Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture最新文献

{"title":"Periploca root oils as potent, diphenolase-selective tyrosinase inhibitors: chemotype profiling and non-competitive mechanism of 4-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde.","authors":"Na-Hyun Lee, Hoi-Seon Lee","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70241","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Safer, plant-derived alternatives to hydroquinone are needed for managing hyperpigmentation. Steam-distilled oils of Periploca sepium (China) and Periploca angustifolia (Tunisia) were obtained in yields of 2.0 g kg^-1 (w/w) and chemically profiled as phenolic chemotypes dominated by 4-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (788 and 746 g kg^-1, respectively). The aldehyde was isolated at 970 g kg^-1 purity with an overall yield of 1.5 g kg^-1 for mechanistic studies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both Periploca root oils selectively and near-completely inhibited mushroom-tyrosinase diphenolase at ≤ 50 μg mL^-1 while preserving ≥ 75% monophenolase activity at the same doses. The Chinese oil was more potent (half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 9.8 μg mL^-1)) than the Tunisian oil (IC₅₀ of 11.2 μg mL^-1), consistent with its higher 4-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde content and lower n-alkane fraction. The purified aldehyde (970 g kg^-1) exhibited strong, non-competitive inhibition of diphenolase (IC₅₀ of 9.6 μg mL^-1; the Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) unchanged, maximum rate of reaction (V_max) reduced) and was eight-fold more potent than arbutin under identical conditions. Structure-activity relationships indicated an optimal ortho-hydroxy/para-methoxy pharmacophore, whereas added hydroxy groups diminished potency. Acute toxicity data support a wide safety margin (oral median lethal dose (LD₅₀) > 3000 mg kg^-1 in rodents), and in silico ADMET predicted favorable dermal absorption, low cytochrome P450 inhibition liability, and cosmetic suitability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Periploca sepium chemotypes, standardized to ≥ 700 g kg^-1 4-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde and ≤ 50 g kg^-1 total n-alkanes, are potent, diphenolase-selective tyrosinase inhibitors with promising safety attributes. These findings support development as clean-label actives for skin-whitening or food anti-browning, contingent on chemotype-directed quality control, confirmation on human tyrosinase/cellular models, and comprehensive chronic safety assessment. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial intelligence-based pollen classification machine in apiculture: design, implementation and evaluation.","authors":"Dilara Gerdan Koc, Caner Koc, Aytül Ucak Koc","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bee pollen is a bioactive substance valued for its nutritional and health-promoting properties. However, consistent quality control and classification are hampered by variability in its chemical and biological composition, which is largely dependent on botanical origin. Artificial intelligence offers an opportunity to overcome these limitations through automated and standardized classification approaches.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A deep learning-driven system was developed to classify pollen samples based on color properties, a key visual biomarker of floral origin. Convolutional neural networks including MobileNet, InceptionV3, Xception, NasNet Large, DenseNet201 and YOLOv8 were evaluated. DenseNet201 achieved the highest classification accuracy (98.5%), while YOLOv8, integrated for real-time performance, reached 91.4% accuracy with rapid processing speed. Laboratory-scale validation confirmed the reliability of the system in differentiating monofloral pollen types.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The proposed AI-based classification system provides a robust solution for the standardization and traceability of pollen products. Its real-time classification capability offers beekeepers a practical tool for sustainable and hygienic pollen collection, with potential applications across the food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of novel saltiness-enhancing peptides from rice bran protein: AlphaFold3 modeling, molecular simulation, and sensory evaluation.","authors":"Hongbo Yi, Peng Wang, Jun Li, Shengnan Wang, Xiaofei Guo, Danshi Zhu, He Liu, Na Zhang","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70217","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A high-salt diet poses potential risks to human health, making the search for safe and effective salt-reduction strategies a research priority. As a novel class of functional components, saltiness-enhancing peptides have attracted increasing attention due to their natural origin, low taste thresholds, and desirable taste properties.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A high-salt diet poses potential risks to human health. In this study, three novel saltiness-enhancing peptides (DPR, CTMR and GDEF) were identified from rice bran protein through virtual enzymatic hydrolysis using the PeptideCutter tool of ExPASy. Sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis indicated that these peptides exhibited significant saltiness-enhancing effects, with threshold concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 0.32 mmol L^-1. DPR, CTMR and GDEF were found to stimulate the secretion of aldosterone in saliva, further confirming their ability to enhance human salt taste sensitivity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>AlphaFold3 was used to model transmembrane channel-like protein 4 (TMC4), and molecular docking combined with molecular dynamics simulations was performed to investigate the binding mechanisms between the saltiness-enhancing peptides and TMC4. It was found that key amino acid residues, such as Arg437, Asp491, Asp530 and Glu531, play important roles in the ligand-receptor interactions, and molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the binding stability of these interaction sites. This study provides a theoretical basis for the discovery and application of saltiness-enhancing peptides derived from cereal sources. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peanut skin bioactive extract on pectin and gelatin candies: is it a potential dietary antioxidant delivery system for health improvement?","authors":"Luiza Gabriella Soares Dantas Pinheiro, Ana Carla de Matos, Gabriela de Matuoka E Chiocchetti, Priscilla Efraim, Gabriela Alves Macedo, Juliana Alves Macedo","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70230","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are widely consumed worldwide, with Brazil being a major producer. Their skins, usually discarded as processing waste, comprising about 3% of the total peanut weight, generated an estimated 1.50 Mt of waste in 2021. These skins are rich in phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, with antioxidant capacities ranging from 90 to 125 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight. In this study, a phenolic-rich extract was prepared from peanut skins and used to enrich pectin- and gelatin-based candies at 0.1 and 0.2 g kg^-1. The candies underwent static in vitro digestion following the INFOGEST protocol, covering the oral, gastric and intestinal phases.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bioaccessibility of total phenolic compounds was 29.88-32.46% for 0.1 and 0.2 g kg^-1 pectin-based candies and 25.94-30.16% for 0.1 and 0.2 g kg^-1 gelatin-based candies. Regarding antioxidant activity after digestion, pectin gummy candies showed an average reduction of approximately 38%, while gelatin gummy candies exhibited a decrease of nearly 41%, measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Nonetheless, the candies preserved a considerable portion of their original antioxidant capacity, even after digestion.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results highlight the promising potential of using peanut skin phenolic extracts to produce antioxidant-enriched gummy candies. This approach offers a healthier alternative for consumers and promotes sustainability by valorizing abundant local agricultural by-products. Future studies could explore strategies to improve bioaccessibility, such as micro- or nano-encapsulation, and process optimization further to enhance the stability and bioavailability of these compounds. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Valorization of olive mill wastewater: improving the polyphenolic content, antioxidant potential, and cytotoxicity profile of extra virgin olive oil extract.","authors":"Francisca Rodrigues, Doretta Cuffaro, Ana Margarida Silva, Massimiliano Mirabeni, Simone Bertini, Marco Macchia, Maria Digiacomo","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70232","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70232","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) industry generates significant quantities of by-products, such as olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW), which could be valorized for their high bioactive compound content. The aim of this study was to investigate the positive impact of incorporating a polyphenol-rich extract from OMWW into EVOO extract, focusing on the improvement in polyphenol content, antioxidant properties, and effects on intestinal cell viability. Specifically, increasing concentrations of OMWW extract (1, 10, 20, and 50%) were added to the EVOO extract, and the preliminary screening based on antioxidant activity was assessed using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The EVOO/OMWW 50% extract exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (92.23%) and demonstrated superior antioxidant properties in comparison with pure EVOO and OMWW extracts. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed enrichment of polyphenols in the selected EVOO/OMWW 50% extract. The antioxidant/antiradical activity of EVOO/OMWW 50% extract was further investigated through various assays, including 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) scavenging tests. Considerable activity was revealed, significantly superior to that of the EVOO extract. Furthermore, the extract did not exhibit any significant cytotoxicity in human intestinal cell lines (Caco-2 and HT29-MTX), indicating its safety for potential nutraceutical applications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results suggest that the incorporation of OMWW into EVOO extract can improve its antioxidant/antiradical potential significantly, providing a promising approach for the valorization of OMWW waste in the enhancement of the EVOO nutraceutical properties. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A proteomics-metabolomics approach and mineral content analysis reveal inherent differences in the quality of Bambara groundnuts from two geographic regions.","authors":"Francis Goku, Namweene Mainza, Lin Changqing, Traore Sory Ibrahim, Linda A Adobagna, Isaac Ayensu, Raphael N Alolga","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70236","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Bambara groundnut is a leguminous plant with significant economic potential in Africa due to its high nutritional value. It grows well in tropical regions and is native to countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Cameroon. We present here previously unreported data on the global proteomes and metabolomes of Bambara groundnuts from two countries: Mali and Ghana.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found conspicuous differences in the global metabolomes and proteomes of the samples sourced from the two geographic regions. A total of 30 differential metabolites were identified in the metabolomics study, the composition of which was determined to be predominantly flavonoids and found in higher amounts in the samples from Mali. The proteomics study identified 39 differentially abundant proteins, which were found to be mainly involved in metabolic and cellular processes, functioned as cellular anatomical entities, and possessed catalytic and binding activities. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the proteome differences could be linked largely to distinct differences in various metabolic pathways and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. This study also reports disparate amounts of major and trace minerals in the Bambara groundnut from the two countries. The Mali-sourced samples had higher levels of minerals, and the general order of abundance was as follows: Mg > Ca > Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cr.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides invaluable information in support of the nutritional and economic value of the Bambara groundnut and underscores the impact of geographic location of cultivation and probable differences in farming methods on the quality of food crops. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing water and nitrogen management for enhanced spring maize productivity and resource use efficiency under drip irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions.","authors":"Yuchen Li, Weibo Nie, Yu Wan, Xiaowen Dang, Jiayi Li, Hairui Wang, Qingjun Bai","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70229","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70229","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maize production in arid and semi-arid regions is constrained by water shortages, high evaporation and inefficient nitrogen application. Optimizing water-nitrogen management is essential for enhancing maize growth, yield and resource use efficiency under drip irrigation. However, most existing strategies prioritize yield over a comprehensive evaluation of resource efficiency. To address this, a two-year field experiment was conducted using four irrigation levels (W1-W4: 150-295 mm in 2023; 130-250 mm in 2024) and five nitrogen applications (120-280 kg ha^-1). A high-input treatment served as a local control (385 mm irrigation + 360 kg ha^-1 N in 2023; 345 mm + 360 kg ha^-1 N in 2024).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The W3N240 treatment (240 mm irrigation and 240 kg ha^-1 N) enhanced root and above-ground growth, achieving the highest observed yields (14 673.2 kg ha^-1 in 2023; 15 067.3 kg ha^-1 in 2024), as well as high water productivity (WP: 3.50 and 3.62 kg m^-3), irrigation water productivity (IWP: 6.10 and 7.65 kg m^-3) and nitrogen partial productivity (PFPN: 61.1 and 62.8 kg kg^-1). Response surface analysis indicated optimal ranges of water consumption (410-440 mm) and nitrogen application (180-250 kg ha^-1), ensuring ≥95% of maximum yield while maintaining high efficiency (≥85% of WP and IWP, and ≥60% PFPN).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Optimizing water-nitrogen management significantly enhanced maize productivity and resource use efficiency under drip irrigation. The identified optimal ranges offer a practical reference for sustainable water-nitrogen management in arid and semi-arid maize production systems. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145206598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pomegranate peel extract as a bioactive inhibitor of polyphenol oxidase: a green alternative for extending fresh-cut produce preservation.","authors":"Hatice Paluzar, Sebnem Mutlu, Aysen Suekinci Yilmaz, Sebnem Selen Isbilir","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70211","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Natural plant extracts, particularly those rich in flavanols, are promising alternatives to prevent enzymatic browning in fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Pomegranate peel, an abundant agro-industrial byproduct, has been recognized as a potential source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of a phenolic extract from the peel of Hicaz variety pomegranate on polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and its impact on the quality attributes of fresh-cut produce.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The extract, obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction with a yield of 33.55%, was analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, revealing seven major phenolic compounds. Molecular docking studies confirmed strong binding interactions with PPOs. Enzyme inhibition assays demonstrated IC₅₀ values of 0.86, 0.95 and 0.73 mg mL^-1 for potato, mushroom and apple PPOs, respectively, indicating a mixed-type inhibition mechanism. Fresh-cut samples treated with 2 mg mL^-1 extract and stored at 4 °C showed improved preservation, maintaining quality attributes and reducing browning for up to 7 days in potato and apple, and up to 3 days in mushroom.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings demonstrate that Hicaz pomegranate peel extract is an effective natural PPO inhibitor capable of extending the shelf life of fresh-cut produce. Its potential applications in food preservation highlight both its economic value as a waste-derived resource and its contribution to sustainable food processing. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145200060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring leaf proteins from agricultural waste for sustainable nutrition.","authors":"Charanjeet Kaur, Gurkanwal Kaur, Surekha Bhatia","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70221","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70221","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present review explores the potential of leaf proteins as a sustainable and affordable solution to meet the increasing global demand for dietary proteins, driven by the environmental impact of animal protein production and associated health concerns. Leaf proteins offer numerous functional benefits, including an essential amino acid profile, reduced allergenicity, enhanced foaming, emulsification and textural properties. The underutilized green leaves exhibit substantial variations from plant seeds in terms of protein quality, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid profiles, and vitamin and mineral concentration thus having a potential role in combating global malnutrition. The paper delves into the distribution of leaf proteins, eco-innovative methods for their extraction followed by their purification and modification techniques. It further discusses functional attributes and nutritional properties such as amino acid profiles, antioxidant potential and bioactivities of leaf proteins to understand their potential consideration for use in the food and nutraceutical industries. The review also highlights real-world paradigms of the potential application of leaf proteins along with their challenges and constraints to be used as functional food ingredients. Advancing research and development to combat antinutrients, production challenges and consumer acceptance of novel functional foods can thereby position leaf proteins as a pivotal resource in addressing global food security. This comprehensive review thus seeks to elucidate the transformative potential of leveraging agricultural waste to meet the protein needs of a rapidly growing population while fostering environmental sustainability and economic resilience. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145192036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insect infestation triggers metabolic shifts in pecans: implications for nutritional quality.","authors":"Lingyuan Zhou, Wei Zhang, Min He, Qingyang Li, Maokai Cui, Jinping Shu, Fubin Tang, Yihua Liu","doi":"10.1002/jsfa.70219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.70219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a widely consumed edible nut, recognized for its nutritional and functional benefits. Insect infestation often results in subtle damage, limited to the fruit peel, leaving kernels visually unaffected; however, the associated metabolic alterations remain largely unexplored. This study applied a widely targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics approach to elucidate the metabolic changes in pecan kernels induced by insect infestation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1614 metabolites were identified, of which 129 showed significant alterations following insect stress. Both primary metabolites - including organic acids, amino acids, and lipids - and health-promoting secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids were substantially affected. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated significant disruptions in carbon metabolism, energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and phenolic biosynthesis. A metabolic network was constructed to depict the biochemical responses of pecans to insect infestation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates that insect infestation significantly alters the metabolic profile of pecans as an edible nut, which may affect their nutritional and functional qualities. These findings provide valuable insights to advance pest management and enhance pecan quality. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":17725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145192061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}