Julie Daoust , Jay Schmalz , Chloë Rotsaert , Chelsea Vannieuwenhuyse , Jelle De Medts , Lieven Van Meulebroek , Cindy Duysburgh
{"title":"Prebiotic activity of functional whole mushroom powders compared to inulin in SHIME® model colonic simulations","authors":"Julie Daoust , Jay Schmalz , Chloë Rotsaert , Chelsea Vannieuwenhuyse , Jelle De Medts , Lieven Van Meulebroek , Cindy Duysburgh","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Minimally processed, whole mushroom powders (M2 Cordyceps 116™ and Myco-Multi™) were evaluated for their effects on the human gut microbiota using the Screening-Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®) in vitro model. A negative control (blank media) and positive control (inulin) were included. The test products were administered daily for 12 days. Both M2 Cordyceps 116™ and Myco-Multi™ enhanced acetate (significant for both test products) and butyrate (significant for M2 Cordyceps 116™) production versus the negative and positive controls. Distinct bacterial metabolic fingerprints were observed for the two test products and controls. The effect on microbial species richness and evenness was mild, indicating that the test products supported gut microbiome homeostasis. Beta diversity analysis showed distinct clustering with each test product and control, probably attributable to the stimulation of several butyrate-producing bacterial species following product supplementation. M2 Cordyceps 116™ and Myco-Multi™ demonstrated distinct prebiotic characteristics in the Screening-SHIME® model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107030"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145108481","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}
Yuan Xiao , Jiajia Dai , Mahbuba Siddiquy , Arif Hussain , Muhammad J. Umer , Hao Liu
{"title":"Evaluation of ethyl-rutinoside and aglycone-fortified Tartary buckwheat steamed bread in ameliorating hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic mice","authors":"Yuan Xiao , Jiajia Dai , Mahbuba Siddiquy , Arif Hussain , Muhammad J. Umer , Hao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107027","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107027","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ethyl-rutinoside and aglycones (ER-AG), transformation products of rutin formed during Tartary buckwheat processing, are recognized as bioactive compounds with potential roles in glycemic regulation. However, studies quantifying the hypoglycemic efficacy of Tartary buckwheat foods naturally enriched with ER-AG are still limited. This study produced Tartary buckwheat micronized bran steamed bread (TMBB) fortified with ER-AG and tested its impact on blood glucose regulation. Tartary buckwheat bran was modified through ultrafine grinding and enzymatic catalysis to obtain TMBB with elevated ER-AG content (1570.10 mg/100 g). In T2DM mice, TMBB showed higher hypoglycemic activity compared to wheat bread and commercial Tartary buckwheat steamed bread. TMBB treatment decreased blood glucose by 48.52 % relative to the untreated T2DM group and significantly reduced glycated serum protein and enhanced glucose tolerance. Markers of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia were also significantly improved (<em>p</em> < 0.05). These findings provide clear scientific evidence for the hypoglycemic potential of ER-AG–fortified TMBB.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107027"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145108480","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}
Harsh Kumar , Neetika Kimta , Sumeet Kapoor , Eugenie Nepovimova , Chirag Chopra , Tejas Suthar , Diána Ungai , Kovács Béla , Endre Harsanyi , Ayaz Mukarram Shaikh
{"title":"Dietary antioxidants in mitigating carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatoxicity: An integrative review of preclinical insights","authors":"Harsh Kumar , Neetika Kimta , Sumeet Kapoor , Eugenie Nepovimova , Chirag Chopra , Tejas Suthar , Diána Ungai , Kovács Béla , Endre Harsanyi , Ayaz Mukarram Shaikh","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Liver toxicity has remained the primary health concern globally, and carbon tetrachloride (CCl<sub>4</sub>) is well-known as a hepatotoxic agent. Being a powerful pro-oxidant, CCl<sub>4</sub> induces liver damage via lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and inflammation, which often leads to hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis and, in some cases, hepatocellular carcinoma. Owing to the limitations of traditional treatments and their related toxicity, dietary antioxidants have emerged as an effective natural solution for liver protection. The current review comprehends the information about plant-derived antioxidants such as curcumin, chlorogenic acids, ellagic acid, gallic acid, ginsenosides, hesperidin, kaempferol, lycopene, naringenin, quercetin, resveratrol, and rutin explores their potential in mitigating CCl<sub>4</sub>-induced liver toxicity based on preclinical data. It also discusses the diverse mechanisms and preclinical studies on animals, highlighting the potential of dietary antioxidants in reducing liver damage. This review intends to serve as the foundation to signify the potential of dietary antioxidants in managing and preventing liver toxicity and open new avenues for future research to explore their clinical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107020"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145060567","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":"Anti-diabetic effects of douchi-derived peptide-rich fraction on high-fat-diet and streptozotocin-treated mice and the underlying mechanisms by gut microbial metagenomic and hepatic transcriptomic profiling","authors":"Lishan Huang, Liufang Huang, Shujing Tang, Xiaoming Zeng, Jin Chen, Houliang Chen, Jingjing Guan, Guili Jiang, Donghui Luo, Xiaofei Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, a peptide-rich fraction (DPF) was isolated from Chinese <em>douchi</em>. The chemical compositions and peptide sequences of DPF were characterized. Subsequently, DPF was administered to high-fat diet (HFD)- and streptozotocin (STZ)-treated mice to evaluate its anti-diabetic potential. DPF contained 65.0 % peptide (by dry weight), with 288 peptide sequences identified. Animal experiments demonstrated that DPF significantly mitigated weight loss, decreased damage to the liver and pancreas, reduced glucose levels, improved glucose intolerance, increased insulin levels, and lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in HFD- and STZ-treated mice compared to diabetic mice, underscoring its anti-diabetic effects. Moreover, DPF partially counteracted the dysbiosis of gut microbiota in mice. Furthermore, hepatic transcriptomic profiling identified 821 differentially expressed genes, corresponding to 291 enriched KEGG pathways. These findings advance the current understanding of the bioactive potential of Chinese <em>douchi</em> and support its applications in functional foods for diabetes management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107028"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057350","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}
Panpan Liu , Yerui Ouyang , Ziying Gao , Jiayi Tan , Xiaodong Chen , Yiwen Xiao , Ya Wang , Jiantao Liu , Bin Liu , Boliang Gao , Du Zhu
{"title":"Decoding the gut-brain axis in depression: mechanistic insights and functional microbiota-based interventions","authors":"Panpan Liu , Yerui Ouyang , Ziying Gao , Jiayi Tan , Xiaodong Chen , Yiwen Xiao , Ya Wang , Jiantao Liu , Bin Liu , Boliang Gao , Du Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gut-brain axis has emerged as a critical research focus at the intersection of microbiology, nutrition, and neuropsychiatry, underscoring the complex, bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. Accumulating evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in the development and potential mitigation of depression through multiple physiological pathways. This review systematically summarizes current advances in understanding how the gut microbiota influences depressive symptoms, with particular attention to mechanisms involving neurotransmitter metabolism, immune system modulation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation. Additionally, the microbial production of neuroactive metabolites and the signaling roles of short-chain fatty acids, indoles, and bile acid derivatives in mood regulation were discussed. The bidirectional nature of gut-brain communication is further explored through the lens of microbial-host interaction, emphasizing how probiotics, prebiotics, and microbial biomarkers modulate gut-brain signaling pathways. Finally, the review outlines emerging strategies and future directions in microbiota-targeted interventions for depression, providing a scientific basis for the development of functional food approaches in mental health management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107029"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044676","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":"Matrine and oxymatrine; natural products with antiviral potentials","authors":"Kianush Charoghdoozi , Amirreza Khoshniat , Amirhossein Eskandarifar , Mahvash Sadeghi , Sina Eshaghi , Sajad Dehnavi , Mojgan Mohammadi","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Viral infections continue to pose a major global health threat due to limited treatment options and the rapid emergence of resistant strains. Natural compounds have gained increasing attention as potential antiviral agents with diverse mechanisms of action and favorable safety profiles. Matrine and oxymatrine, two major alkaloids derived from <em>Sophora</em> species, have demonstrated a broad spectrum of antiviral activities against both RNA and DNA viruses. This review highlights their immunomodulatory effects, such as the regulation of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance, enhancement of cytotoxic T lymphocyte function, and modulation of key signaling pathways, including TLR, NF-κB, and MAPK. Additionally, we discuss their direct antiviral actions, such as inhibition of viral replication, suppression of viral protein expression, and prevention of virus-host cell interactions. By summarizing current <em>in vitro</em>, <em>in vivo</em>, and clinical findings, this article underscores the therapeutic promise of matrine and oxymatrine as effective antiviral agents and encourage further research into their clinical application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107019"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044678","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":"Application status of royal jelly in the medical field","authors":"Jun-Hong Huang , Qian-Qian Wang , Shi-Yi Zhang , Chu-Yue Zhang , Yu Huang , Yan-Xia Feng , Shu-Ying Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Royal jelly (RJ), a representative product of food-medicine homology, possesses complex bioactive components including major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) and 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), contributing to its multifaceted pharmacological functions. This review systematically summarizes RJ's compositional profile, analytical techniques, and therapeutic effects across organ protection, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory domains. Clinical and preclinical studies highlight RJ's efficacy in managing metabolic disorders, reproductive dysfunction, neurodegenerative diseases, and promoting wound healing. Despite these findings, translation to clinical use remains limited by factors such as unclear mechanisms, low oral bioavailability, and the lack of high-quality randomized trials. Future research should prioritize standardization of RJ formulations, mechanistic elucidation of key components, pharmacokinetic profiling, and interdisciplinary integration, including nanotechnology and traditional medicine. These directions are critical to unlocking RJ's potential as both a functional food and biotherapeutic agent, promoting its role in modern health strategies rooted in food-medicine homology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107021"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044675","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}
Trina Ekawati Tallei , Jonathan Hartanto , Danar Wicaksono , Arga Setyo Adji , Nurpudji Astuti Taslim , Hardinsyah Hardinsyah , Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata , Raffaele Romano , Lucia De Luca , Antonello Santini , Fahrul Nurkolis
{"title":"Natural products nanocarriers: A perspective on precision immunotherapy for melanoma via mitochondrial targeting","authors":"Trina Ekawati Tallei , Jonathan Hartanto , Danar Wicaksono , Arga Setyo Adji , Nurpudji Astuti Taslim , Hardinsyah Hardinsyah , Raymond Rubianto Tjandrawinata , Raffaele Romano , Lucia De Luca , Antonello Santini , Fahrul Nurkolis","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Melanoma remains highly aggressive and resistant to current immunotherapies, partly due to mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming, which fosters an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This perspective highlights a novel precision immunotherapy approach using mitochondria-targeted nanocarriers for delivering immunomodulatory natural products. Bioactive phytochemicals like curcumin, berberine, and Raddeanin A possess intrinsic mitochondrial tropism and stimulate immune responses by inducing apoptosis, generating reactive oxygen species, and triggering mitochondrial DNA release. However, their clinical utility is limited by poor bioavailability and specificity. Advanced nanocarriers, including MITO-Porters, polymeric nanoparticles, and mitochondria-homing metal-organic frameworks, enhance selective mitochondrial targeting, bioavailability, and controlled release, significantly amplifying antitumor immunity and reducing off-target toxicity. This integrative strategy combining mitochondrial biology, natural product pharmacology, and nanomedicine holds significant translational potential, offering a promising therapeutic paradigm to overcome melanoma immunoresistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107024"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044674","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}
Yameng Zhu , Yuqi Fan , Lu Chen, Ye Shang, Zhoujing Feng, Linchang Fan, Huizi Ouyang, Jun He
{"title":"Protective effect and mechanism of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton on acute liver injury via an integrated strategy of pharmacodynamics, liver metabonomics and lipidomics, and network pharmacology","authors":"Yameng Zhu , Yuqi Fan , Lu Chen, Ye Shang, Zhoujing Feng, Linchang Fan, Huizi Ouyang, Jun He","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study first compared the protective effects of different parts of <em>Perilla frutescens</em> (L.) Britton leaves (PFo), stems (PCa), and seeds (PFr) on LPS/ D-GalN-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in rats, to screen the most effective parts. The results indicated that PFo can effectively improve the histopathological changes of the liver, significantly reduce ALT, AST, LDH, TBil, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels, and increase GSH levels in ALI rats. Moreover, PFo inhibited apoptosis and ROS production in D-GalN-stimulated HepG 2 cells, and suppressed TNF-α and IL-6 production in LPS-elicited RAW 264.7 cells. Subsequently, based on the optimal results of PFo's anti-ALI effects, comprehensive analyses of liver metabonomics and lipidomics, and network pharmacology indicated that TNF, AKT1, ALB, STAT3, ESR1, EGFR, and PTGS2 might be the major targets for the anti-ALI of PFo, demonstrating that PFo exerts therapeutic properties against ALI might be related to suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107022"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145044677","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}
Meehee Park , Sun-young Ryu , In-gyun Hwang , Yu-ri Kim , Jiyeon Yoo , Jisoo Park
{"title":"MTY001 probiotic improves muscle mass and function in a dexamethasone-induced atrophy mouse model","authors":"Meehee Park , Sun-young Ryu , In-gyun Hwang , Yu-ri Kim , Jiyeon Yoo , Jisoo Park","doi":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jff.2025.107017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Muscle atrophy is a critical health concern requiring effective therapeutic strategies. Probiotics show potential <em>via</em> the gut-muscle axis. This study screened for probiotic strains with anti–muscle atrophy properties.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Two <em>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</em> strains, MTY001 (kimchi) and MTY101 (radish kimchi), were selected for protective effects. Their culture supernatants (CS) were tested in a dexamethasone (DEX)-induced C2C12 myotube model, and MTY001 (strain) was tested in a DEX-induced muscle atrophy mouse model.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In C2C12, CS from MTY001 suppressed degradation and activated anabolic pathways. In mice, MTY001 significantly improved function (preserving grip strength and locomotor activity), increased total/hindlimb lean mass, and mitigated muscle fiber atrophy. Molecular profiling showed MTY001 modulated key regulators of proteolysis, differentiation, and synthesis. Similar effects were observed with MTY101 CS <em>in vitro</em>, and MTY101 in mice.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Collectively, these findings provide evidence that MTY001 is a promising multi-target probiotic for muscle-wasting conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":360,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Foods","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107017"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145026389","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}