{"title":"The role of lactate in meat beyond pH regulation: A study on lactylation and its effects on meat metabolism","authors":"Xiangfei Liu, Ying Xu, Xinran Zhao, Yuqiang Bai, Chi Ren, Xin Li, Chengli Hou, Dequan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144975","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144975","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lactate is generally regarded as the product of glycolysis, which accumulates in postmortem muscle, but its role in protein regulation through lactylation remains unknown in meat science field. This study investigated the effects of lactylation in metabolic regulation of postmortem muscle to explore the functional roles of lactate in meat. Different doses of lactate were added to muscle homogenates to obtain high, medium and low lactate contents samples. The results demonstrated that elevated lactate concentrations enhanced protein lactylation levels. Key glycolytic enzymes exhibited varied responses to lactate treatment, while the Caspase 3 activity was notably decreased. Furthermore, potential lactylation-modified proteins were identified, indicating that lactate may influence muscle contraction, energy metabolism, and cell death processes. This study provided preliminary evidence of regulatory effects of protein lactylation on meat metabolism, expanding the understanding of functions of lactate in meat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"489 ","pages":"Article 144975"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-31DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144976
Kejuan Li , Chun Wang , Jiajun Li , Hongyuan Cao , Qi Li , Lihong Ge , Yuanting Zhu , Yuzhi Miao , Chen Xia , Changbin Lin
{"title":"In vitro simulated digestion and fermentation characteristics of pumpkin polysaccharides and their effects on the human gut microbiota","authors":"Kejuan Li , Chun Wang , Jiajun Li , Hongyuan Cao , Qi Li , Lihong Ge , Yuanting Zhu , Yuzhi Miao , Chen Xia , Changbin Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144976","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144976","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although pumpkin polysaccharides have numerous health benefits, limited studies have investigated the impact of pumpkin polysaccharide digestion and fermentation characteristics on its biological activity. Herein, pumpkin polysaccharides (PPs) were subjected to simulated saliva–gastric–small intestinal digestion, followed by <em>in vitro</em> fermentation using healthy human faecal microbiota. Results indicate that PPs, acidic heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 2.93 × 10<sup>2</sup> kDa, mainly composed glucose and D–galacturonic acid and remained stable under simulated salivary and gastric conditions; however, they slightly degraded during intestinal digestion. During <em>in vitro</em> faecal fermentation, PPs stimulated the production of short–chain fatty acids, particularly acetic acid, which lowered pH, promoted the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as <em>Lactobacillus</em>, and inhibited harmful bacteria such as <em>Escherichia–Shigella</em> and <em>Phascolarctobacterium</em>. PICRUSt analysis suggested that the gut microbiota regulation of PPs was linked to metabolic pathways and amino acid biosynthesis, indicating the potential prebiotic properties and health benefits of PPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"489 ","pages":"Article 144976"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144188879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144980
Dingfeng Wang , Liwei Gao , Xinru Liu , Linfan Wang , Ting Zhang , Guoqiang Guo , Hongxing He , Da Chen
{"title":"Specific dual-mode fluorometric and colorimetric detection of nitrite based on oxidase-like activity of carbon dots/iron alkoxide composite","authors":"Dingfeng Wang , Liwei Gao , Xinru Liu , Linfan Wang , Ting Zhang , Guoqiang Guo , Hongxing He , Da Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144980","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144980","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trace detection of nitrite in food has gained increasing attention due to its connection with biological and environmental processes. Herein, a dual-mode fluorometric/colorimetric sensor is established for nitrite detection by combining the oxidase-like activity of iron alkoxide (IA) with the bimodal excitation properties of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs). IA oxidizes the colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine into blue-colored 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine oxide. Subsequently, nitrite further triggers a diazotization reaction, resulting in a color change from blue to green. Simultaneously, the fluorescence intensity of N-CDs at 470 nm decreases significantly, while the signal at 371 nm remains nearly unchanged, owing to the localized inner filter effect. Satisfactory results are attained with low limits of detection of 49 nM in the fluorometric mode and 73 nM in the colorimetric mode. Furthermore, an intelligent lateral flow assay platform is established for the visual detection of nitrite. Therefore, this work provides innovative guidance for nitrite detection in food safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"489 ","pages":"Article 144980"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144977
Lei Wei, Ziming You, Ping Liu, Hong Zhu, Xuewu Duan, Yueming Jiang, Ze Yun
{"title":"The role of amino acids in delaying the pulp breakdown of litchi fruit during postharvest storage","authors":"Lei Wei, Ziming You, Ping Liu, Hong Zhu, Xuewu Duan, Yueming Jiang, Ze Yun","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144977","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144977","url":null,"abstract":"Amino acids are crucial for life, yet their role in delaying fruit pulp breakdown remain largely unexplored. In this study, 11 physiological parameters indicated that treatments with glutamic acid (Glu), methionine (Met), and Mix (combined both) notably delayed pericarp browning and pulp breakdown of litchi fruit, with Mix being the most effective. To uncover the mechanisms behind these delays, a comprehensive metabolomic approach was employed, evaluating 71 primary metabolites, 104 volatiles, and 31 amino acids. The findings indicated that the Mix treatment enhanced the breakdown of sucrose, slowed the cell wall degradation and monosaccharide oximation, and maintained monosaccharides, sesquiterpenes, and monoterpenes. Additionally, the Mix treatment triggered an increase in volatile alcohols, aldehydes, fatty acids, and amino acids, potentially contributing positively to the delay in pulp breakdown. This research illuminates the mechanisms behind the Mix-induced delay in litchi pulp breakdown by examining small molecule metabolites and their associated metabolic pathways.","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144177326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144930
Nan Wang, Yi-Miao Zhang, Zheng-Xing Zeng, Lu Wang, Hou-Qi Ning, Zhou-Yu Wang, Xiao-Qi Yu
{"title":"Development of a novel benzothiazole-based fluorescent and gel-based sensor with enhanced visual discrimination and stability","authors":"Nan Wang, Yi-Miao Zhang, Zheng-Xing Zeng, Lu Wang, Hou-Qi Ning, Zhou-Yu Wang, Xiao-Qi Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144930","url":null,"abstract":"Here, we present <strong>BTPC-Ta</strong>, a benzothiazole-based fluorescent sensor enabling ultrasensitive detection of biogenic amines (spermine/cadaverine: 0.1 nM) through visible colorimetric transitions (red-to-blue). Supported by DFT calculations, HRMS, and NMR analyses, the sensing mechanism involves structural reorganization upon analyte binding. To address traditional limitations, we engineered <strong>PD@Ta</strong>—a gel-based platform that enhances stability while maintaining sensitivity by optimizing the solvent environment. Applied to real-time shrimp spoilage monitoring, <strong>PD@Ta</strong> demonstrated quantitative correlations between reaction time, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) levels, and R/G/B chromaticity values (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.98). This portable system combines naked-eye readability with smartphone-compatible signal digitization, achieving rapid discrimination among six biogenic amines. The integration of theoretical modeling, material innovation, and practical validation establishes a robust methodology for food safety control, offering ~nM detection limits and operational stability exceeding 30 days. This study provides an innovative, efficient, and stable method for food safety testing.","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"35 1","pages":"144930"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Solid-state fermentation of avocado seed by aspergillus oryzae and aspergillus awamori: Effects on nutritional composition, antioxidant activity, and volatile compounds","authors":"Juliana Villasante , Arnau Vilas-Franquesa , Vincenzo Fogliano","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The evolution of phenolic contents and antioxidant activities during solid-state fermentation of avocado seed by <em>Aspergillus oryzae</em> and <em>Aspergillus awamori</em> was investigated. The effect of fermentation time on fat and protein content, and volatile compounds in the avocado seed was also studied. Results showed that total phenolic amounts increased by over 12 % after 72 h of solid-state fermentation with <em>A. awamori.</em> The flavonoid content also increased during fermentation while the opposite occurred with the tannin content. The radical scavenging activity and the concentration of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid were significantly enhanced after fermentation compared to the control. The results demonstrated that solid-state fermentation increased the total fat content of avocado seeds, specifically of the alpha-linolenic acid content. A total of 42 volatile compounds were found in all the samples, some of which increased after fermentation. These findings provide valuable insights for the future development of novel avocado seed products with enhanced functionality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"489 ","pages":"Article 144990"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144974
Xikun Lu , Supaluck Kraithong , Atiruj Theppawong , Yonghong Liu , Papungkorn Sangsawad , Nasuha Bunyameen , Suyong Lee
{"title":"The multifunctional role of hydrocolloids in modulating retrogradation, starch hydrolysis, and the gut microbiota","authors":"Xikun Lu , Supaluck Kraithong , Atiruj Theppawong , Yonghong Liu , Papungkorn Sangsawad , Nasuha Bunyameen , Suyong Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144974","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144974","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrocolloids are hydrophilic long-chain polymers used in food systems for thickening, gelling, and stabilizing. They significantly influence starch retrogradation, hydrolysis, and gut microbiota modulation, with both beneficial and detrimental outcomes. These effects depend on factors such as hydrocolloid type, concentration, interactions with starch, and environmental conditions like temperature and processing methods. Some hydrocolloids inhibit starch retrogradation by disrupting amylose recrystallization, while others promote retrogradation under certain conditions. They can also alter starch hydrolysis by modifying enzyme accessibility to starch granules, either decelerating or accelerating digestion. Moreover, hydrocolloids act as fermentable fibers, supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which may influence metabolic processes. Despite significant progress, the complexity of these interactions remains incompletely understood, as effects vary with individual microbiota compositions. This review explores the mechanisms by which hydrocolloids modulate starch behaviors and gut microbiota, synthesizing current literature and identifying future research directions to address existing knowledge gaps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"489 ","pages":"Article 144974"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144981
Shuai Jiang, Rongyu Yan, Fan Mo, Qian Liu, Ling Jiang
{"title":"Regulating the gel structure and digestive function of myofibrillar protein: The distinct roles of pre-hydrated curdlan and β-glucan","authors":"Shuai Jiang, Rongyu Yan, Fan Mo, Qian Liu, Ling Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144981","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144981","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigated the effects of pre-hydrated curdlan (CT) and β-glucan (BT) (0.2–1.0 %) on the gel structure, digestion, and rheological properties of myofibrillar protein (MP). Both CT and BT significantly reduced MP digestibility, with CT showing a stronger effect (14.04 % reduction at 1.0 % addition). Hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were key in stabilizing MP-polysaccharide gels, as confirmed by molecular simulations. CT and BT addition led to smaller particle sizes, more stable zeta potential, and increased α-helix content while reducing random coil structures. Additionally, CT had a greater impact on the tertiary structure of MP. Rheological analysis revealed enhanced gel viscoelasticity in a dose-dependent manner, with CT being more effective. After digestion, gel structures became looser but retained certain features, especially in MP-CT gels. These findings highlight the distinct roles of CT and BT in regulating gel structure and digestion of MP, offering insights for improving meat product functionality.","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"11 1","pages":"144981"},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144979
Xin Bao , Yiyun Zhang , Liyang Wang , Zijian Dai , Rong Li , Kefan Wei , Jiaqian Cao , Qingyu Zhao , Qun Shen , Yong Xue
{"title":"DPP-IV inhibitory peptides from highland barley via machine learning and multi-scale validation","authors":"Xin Bao , Yiyun Zhang , Liyang Wang , Zijian Dai , Rong Li , Kefan Wei , Jiaqian Cao , Qingyu Zhao , Qun Shen , Yong Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144979","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144979","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Highland barley has shown potential in regulating blood glucose and may serve as a natural source of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors. In this study, machine learning (Gradient Boosting Decision Trees) and virtual screening were employed to identify DPP-IV inhibitory peptides from highland barley protein. Three candidate peptides (FPQPQ, FPRPF, and YGGWN) had IC<sub>50</sub> of 675.47, 766.80, and 281.76 μM, respectively. FPQPQ and FPRPF are competitive DPP-IV inhibitors, whereas YGGWN is a non-competitive inhibitor. Their inhibitory mechanisms were investigated through molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Network pharmacology was applied to reveal their multitarget and multipathway antihyperglycaemic activities in vivo. This integrated approach enabled efficient and precise screening of bioactive peptides and provided mechanistic insights into their inhibitory effects. The findings demonstrate the potential of these peptides in glucose regulation and support the development of functional foods based on highland barley protein.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"489 ","pages":"Article 144979"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144183964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Food ChemistryPub Date : 2025-05-30DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144944
Xiaofeng Xiang, Haoen Cai, Jun Shi, Zuxi Liu, Guangfeng Wu, Penghui Zhou, Jin Li, Ying Shi, Changqing Duan, Yibin Lan
{"title":"Investigation of the impact of characteristic volatiles in head distillate on wine spirit's aroma perception through integrated sensory methods","authors":"Xiaofeng Xiang, Haoen Cai, Jun Shi, Zuxi Liu, Guangfeng Wu, Penghui Zhou, Jin Li, Ying Shi, Changqing Duan, Yibin Lan","doi":"10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144944","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144944","url":null,"abstract":"Distillation cut, a critical step in spirit production, markedly influences the aroma quality of wine spirits. This study investigated the impact of head cut on the aroma perception of the heart distillate. Using the check-all-that-apply method, the characteristic aroma attributes of the head were identified as fruity and solvent, whereas those of the heart were fruity. Enhancements in the perception of fruity and solvent aromas were observed in the heart distillate at head-addition volumes of 0.38 % v/v and 0.41 % v/v, respectively. Nine esters and four carbonyl compounds were found to contribute to the enhancement effects at total ester concentrations of 205.19 and 212.32 mg/L, along with total carbonyl compound concentrations of 23.90 and 24.22 mg/L. Our findings provide valuable insights into the quantification and organoleptic contribution of head distillate cut in shaping the spirit aroma perception as well as practical guidance for optimising the production process.","PeriodicalId":318,"journal":{"name":"Food Chemistry","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.8,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144177264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}