to the advantage of operations for the food reverse supply chain by perfor-mancing Industry 4.0 Revolutions model of expanding a fuzzy multi-phase model for the food waste gathering reverse supply chain. This study introduces, a household waste recycling machine, which symbolizes the Industry 4.0 Revolutions. Also, electric-type vehicles have been considered for collection and delivery in accordance with the Industry 4.0 Revolutions. The rate of technology has been described in recycling stations. Several methods with different technologies to recycle food waste have been selected and assessed based on the Industry 4.0 Revolutions indicators. The food wastes are sent to recycling stations, that is places maintained, operated or used to store, buy or sell wastes before they recycled with appropriate technology. The understudy model is multi-objective, maximizing the benefit of recycling and customer response and minimizing the adverse effects of environmental pollution and transportation costs. In this research, the whale optimization algorithm is applied. The present work proposes an end-to-end solution for Reverse Supply Chain Management for food waste based on the Industry 4.0 Revolutions.

Gastrodin provides neuroprotection in models of traumatic brain injury via Nrf2 signaling pathway

Gastrodin is one of the main active components of Gastrodia elata and has significant therapeutic value for various nervous system diseases. Its medicinal properties include smooth muscle relaxation, anti-necrosis, anti-aging, and anti-apoptosis effects. However, its possible effects on traumatic brain injury (TBI) are still unclear. In this study, the effects of gastroditin on TBI rats were investigated. The results proved that gastrodin had neuroprotective effect on TBI through alleviating brain deficits, decreasing brain water content, inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, and suppressing oxidative stress in brain tissues of TBI rats. Mechanically, gastrodin upregulated the expression of Nrf2 downstream proteins, suggesting the activation of Nrf2 pathway in brain tissues of TBI rats. In conclusion, gastrodin provided neuroprotection in TBI rats via Nrf2 pathway.

New emerging techniques in combination with conventional methods in improving the quality, safety, and nutrient values of food products

Quality, safety, and nutrient values of food products can be changed under various conditions along the production chain, even on consumers’ tables. Although based on the scientific reports, many techniques, including conventional and emerging technologies, are approached during harvest, post-harvest, processing, storage, and distribution of food products, the idea of minimal processing of food products still attracted considerable attention.

Changes in microbial composition and quality characteristics of yellowfin tuna under different storage temperature

Yellowfin tuna is one of the commercially important fish varieties, and inappropriate storing may deteriorate its safety and quality. This study aimed to investigate the microbial composition and quality characteristics of yellowfin tuna stored at different temperatures for varying amounts of time. With an increase in the storage temperature and storage time, the biogenic amines, the total volatile basic nitrogen TVB-N, and the total viable cell count steadily increased, which influenced the quality of tuna. The most significant histamine concerning food safety reached levels of 21.25, 235.05, 1166.18, and 3799.29 mg/kg, respectively. The values of total viable cell counts were increased to 7.04, 7.97, 8.24, and 8.91 log CFU/g after storage at 0, 4, 10, and 20 °C for 12 days, 7 days, 7 days, 3 days, respectively. Additionally, changes in microbial composition were evaluated by high-throughput sequencing, and the results showed that Pseudomonas was the dominant spoilage bacteria in yellowfin tuna. The bacterial dynamics and their correlation with biogenic amines and TVB-N in yellowfin tuna were analyzed. A positive correlation between Pseudomonas, Shewanella, Morganella, Acinetobacter, and biogenic amines was found. Pseudomonas showed significant correlation with histamine, cadaverine, and putrescine. This study provides insights into yellowfin tuna quality and microbial composition, which provide theoretical guidance for maintaining seafood safety and quality during distribution and storage.

Kirenol inhibits TNF-α-induced proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells by regulating NF-κB pathway

Psoriasis is a common chronic, inflammatory skin disease possessing properties of inflammatory cell infiltration and excessive proliferation of keratinocytes, the occurrence and development of which remain fully elucidated. Therefore, the study was designed to determine the effects of kirenol (50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) on Cultured Human Keratinocytes (cells) (HaCaT) in vitro and reveal its molecular mechanism. The in vitro psoriasis model was established utilizing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-stimulated HaCaT cells. Kirenol, a diterpenoid compound, was applied at different concentrations (50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) to HaCaT cells for 24 h. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and thymidine monobromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays were used to assess cell viability and proliferation, followed by assessment of cell migration by Transwell assay. Subsequently, inflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blot assay was used to evaluate expres-sions of p65, p-p65, IκBα and p-IκBα. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were measured spectrophotometrically. The results demonstrated that TNF-α induced a significant increase in cell viability and inflammatory cytokines, including expressions of Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-22 and IL-1β in HaCaT cells, which was dose-dependently inhibited by kirenol. Similarly, TNF-α-induced cell migration was also suppressed by kirenol treatment. Furthermore, TNF-α stimuli induced the upregulation of phosphorylation levels of p65 and IκBα as well as p-p65–p65 and p-IκBα–IκBα ratios, whereas kirenol significantly suppressed the activation of cellular nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In addition, kirenol significantly decreased the level of MDA but increased the levels of SOD, CAT and GSH in a dose-dependent manner. These results proposed that kirenol could inhibit the proliferation, migration, expression of inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress in HaCaT cells via suppressing NF-κB signaling pathway.

Picroside II prevents inflammation injury in mice with diabetic nephropathy via TLR4/NF-κB pathway

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of picroside II on diabetic nephropathy and reveal the involved underlying signal pathway. Male Sprague–Dawley (SD) mice were used to construct an animal model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy. Body weight and fasting blood glucose values were recorded. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Protein expression was determined using Western blotting test. Hema-toxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to examine the morphological changes in kidney tissues. Treatment with picroside II (10 and 20 mg/kg) increased the STZ-induced reduction in body weight of diabetic mice. It also reversed the elevation of fasting blood glucose in STZ-induced diabetic mice. The levels of proteinuria, BUN and Scr were significantly increased in STZ-induced diabetic mice and these increments were prevented by picroside II. The serum levels of MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were reduced, and the morphological damage was lessened by Picroside II in mice with diabetic nephropathy. Besides, picroside II prevented the activation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway. This study proved that picroside II inhibited inflammatory response and prevented kidney injury in mice with diabetic nephropathy through modulation of TLR4/NF-κB pathway, indicating beneficial effect of picroside II on diabetic nephropathy.

Gastrodin represses hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells through p38MAPK/iNOS pathway

Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce oxidative damage in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and con-tribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Gastrodin plays an antioxidant role in distinct diseases, such as epilepsy, cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the function of gastrodin in AMD remains unclear. Human RPE (ARPE-19) cells were incubated with 300 μM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 24 hours. The results showed that H2O2 decreased cell viability and promoted the cell apoptosis of ARPE-19 cells. H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells were then treated with different concentrations of gastrodin. Gastrodin increased cell viability of H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells, suppressed the cell apoptosis of H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells with reduced B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 like protein (Bax), and enhanced Bcl-2. The levels of ROS were enhanced, malondialdehyde (MDA) was up-regulated, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) were down-regulated in H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells. However, gastrodin reduced the lev-els of ROS and MDA and elevated SOD and GSH in H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, H2O2-induced increase of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and p-p38 proteins in ARPE-19 was reversed by gastrodin. In conclusion, gastrodin exerted antiapoptotic and antioxidant capacities to protect against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in RPE, thereby acting as a potential agent for managing AMD.

Angelica sinensis polysaccharide promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) by activating the wnt/β-catenin pathway

Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) are capable of forming mineralized nodules. The proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs are very important for alleviating tooth defects caused by related diseases. Angel-ica polysaccharide (ASP) is the main bioactive ingredient extracted from the angelica root. ASP has a variety of biological functions, including immune regulation, antitumor activity, and hematopoiesis. However, its possible effects on hDPSCs are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of ASP in periodontal diseases. We found that ASP promoted the proliferation of hDPSCs and osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs. We further found that it promoted the expression of osteogenic-related genes, including ALP, RUNX2, Col1a1, and OCN. Mechanically, we found that ASP activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In conclusion, our results suggested that ASP promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Synergistic antibacterial effects of carvacrol and ε-polylysine

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the combination of ɛ-polylysine (ɛ-PL) and carvacrol (Car) against foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ɛ-PL (Car) against E. coli and S. aureus were 25 μg/mL (320 μg/mL) and 12.5 μg/mL (320 μg/ mL), respectively. Checkerboard assays showed that the combination of ɛ-PL and Car exerted synergistic effects against E. coli and S. aureus with fraction inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of 0.375 and 0.5, respectively. It demonstrated that the combination of ɛ-PL and Car significantly inhibited the growth of the two strains com-pared to single treatment. Furthermore, the mode of action of ɛ-PL (6.25 μg/mL) or Car (80 μg/mL) in inhibiting E. coli and S. aureus was researched by assessing their changes with regard to cellular membrane integrity, membrane permeability, respiratory activity, and membrane structure. A combination of ɛ-PL and Car increased the damage to cell membranes and their permeability and led to the release of 260 nm absorbing materials, decreased respiratory-chain dehydrogenase activity compared with ɛ-PL or Car treatment alone. These results demonstrated that the combination of ɛ-PL and Car could be used as a new promising naturally sourced food preservative.