{"title":"Lactoferrin and zinc sulfate supplementation alleviate cisplatin-induced taste disorder: underlying mechanisms via taste and immune modulation.","authors":"Aili Wang, Wenwen Yu, Xinyi Li, Changwei Luo, Xuanbo Liu, Liang Zou","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01096-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-026-01096-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Taste disorder is a common chemotherapy-associated consequence that markedly suppresses the appetite of patients and impacts their quality of life. This study investigated the mechanisms of dietary supplementation of lactoferrin (LF), alone or combined with ZnSO₄, in alleviating cisplatin-induced metallic taste disorder using a mouse model. Two-bottle preference (TBP) test demonstrated that both LF and LF+ZnSO₄ supplementation significantly decreased the metallic taste preference ratio from 82.5 ± 9.4% to 24 ± 5.4% and 20 ± 4.0%, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that LF upregulated (P < 0.05) genes associated with metallic taste receptor, signal transduction, and immune responses, while downregulating genes associated with Fe<sup>2+</sup>-induced lipid oxidation pathway, which might contribute to taste recovery and mucosal defense. ZnSO₄ in combination with LF further elevated the expression of genes involved in metallic taste signaling and intracellular mediators. Co-application of LF and ZnSO₄ was associated with additional changes in the expression of immune-related genes in the oral epithelium; however, this transcriptional difference was not accompanied by a further improvement in taste behavior. The results of this study highlight LF and ZnSO₄ supplementation as promising dietary strategies to alleviate chemotherapy-induced metallic taste disorder and shed light on the underlying mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13574781/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148970419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yunkun Zhu, Min Yang, Sanoyev Akbar Isomidinovich, Kodirova Dilobarkhon Rustamovna, Sagdullaev Shamansur Shahsaidovich, Zhongkai Zhao, Liang Wang, Jie Yang, Jianguo Chen, Jun Liu, Minwei Zhang
{"title":"Characterization of walnut proteins extracted from meals and cakes with different oil production methods","authors":"Yunkun Zhu, Min Yang, Sanoyev Akbar Isomidinovich, Kodirova Dilobarkhon Rustamovna, Sagdullaev Shamansur Shahsaidovich, Zhongkai Zhao, Liang Wang, Jie Yang, Jianguo Chen, Jun Liu, Minwei Zhang","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01101-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01101-1","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the effects of three industrial oil extraction methods (solvent extraction, cold pressing, and hot pressing) on the structural, physicochemical, techno-functional, and digestive properties of walnut meal or cake protein, as well as their regulatory effects on rat intestinal microbiota. The protein contents of raw materials were 57.50% for solvent-extracted walnut meal, 48.65% for cold-pressed walnut cake, and 37.45% for hot-pressed walnut cake. The purity of the extracted proteins was 88.02% (WP), 86.51% (CWP), and 70.21% (HWP), respectively. Hot pressing induced protein unfolding and improved solubility and emulsifying activity. The total amino acid contents of the three walnut protein samples ranged from 100 to 108 mg/g, and the hydrophilic amino acid contents of CWP and HWP were significantly higher than WP. In vitro digestibility of HWP was the highest (37.40%), followed by CWP (30.05%) and WP (27.83%). Moreover, differences in digestibility further mediated the regulatory effects of walnut proteins on intestinal microbiota in SD rats. This work clarified the relationships among oil extraction processing, protein structure, techno-functionalities, in vitro digestibility, and regulation of intestinal microbiota, which would facilitate the valorization and potential food application of proteins from walnut meal and cake.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-026-01101-1_reference.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148861357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Zeaxanthin as a potential regulator of intestinal immunity: effects on barrier function and metabolic profiles in diet-induced obesity","authors":"Hao Zhang, Yuechen 晉越辰 Jin, Hongyu Zhao, Zhina Hao, Yuan Chen, Weiyuan Ren, Qianxi Zang, Meihong Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00997-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00997-z","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Long-term high-fat diet (HFD) leads to metabolic disorders and disrupts intestinal immune regulation. Zeaxanthin, a bioactive carotenoid known for antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects, has limited evidence regarding its role in obesity-triggered gut immune dysfunction. This study investigated zeaxanthin’s effects on intestinal barrier function, immune homeostasis, and metabolic profiles in HFD-induced obese mice. Results showed that zeaxanthin enhanced intestinal tight junction protein expression and elevated immune factors such as interleukin-10, secretory immunoglobulin A, and lysozyme. Flow cytometry revealed that zeaxanthin improved small intestinal antigen-presenting capacity, promoted CD4⁺ T cell activation, and partially reversed the HFD-induced Th17/Treg imbalance. By modulating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, zeaxanthin improved the CIITA-MHC II axis, thereby restoring immune balance. A STAT1 inhibition assay using Fludarabine confirmed that zeaxanthin acts through STAT1 to upregulate CIITA and MHC II expression. Additionally, zeaxanthin altered intestinal metabolic profiles, particularly affecting tryptophan and phenylalanine metabolism. These findings demonstrate that zeaxanthin alleviates intestinal immune dysregulation in obesity via multiple pathways, providing a theoretical foundation and substantial support for developing functional foods targeting intestinal health.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-026-00997-z_reference.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148861209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yating Miao, Zhirong Li, Xinyao Zhang, Zuyun Liu, Yanan Ma
{"title":"A machine learning-derived dietary pattern for aging.","authors":"Yating Miao, Zhirong Li, Xinyao Zhang, Zuyun Liu, Yanan Ma","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01048-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-026-01048-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diet is a modifiable determinant of aging. We develop and validate the Machine-learning YouTHful (MYTH) Diet, a dietary pattern associated with reduced aging-related mortality. Using data from 191,689 participants in the UK Biobank, we conducted a food-wide association analysis and identified 18 food groups significantly associated with aging-related mortality. A Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model was used to rank food importance, leading to the construction of a 10-component MYTH Diet score (range: 0-10). Higher MYTH scores were consistently associated with reduced aging-related mortality in both internal (Quartile 4 vs. 1: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.75-0.84) and external (Q4 vs. Q1: HR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.58-0.80) validation cohorts. Multi-omics analyses revealed that the diet's protective effects were partly mediated through proteomic, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways, with mediators including TNFRSF4, the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA%), and lipid-related metabolites such as medium very-low-density lipoprotein phospholipids (M-VLDL-PL). Higher MYTH scores were also linked to slower biological aging in the lungs, liver, pancreas, as well as lower risks for 15 aging-related diseases. These findings suggest that the MYTH Diet may offer a biologically informed, scalable framework for developing personalized nutrition strategies aimed at supporting healthy aging and longevity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13522610/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yingrui Gao, Weiman Zhao, Ruonan Tong, Ge Yin, Ya Zhang, Xiaojun Wu (466801), 王峥涛, Longchan Liu, Li Yang
{"title":"Comprehensive chemical characterization of Alcoholic beverages and discovery of bioactive components regulating alcohol metabolism enzyme activities","authors":"Yingrui Gao, Weiman Zhao, Ruonan Tong, Ge Yin, Ya Zhang, Xiaojun Wu (466801), 王峥涛, Longchan Liu, Li Yang","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01015-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01015-y","url":null,"abstract":"Baijiu is a traditional Chinese alcoholic beverages with significant dietary and medicinal value, including sauce, strong, light and rice four primary flavors. Baijiu contains an exceptionally complex mixture of volatile and non-volatile compounds that contribute to its diverse flavor profiles and potential biological activities. This study employed HS-SPME-Arrow-GC-MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS to systematically analyze four major Baijiu flavor types. We identified 122 components via GC-MS and characterized 134 compounds via UPLC-QTOF-MS, of which 32 were tentatively characterized for the first time in Baijiu. Non-targeted analysis identified 44 differential components across types, and correlation analysis with key enzymes involved in alcohol metabolism (ADH, ALDH) activation revealed that pyrazines positively correlate with enzyme activity. In vitro experiments confirmed that major pyrazines (e.g., tetramethylpyrazine, trimethylpyrazine, 2,3-dimethyl-5-ethylpyrazine) effectively promote the metabolism of ethanol and acetaldehyde. This research enriches the Baijiu component database and provides a theoretical basis for a more scientific evaluation system for its quality and health effects.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-026-01015-y_reference.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148861212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Tannic acid enhances postharvest resistance of Korla fragrant pears to Alternaria alternata by modulating membrane lipid and reactive oxygen species metabolism.","authors":"Yisong Tang, Weida Zhang, Wanting Yang, Tongrui Sun, Jiankang Cao, Shaobo Cheng, Guogang Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01028-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01028-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tannic acid (TA), a naturally occurring polyphenol, exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. This study elucidates the mechanisms by which TA controls Alternaria alternata in Korla fragrant pears. In vitro, TA at 10 mg mL<sup>-</sup><sup>1</sup> directly inhibited fungal growth by inducing hyphal deformation. In vivo, TA treatment significantly attenuated blackhead disease development. The underlying protective mechanism involved two coordinated pathways: first, TA enhanced the activity and gene expression of key antioxidant enzymes [Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), Glutathione reductase (GR), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD)], sustaining the ascorbic acid-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle to scavenge excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Second, TA suppressed the activity and gene expression of lipid-degrading enzymes [Lipoxygenase (LOX), lipase, Phospholipase C (PLC), Phospholipase D (PLD), Phospholipase A2 (PLA2)] while elevating fatty acid desaturation enzymes (FADS) activity. This regulation preserved membrane lipids [phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs)], reduced harmful metabolites [phosphatidic acid (PA), free fatty acids (FFAs), and malondialdehyde (MDA)], and thereby maintained membrane integrity. Our findings demonstrate that TA functions as a multi-target postharvest treatment, primarily through the dual regulation of redox homeostasis and membrane lipid metabolism to reinforce fruit resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13493781/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148796088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yerkanat Syrgabek, Adrián Fuente-Ballesteros, Vânia G Zuin Zeidler
{"title":"Solid-phase microextraction as a green sample preparation strategy for volatile organic compound profiling in coffee: a review with AGREEprep-based evaluation.","authors":"Yerkanat Syrgabek, Adrián Fuente-Ballesteros, Vânia G Zuin Zeidler","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00984-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-026-00984-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a solvent-free sample preparation technique increasingly applied in coffee analysis. This review examines recent studies (2020-2025) on SPME for volatile organic compound profiling in coffee. Coupled with GC-MS and chemometrics, SPME supports aroma characterization, authenticity evaluation, and sample classification. AGREEprep scores (0.29-0.73) suggest moderate greenness, highlighting SPME as a promising strategy with potential for greener and more sustainable coffee analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13424560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148630993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Leveraging artificial intelligence for mycotoxin management in food systems.","authors":"Francesca Caloni, Thomas Hartung","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01005-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-026-01005-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>AI-driven methods have been applied across mycotoxin research in detection, prediction, and control, offering high laboratory accuracy ( > 90%), robust forecasting (75-99%), and emerging mitigation strategies (80-86%). Integrating AI with multi-omics data, mixture toxicity modeling, and standardized protocols promises to enhance food safety, streamline regulatory decision-making, and reduce animal testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13614968/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149063217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ahmed Y Salem, Jilan A Nazeam, Manal M Sabry, Magdy M Awny, Lina Jamil M Abdelhafez, Soad Z El-Emam, Sabah H El-Gayed
{"title":"Microbial biopriming of germinated barley enhances phenolics and B-vitamins and improves neurobehavior in MSG-treated rats.","authors":"Ahmed Y Salem, Jilan A Nazeam, Manal M Sabry, Magdy M Awny, Lina Jamil M Abdelhafez, Soad Z El-Emam, Sabah H El-Gayed","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01022-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-026-01022-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biopriming is a seed-level biotechnological intervention with considerable potential to enhance the nutritional, phytochemical, and functional attributes of cereal grains. In this study, microbial biopriming was investigated as a targeted approach to modulate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and neuroprotective efficacy of barley-derived extracts. Germinated barley extract (GBE) was comparatively evaluated against two bioprimed derivatives produced by inoculating barley seeds with Bacillus subtilis (GBB) and Aspergillus niger (GBF) prior to germination. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization was performed using chromatographic and spectroscopic profiling, and functional efficacy was evaluated through in vitro antioxidant assays and in vivo assessment using a monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-like rat model. The GBB exhibited the most pronounced bioactivity, characterized by marked enrichment in phenolic acids and B-complex vitamins, particularly vitamins B2, B9, and B12. This enhanced compositional profile was associated with significant improvements in locomotor activity and spatial memory, restoration of neurotransmitter homeostasis, attenuation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory signaling, and activation of autophagy-associated survival pathways. This study identifies B. subtilis biopriming as a promising and sustainable method for amplifying the neuroprotective properties of germinated barley, advocating its development as a functional food ingredient derived from cereals.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13421475/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148620846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Low fat cake formulation and characterization using wheat germ, rice bran, and pumpkin seeds as a fat replacers.","authors":"Maha I K Ali, Seham Y Gebreil, Saadia M Hashem","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01011-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-026-01011-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the context of increasing interest in healthy and sustainable nutrition, the food industry is challenged to develop innovative products that combine high nutritional quality with consumer acceptance. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate wheat germ (WG), pumpkin seeds (PS), and rice bran (RB) powders as natural fat replacers in cakes, incorporated at levels of 60% WG, 60% PS, and 40% RB. The formulated cakes were evaluated for physicochemical properties, mineral and vitamin composition, color attributes, texture profile, microbial stability, and sensory quality. Cakes containing WG showed the highest levels of protein, dietary fiber, phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as elevated vitamins (E and B-complex) and minerals. These samples also exhibited increased firmness, gumminess, and chewiness compared to the control. Cakes with RB showed higher antioxidant activity and improved mineral content. No significant differences were observed in overall sensory acceptability among all formulations. Moreover, all fortified cakes demonstrated improved microbial stability during storage. Overall, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, and rice bran powders can be effectively utilized as natural fat replacers to produce nutritionally enhanced, antioxidant-rich, and microbiologically stable cake products with acceptable sensory properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13396188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148579661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}