Objective To investigate the effects of enzymatic hydrolysis combined with ultrasonication extraction conditions on the yield, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of Mori fructus polysaccharides. Methods Using Mori fructus pomace as the raw material and the yield of Mori fructus polysaccharide as the index, the extraction conditions was optimized through single-factor experiments. Then the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity, 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS⁺) radical scavenging capacity, and the inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity of hot water extracting polysaccharide (HWP), enzyme-assisted extracting polysaccharide (EWP), ultrasound-assisted extracting polysaccharide (UWP), enzymatic hydrolysis combined with ultrasonication extracting polysaccharide (EUP) were investigated. Results The optimal conditions for polysaccharide extraction by enzymatic hydrolysis combined with ultrasonication was obtained. Mori fructus pomace powder was mixed with water at ratio of 1:80 (g:mL), and 2.0% composite enzyme (cellulase and pectinase at a ratio of 1:1, V:V) was added in the mixture which was maintained at 50 ℃ for 2 h with stirring. Then the mixture was treated by ultrasonication at 400 W and 60 ℃ for 50 min, and the final yield of EUP was 4.81%, increased by 7.6%, 17.5% and 21.6% compared with HWP, EWP and UWP. EUP also exhibited an improvement in the scavenging activity of both ABTS⁺ radical and DPPH radical. Compared with HWP, EWP and UWP, the semi-inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of α-amylase activity of EUP was 1.18 mg/mL, reduced by 40.1%, 18.6% and 30.6%, respectively, and the IC₅₀ of α-glucosidase activity of EUP was 0.31 mg/mL, reduced by 16.8%, 8.0% and 39.4%, respectively. Conclusion The enzymatic hydrolysis combined with ultrasonication extraction can not only improve the Mori fructus polysaccharide yield, but also enhance the antioxidant power and hypoglycemic activity of Mori fructus polysaccharide, which has a potential application prospect in the industry.

Objective To understand the drug resistance phenotypes,, carriage of drug resistance genes and virulence genes, serotypes and sequence type (ST) classification of Campylobacter jejuni in Xuzhou from 2023 to 2024. Methods Whole genome sequencing was conducted on Campylobacter jejuni isolated from Xuzhou City in 2023—2024 to understand the molecular characteristics such as virulence genes, drug resistance genes, and multilocus sequence typing. The serotypes related to Guillain-Barré syndrome were identified by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the drug resistance phenotypes were determined by agar dilution method. Results Forty-eight strains of Campylobacter jejuni were classified into 24 ST types. ST137 was the most numerous, accounted for 18.75% (9/48). Fifteen strains were found to have serotypes related to Guillain-Barré syndrome. A total of 24 drug resistance genes and 121 virulence genes were detected. The top 3 antibiotics with the highest resistance rates were nalidixic acid (100.00%), ciprofloxacin (100.00%), and tetracycline (97.92%). They were 100.0% sensitive to erythromycin, and the multi-drug resistance rate reached 62.50% (30/48). Conclusion Campylobacter jejuni in Xuzhou area is characterized by a high rate of multi-drug resistance, a relatively high carrying rate of some drug resistance genes, a high carrying rate of virulence genes, a large number of sequence types (ST types), and shows relatively high genetic diversity.

Objective To establish a high-throughput sequencing method for detecting cereal allergen species based on next-generation sequencing technology. Methods Taking Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Fagopyrum esculentum and Fagopyrum tataricum as research objects, next-generation sequencing technology was used for the high-throughput identification of cereal allergen samples with different proportions and mixing methods and commercially available samples were collected to verify the method’s applicability. Results In different proportions of simulated samples, Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Fagopyrum esculentum and Fagopyrum tataricum were detected, the limit of detection was as low as 0.1%, but the measured relative abundance of species and the actual amount of different additives; in different mixing methods but the same proportion of simulated samples, cereal allergens had been detected; the relative abundance of DNA mixing and mixing of raw materials and raw material mixing methods were different from the actual amount of species, and raw material mixing methods of species relative abundance closer to the exact amount of additives; commercial samples contained varying degrees of grain allergens, while a small number of samples with the ingredient list or label. Conclusion The detection method established in this study enables specific and simultaneous identification of 4 cereal allergens (Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare, Fagopyrum esculentum and Fagopyrum tataricum). By conducting relative quantitative analysis of species abundance, the method can effectively determine the content of cereal allergens in samples.

Objective To understand the quality of Triticum aestivum L. in Henan Province from 2020 to 2024. Methods A comparative analysis was conducted on the quality data of Triticum aestivum L. in Henan Province from 2020 to 2024. Results The quality of Triticum aestivum L. in Henan Province showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2020 to 2024. Due to weather conditions, the Triticum aestivum L. quality in 2023 was the worst, with an average test weight of 755 g/L. The proportion of third grade or above (including third grade) was 64.4%, and the average of defected kernel was as high as 34.6%. The overall quality of Triticum aestivum L. in 2022 was the best, with an average test weight of 801 g/L. The proportion of third grade or above (including third grade) was 99.6%, and the average of defected kernel was 2.9%. Through the analysis of Triticum aestivum L. quality over the past 5 years, it was found that Triticum aestivum L. in Henan Province was mainly composed of medium gluten varieties, strong gluten varieties had been effectively promoted throughout the province, and weak gluten Triticum aestivum L. had been well promoted in some areas of Southern Henan. Henan Province had a wide variety of Triticum aestivum L. planting varieties, and the number of Triticum aestivum L. varieties had been increasing year by year in the past 5 years. Conclusion The quality of Triticum aestivum L. in Henan Province is relatively good, mainly consisting of medium gluten varieties, which are suitable for the processing of various flour products. But there are problems such as a wide variety of varieties and a low proportion of large-scale planting.

Objective To explore the antioxidant activity and stability of peptides from the visceral of Todarodes pacificus. Methods Free radical scavenging capacities of peptides from the visceral of Todarodes pacificus were determined, while the effects of temperature, pH and gastrointestinal digestion on the antioxidant activity of peptides from the visceral of Todarodes pacificus were also evaluated. Results The peptides from the visceral of Todarodes pacificus exhibited excellent free radical scavenging abilities, with half maximal inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values of 1.38, 15.26, 0.90 and 2.21 mg/mL for scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) cationic radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion radicals, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the peptides remained relatively stable within a temperature range of 25-100 °C. Under pH conditions of 7.0-8.0, their antioxidant activity showed no significant change (P>0.05), but it significantly decreased under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions (P<0.05). After in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the peptides still maintained strong antioxidant activity. Conclusion The peptides from the visceral of Todarodes pacificus has good antioxidant activity and stability, but it shall be noted that the processing and storage of its related products avoid the influence of high temperature and extreme acid-base conditions. The present research will open up new ways for the high-value utilization of the visceral of Todarodes pacificus resources and provide scientific guidance for the innovative development of natural antioxidant peptides.

Objective To optimize the acid hydrolysis-Fehling reagent titration method and the acid hydrolysis-3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) colorimetric method to compare the consistency of different methods for measuring starch content in grain crop samples. Methods Experimental conditions, including ethanol washing volume, acid addition volume, acid hydrolysis time, sample solution pH, detection wavelength, chromogenic agent volume, color development time and color development temperature, were optimized to determine the optimal processing conditions for determining the starch content in such products. Results The optimal conditions for the acid hydrolysis-Fehling reagent titration method were as follows: After weighing the sample, fats and soluble sugars were removed using an appropriate amount of petroleum ether and ethanol; 25 mL of hydrochloric acid was added, followed by condensation reflux for 120 minutes; the hydrolyzed sample solution was neutralized with sodium hydroxide, filtered, and the filtrate was titrated with alkaline copper tartrate methyl and ethyl solution at a rate of one drop every 2 seconds. The optimal conditions for the acid hydrolysis-DNS colorimetric method were as follows: After removing fat, sugar and acid hydrolysis, the sample solution pH was adjusted to 8-9; for samples with color and high protein content, 10 mL of lead acetate was added to reduce or eliminate pigment interference; after filtration, 2 mL of DNS was added to the filtrate, followed by color development in a water bath at 90-100 °C for 12 minutes; the absorbance was measured at 540 nm using a spectrophotometer, and the determination was completed within 4 hours. Both methods had a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 2% and a relative error (RE) of less than 4%. The measurement results had passed mean consistency test and paired samples t-test. Conclusion The 2 kinds of optimized methods are more efficient and accurate compared to the national standard method, with good accuracy and precision making them suitable for starch content determination in grain crops.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of throat lozenge concentrate in promoting the resolution of bacterial inflammation. Methods Danio rerio model of lipopolysaccharide-induced bacterial inflammation was employed. In order to analyze the efficacy in bacterial inflammation resolution, the transgenic Danio rerio at 3-day post-fertilization was randomly selected for setting a normal control group, a model experimental group, a positive control group and throat lozenge concentrate (at the mass concentrations of 62.5, 125.0 and 250.0 μg/mL) dosage groups. Results Throat lozenge concentrate was found to reduce the amount of neutrophils, decrease the fluorescence intensity of macrophages, lower the nitric oxide fluorescence intensity at the inflammatory site, and downregulate the relative expression levels of cox2, myd88, erk2, nf-κb and tnf-α genes, while upregulating the relative expression level of the iκb-α gene. At a low mass concentration (62.5 µg/mL), the relative expression levels of inos and il-1β genes could be downregulated Conclusion The throat lozenge concentrate demonstrates efficacy in promoting the resolution of bacterial inflammation, thereby providing a scientific basis for its application in product development.

Food thermal processing is a crucial method for transforming raw materials into edible products suitable for long-term storage. However, while this process enhances the taste and extends the shelf life of food, it can also generate a range of chemical contaminants, including acrylamide, heterocyclic amines, furan, advanced glycation end-products, chloropropanols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines. These contaminants are believed to have carcinogenic, mutagenic and other toxic effects on human health. Metabolomics, as an emerging field of omics science, analyzes alterations in small molecules within cells and organisms to identify key metabolites and their associated pathways, thus providing valuable insights into the toxic mechanisms of food processing contaminants. This review first summarized the major contaminants produced during food thermal processing and their toxicological characteristics. It then discussed in detail the progress made in metabolomics in investigating the effects of these contaminants on the metabolic profiles of organisms and their associated toxic mechanisms. Additionally, the review addressed current challenges in metabolomics research, such as the complexity of metabolic products from food processing contaminants, difficulties in data analysis, and the lack of standardized experimental and analytical methods. Finally, the review highlights the future prospects of metabolomics in enhancing food safety assessments and identifying potential health risks, particularly through technological innovations and artificial intelligence to advance this field.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), characterized by their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation potential, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties, and chemical stability, have been extensively applied in industrial production and daily life. However, the widespread presence of these compounds poses significant threats to both ecological systems and human health. Dietary intake, particularly through animal-derived foods (e.g., fish, shellfish, poultry, and their processed products), represents a primary pathway of human exposure to PFASs. To effectively assess their health risks and formulate relevant regulatory policies, it is crucial to establish rapid, efficient, and sensitive detection methods for monitoring PFAS contamination levels in animal-derived foods. This review systematically summarized sample preparation techniques for PFAS analysis in animal-derived foods and highlights advancements in chromatographic and chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods for detection. Furthermore, it provided an overview of current research on PFAS contamination levels across various food matrices, offering critical insights for environmental pollution assessment, food safety regulation, and optimization of analytical technologies.

Objective To investigate the distribution, sources, and gene cassette contents of integrative and conjugative elements in microorganisms contaminating cooked poultry meat products. Methods Cooked duck meat was purchased, and DNA extraction, sequencing, assembly, binning, and metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) acquisition were performed. These MAGs were then compared with an integron database. Results A total of 110 integrative and conjugative elements belonging to 65 distinct types were detected in the contaminating microbiota of cooked duck meat, primarily originating from 31 host microorganisms, including Mesorhizobium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Among these integrative and conjugative elements, there were 9 kinds of transposases, 1 kinds of virulence factor gene, and 19 resistance-related genes, including 10 tetracycline resistance genes. Additionally, 11 defense genes, all of which were phage-defense genes, were identified. Conclusion The discovery of various integrative and conjugative elements, virulence factors, resistance-related genes, and defense genes reveals the complex genetic diversity of microorganisms in food. This provides important clues for studying horizontal gene transfer and has significant implications for assessing food safety and preventing and controlling foodborne pathogens. The effective application of metagenomic technology in integron research also demonstrates its potential in the fields of food safety and public health.