Journal of Food Biochemistry最新文献

{"title":"EXPRESSION OF CONCERN: Safely Effective Hypoglycemic Action of Stevia and Turmeric Extracts on Diabetic Albino Rats","authors":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/9842326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/9842326","url":null,"abstract":"<p>EXPRESSION OF CONCERN: A. El-Hadary, M. Sitohy “Safely Effective Hypoglycemic Action of Stevia and Turmeric Extracts on Diabetic Albino Rats,” <i>Journal of Food Biochemistry</i>, 45, no. 1 (2021), e13549, https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.13549.</p><p>This Expression of Concern is for the above article, published online on 08 November 2020 in Wiley Online Library (https://wileyonlinelibrary.com), and has been issued by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief; Dr. Prisca-Maryla Henheik; and John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd. The Expression of Concern has been agreed due to concerns that have been reported on PubPeer [<span>1</span>]. Specifically, this relates to the negative and positive controls in Figure 2 of this article appearing identical to panels A and B of a later publication not by the same authors [<span>2</span>].</p><p>The authors have responded, explaining that the two groups of authors were both working at the Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University. During this time, they agreed to share the negative and positive controls.</p><p>Therefore, the journal has decided to issue an Expression of Concern to inform and alert readers.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/9842326","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148282654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hepatoprotective Effects of Mangrove Plant Species of the Sundarbans and Their Bioactive Metabolites: A Comprehensive Review With Mechanistic Insights","authors":"H. M. Shadid Hossain Snigdha,&nbsp;Md. Mohaiminul Islam,&nbsp;Razina Rouf,&nbsp;Md. Sakib Al Hasan,&nbsp;Md. Torequl Islam,&nbsp;Jamil A. Shilpi,&nbsp;Shaikh Jamal Uddin","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/4030443","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/4030443","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem represents a unique ecological niche enriched with diverse medicinal plant species exhibiting significant therapeutic potential. This review summarizes the hepatoprotective phytochemicals derived from mangrove plant species of the Sundarbans and highlights their pharmacological mechanisms. A comprehensive literature search up to 2024 was conducted using major scientific databases to identify studies reporting hepatoprotective phytochemicals from mangrove plant species. A total of 48 bioactive metabolites belonging to diverse chemical classes, including terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, quinones, polysaccharides, glycosides, lignans, peptides, and fatty acids, were identified from 15 mangrove species. These metabolites exhibit hepatoprotective effects by mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis, which are key pathological processes involved in liver injury. Mechanistically, many metabolites regulate important molecular pathways such as nuclear factor kappa–light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), while also normalizing liver biomarkers including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Overall, mangrove plant species of the Sundarbans represent a promising natural source of hepatoprotective agents.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/4030443","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148282217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Valorization of Purple Prickly Pear Peel By-Products: Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells HCT116","authors":"Yasmany Armas Diaz,&nbsp;Zexiu Qi,&nbsp;Bei Yang,&nbsp;Danila Cianciosi,&nbsp;Luca Mazzoni,&nbsp;Massimiliano Gasparrini,&nbsp;Tamara Y. Forbes Hernandez,&nbsp;José L. Quiles,&nbsp;Rubén Calderón Iglesias,&nbsp;Maurizio Battino,&nbsp;Francesca Giampieri","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/9961129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/9961129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Opuntia ficus-indica</i> peel is known to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities and currently is discarded or used for animal feeding. Within this context, the aim of this work was to evaluate the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of purple prickly pear peel extract (PPE) on the human colon adenocarcinoma cancer cell line (HTC116). The methanolic extract of PPE was characterized in terms of betalain and polyphenols as well as total antioxidant capacity. Cell viability, apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production assays were performed. Important proteins and genes related to proliferation and apoptosis were determined. PPE represents a good source of bioactive compounds with a high antioxidant capacity. Cell viability was reduced gradually by PPE treatments, with lower effects in nontumorigenic cells. Compared to the control group, a significant induction of apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest in the sub-G1 phase and ROS production was observed in PPE-treated cells. Furthermore, the treatment induced the overexpression of p53 at protein levels and upregulated the mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic BAX, CASP9, BID, and CYCS, along with the significant decrease of anti-apoptotic BCL2 gene expression. Simultaneously, cyclin D1 and CDK4 gene expression were significantly decreased, while p21 increased considerably. The treatment also induced the downregulation of Her2 and PI3K at protein levels and caused the suppression of PI3KCA and mTOR expression at gene levels. Overall, these findings suggested that PPE has potential anticancer effects against human colon adenocarcinoma progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/9961129","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148282219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antidiabetic Efficacy and Mechanistic Insights of Azadirachta indica: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Evidence With Nutraceutical Applications","authors":"Wusa Makena,&nbsp;Monday Nwankwo,&nbsp;Aisha Idris,&nbsp;David Philip Dangoji,&nbsp;Alex Ogbe,&nbsp;Elizabeth Bassey Umoren,&nbsp;Patrick Maduabuchi Aja,&nbsp;Swase Dominic Terkimbi,&nbsp;Ilemobayo Victor Fasogbon","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/8618936","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/8618936","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Background&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Diabetes mellitus is a severe metabolic disease in the world, and therefore significant research has been conducted on food-derived bioactive compounds capable of antidiabetic effects. The &lt;i&gt;Azadirachta indica&lt;/i&gt; (neem) plant, which is widely used in traditional food and ethnomedicine, contains a variety of phytochemicals that have potential applications in nutrition as nutraceuticals.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Aims&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;This meta-analysis and systematic review assessed the antidiabetic effects of &lt;i&gt;A. indica&lt;/i&gt; preparations in rodents with diabetes and more so in relevancy in terms of translation to food biochemistry, nutraceutical formulation and molecular nutrition pathway.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;In accordance with PRISMA 2020, we performed a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar to identify controlled studies on antidiabetic effects of &lt;i&gt;A. indica&lt;/i&gt; on rodent diabetes models. The SYRCLE tool was used to determine the risk of bias. Primary outcome: improvement of fasting blood glucose (FBG). Secondary outcomes: glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, oxidative stress biomarkers (SOD, catalase, GSH, GPx, MDA) and lipid profile parameters. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated the standardized mean differences (SMDs) using the g correction of Hedges. Duration, dose, extract type and diabetes induction method were analysed as subgroups. The I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; statistics and tau-squared (&lt;i&gt;τ&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;) were used to measure heterogeneity.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The meta-analysis comprised the studies that were conducted on the different &lt;i&gt;A. indica&lt;/i&gt; preparations in the diabetic rats. &lt;i&gt;A. indica&lt;/i&gt; had a significant effect of reducing FBG with a pooled effect size of −6.702 (95% CI: −7.621–5.165, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.001), but with high heterogeneity (&lt;i&gt;I&lt;/i&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 92.6). &lt;i&gt;A. indica&lt;/i&gt; had a significant pooled effect of improving oxidative stress markers, improving SOD activity (SMD = 2.222, 95% CI: 0.999 to 3.450), favourable lipid profile changes included reduced total cholesterol (SMD = −3.632, 95% CI: −4.814 to −2.450), triglycerides (SMD = −4.842, 95% CI: −6.206 to −3.477), LDL cholesterol (SMD = −3.471, 95% CI: −4.701 to −2.241) and increased HDL cholesterol (SMD = 3.280, 95% CI: 2.112 to 4.447).&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;A. indica&lt;/i&gt; exhibits strong nutraceutical potential for diabetes m","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/8618936","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148237993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Solanum nigrum L. Extract Decreases Parkinsonism-Induced Oxidative Neurodegeneration Through the Inhibition of TRPM2 Channel","authors":"Mohit Ashish Majmudar,&nbsp;Ayşenur Nazıroğlu,&nbsp;Darshee B. Baxi,&nbsp;Khushali Upadhyay,&nbsp;Mustafa Nazıroğlu","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/7519232","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/7519232","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Parkinson’s disease is caused by the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP)-induced stimulation of the TRPM2 channel and the generation of free reactive oxygen species (ROS). The stimulation in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells may be suppressed by the antioxidant <i>Solanum nigrum</i> L. (SNL) extract and TRPM2 antagonist (N-(p-amylcinnamoyl) anthranilic acid, ACA). The antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties of SNL were investigated in Parkinsonism (MPP)-induced dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells by reducing the TRPM2 signaling molecular pathways. Four primary groups of SH-SY5Y cells were generated: control (CNT), SNL (12.5 μg/mL for 24 h), MPP (0.5 mM for 6 h), and MPP + SNL. TRPM2 current density, cytosolic cation (Ca²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Zn²⁺) concentrations, and the cell death percentage were increased due to the MPP incubation. MPP reduced antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione) and cell viability while increasing apoptotic (caspases-3, -8, and -9) and oxidant (lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane dysfunction, and ROS) indicators. These indicators were further elevated by TRPM2 stimulation, although they were attenuated through TRPM2 inhibition by the treatment of SNL and ACA. In conclusion, the antioxidant property of SNL incubation decreased MPP-induced mitochondrial oxidative cytotoxicity and cell death by blocking TRPM2-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling. SNL is a potential treatment for MPP-induced Parkinsonism associated with excessive ROS generation, apoptosis, and Ca²⁺ influx.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/7519232","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148237695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Phenolic Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Peel and Flesh in Four Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) Cultivars From Northwest Iran","authors":"Marzieh Babashpour-Asl,&nbsp;Minoo Taifeh-Noori","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/3029889","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/3029889","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Phenolic compounds are major contributors to the antioxidant capacity of apple fruit; however, their accumulation is strongly influenced by both genetic background and fruit tissue. Integrated evaluations combining global bioactive indices with detailed phenolic profiling across apple cultivars and tissues grown under identical agro-climatic conditions remain limited. This study investigated four apple cultivars: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Mashhad, and Braeburn grown in Northwest Iran. The peel and flesh tissues were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), anthocyanin concentration, and antioxidant activity using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Individual phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and multivariate analyses were applied to explore relationships among traits. Significant cultivar-, tissue-, and cultivar × tissue–dependent differences were observed for all measured parameters (<i>p</i>  &lt;  0.05). Red Delicious exhibited the highest phenolic richness and antioxidant capacity, with TPC values reaching 98.7 mg GAE g⁻¹ DW and the lowest IC₅₀ values (15.9 μg·mL⁻¹). Peel tissues consistently accumulated higher phenolic levels than flesh, showing up to 2–4-fold greater antioxidant activity across cultivars. Chlorogenic acid was the dominant phenolic acid, while flavonol composition displayed pronounced cultivar specificity. These results demonstrate that phenolic accumulation and antioxidant performance in apple fruit are jointly regulated by cultivar and tissue specialization. Apple peel, particularly from phenolic-rich cultivars such as Red Delicious, represents a valuable plant-based source of natural antioxidants with potential applications in functional foods and nutraceutical products.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/3029889","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148237870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and In Silico Reactome-Based Evaluation of the Potential Effects of Nonea pulla Methanol Extract on the SOD1 Pathway: A Pioneer Study","authors":"Esin Çolak,&nbsp;Betül Aydin,&nbsp;Erdi Can Aytar","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/6502601","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/6502601","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Nonea pulla</i> is an edible plant used in Turkish cuisine, where its leaves and roots are incorporated into traditional dishes. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and molecular docking properties of <i>N</i>. <i>pulla</i> methanol extract. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant potential with an IC₅₀ value of 5.87 ± 0.45 mg/mL and contained various biologically active compounds, such as flavonoids, phenols, and tannins. The total phenolic content was found to be 28.61 ± 0.27 mg GAE/g extract DW, which is relatively low compared to some other species, while the flavonoid content is higher. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH test, and the methanol extract demonstrated strong free radical scavenging activity. Additionally, the fatty acid profile of <i>N. pulla</i> was analyzed, revealing high concentrations of myristic, palmitic, and linoleic acids, compounds that play significant roles in reducing oxidative stress. Molecular docking studies suggested that fatty acids, such as linoleic and arachidic acids, had moderate binding affinities and could interact with antioxidants and metabolic pathways. Furthermore, in silico analyses for endocrine disruption potential indicated that these compounds did not directly bind to key nuclear receptors but showed significant interaction possibilities with receptors related to lipid metabolism and redox regulation. Reactome pathway analysis highlighted the vital role of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in antioxidant mechanisms, and both fatty acids showed potential modulation effects on SOD1 activity. Overall, these results provide preliminary evidence regarding the bioactive potential of <i>N. pulla</i> and its constituent compounds, particularly in relation to antioxidant mechanisms, oxidative stress modulation, and metabolic pathway interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/6502601","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148237445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbial Transformation of Oxidized Methionine and Tyrosine Derivatives: Insights From Food- and Gut-Associated Bacteria","authors":"Kim Ina Behringer,&nbsp;Erica Flora Aveta,&nbsp;Tess Brewer,&nbsp;Jürgen Lassak,&nbsp;Michael Hellwig","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/4617694","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/4617694","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Protein oxidation yields numerous modified amino acids in food, yet the microbial fate of these compounds remains largely uncharacterized. We challenged several representative food- and gut-associated bacteria with oxidized methionine and tyrosine derivatives. The stability of the compounds was assessed by HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS/MS, whereas untargeted metabolite analysis was performed by different HPLC-MS coupling techniques. While degradation of oxidized tyrosine was highly strain-specific—yielding novel α-hydroxy and α-keto acids primarily in pseudomonads—methionine derivatives were universally depleted. Detailed metabolic profiling pointed to a novel capability regarding methionine handling: <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i>—in contrast to related species—produced methionine from methionine sulfone (MetSO₂), providing the first evidence of bacterial methionine sulfone reduction. Moreover, common food microbes actively convert oxidized methionine and tyrosine derivatives to previously unknown metabolites, which serves as a starting point for research on the influence of oxidized amino acids in food on flavor development during fermentation and on their role during microbial metabolization in the human gut.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/4617694","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148174771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Pharmacokinetic, Immunomodulatory and Antihypertensive Properties of Olive Mill By-Product–Derived Peptides Using Cell Models and Molecular Docking Analysis","authors":"Teresa Gonzalez-de la Rosa,&nbsp;Fernando Rivero-Pino,&nbsp;Luna Barrera-Chamorro,&nbsp;Elvira Marquez-Paradas,&nbsp;África Fernández-Prior,&nbsp;Carmen M. Claro-Cala,&nbsp;Sergio Montserrat-de la Paz","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/1638665","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/1638665","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Olive mill by-products, derived from the extraction of virgin olive oil (VOO), have been demonstrated to be a source of bioactive compounds such as phenols, fibres and proteins. The protein fraction of these by-products has been scarcely studied, although it could be used to obtain protein hydrolysates, which are pools of peptides with potential bioactivity. In this study, the immunomodulatory properties of synthesised peptides (RPVPPVF, LQFCCY, DCHYFL, LFSGGES and LTPTSN) identified in the literature from VOO and its by-products were evaluated by measuring the gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and related markers, such as IL-6, TNF-α, IL10, IL-4 and the TLR4 receptor. These results suggest that the selected peptides exert immunomodulatory effect in vitro. ADME profiles were evaluated to determine the pharmacokinetic properties of the peptides, and their potential antihypertensive activity was also predicted. Furthermore, molecular docking analyses of the peptides with the TLR4/MD2 receptor and the angiotensin-converting enzyme showed binding affinities ranging from −2.8 to −7.2 kcal/mol and from −13.5 to −17.4 kcal/mol, respectively. These findings are consistent with the experimental observations regarding their immunomodulatory activity. Overall, our findings suggest that these peptides possess potential immunomodulatory properties in cells, thus emphasising the potential of VOO by-products as a source of bioactive compounds for the development of nutritional strategies targeting immune-related disorders. Further research on the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects and additional in vivo studies are required to establish the potential health benefits of these peptides.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/1638665","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148174773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanistic Insights Into the Hepatoprotective Effects of Punicalagin Against Oxidative Stress: Involvement of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway and Autophagy","authors":"Xia Yang,&nbsp;Chuan Xiong,&nbsp;Jing Zhang,&nbsp;Qinqin Chen,&nbsp;Yunzhao Tang,&nbsp;Ziwei Fu,&nbsp;Dachuan Cai,&nbsp;Qiang Luo","doi":"10.1155/jfbc/1703966","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/jfbc/1703966","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Punicalagin, a major ellagitannin enriched in pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i> L.) peel, has been implicated in cellular redox regulation, yet its integrated mechanism against oxidative hepatocellular injury remains insufficiently defined. Here, we combined network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro validation to elucidate the protective actions of punicalagin against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)–induced injury in HepG2 cells. Punicalagin pretreatment markedly improved cell viability and suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation following oxidative challenge. This protection was associated with improved mitochondrial function. Flow cytometry further demonstrated that punicalagin attenuated H₂O₂-triggered apoptosis, consistent with modulation of the mitochondrial apoptotic cascade as evidenced by an increased Bcl-2/Bax balance and reduced caspase-3 activation. Punicalagin also enhanced autophagy, as indicated by increased LC3B-II and decreased p62. Network pharmacology identified overlapping targets between punicalagin and liver injury, with enrichment analyses highlighting PI3K/AKT-related signaling; docking predicted favorable binding of punicalagin to AKT1. Mechanistically, punicalagin blunted oxidative stress–induced phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR without altering total protein abundance. Importantly, pharmacological reactivation of AKT using SC79 mitigated punicalagin-induced autophagy, supporting a pathway-dependent mode of action. Collectively, these findings indicate that punicalagin alleviates oxidative hepatocellular injury, supporting its potential as a food-derived bioactive for oxidative stress–related liver dysfunction.</p>","PeriodicalId":15802,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Food Biochemistry","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/jfbc/1703966","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148174772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}