Latest ArticlesTo employ ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-QE-HRMS) to systematically analyze the metabolites in Astragalus membranaceus under different dried and fresh states, explore the differences of alkaloid substances.
Differential metabolites were screened using principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, and enrichment analysis was conducted based on pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.
Total of 4771 kinds of metabolites were identified in both dried and fresh Astragalus membranaceus, including 49 kinds of alkaloids belonging to 12 categories: Indoles, pyridines, isoquinolines, pyrrolidines, imidazoles, piperidines, purines, diterpenoids, tropanes, indolizidines, organic amines and steroids. Alkaloid compounds with significant different content were screened using the criteria of P<0.05, fold change>2 or <0.5, and variable importance in projection>1. Among these, α-calcaine was found in highercontent in fresh Astragalus membranaceus, whereas dauricine, 2-hydroxyadenine, 3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridine, nicotinamide, L-valine and N-oxide (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) were more abundant in the dried samples.
This study reveals the differences in alkaloid compounds between fresh and dried Astragalus membranaceus, providing a theoretical basis for the further development and utilization of its bioactive alkaloid components in this medicinal herb.
To clarify the regulatory logic and key compliance requirements for food contact materials across different economies, this paper conducted a comparative analysis of the relevant regulations in China, Japan and the European Union from 4 dimensions: Regulatory frameworks, new substance assessment, product information transmission and notification and alert mechanisms. The results showed that all 3 jurisdictions took “ensuring food safety” as the core objective and had established a dual-layer framework consisting of general regulations and material-specific requirements, with common features in areas such as good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements and regulatory notification systems. The differences were mainly reflected in new substance assessment, where the processes in China and the European Union are relatively well developed, while Japan’s system remains to be further improved; and in labeling management, where China and the European Union had clear standards, whereas Japan had yet to establish a unified approach. This study can provide reference for cross-border compliance of Chinese food contact material enterprises and offer theoretical support for the further alignment of China’s regulatory system with international standards.
To explore the effects of cold oxygen plasma (COP) coupling ultraviolet (UV) technology on microbial inactivation in Spirulina platensis slurry, and optimize sterilization conditions based on parameters such as color and cell fragmentation.
Spirulina platensis slurry with varying mass fractions was processed by adjusting the power and time of COP-UV technology and measuring changes in total bacterial count, pathogenic bacteria count, color and protein solubility.
After comprehensively considering the sterilization efficiency, cost and algal cell rupture, the optimal sterilization conditions for COP-UV technology were as follows: 200 mL 20%(m:V) algal slurry with 800 W COP and 40 W UV for 5 min treatment, the maximum temperature was only 38 ℃, the sterilization efficiency of the algal slurry reached 95.66% and the dissolution rate of algal cell protein was only 10.56%, the total color of Spirulina platensis slurry showed only slight visible changes. In addition, the sterilization order of COP-UV technology on 3 kinds of pathogenic bacteria was: Bacillus subtilis (74.86%)>Escherichia coli(61.45%)>Staphylococcus aureus (58.53%), which might be attributed to the difference in the composition of the cell membrane and wall of pathogenic bacteria.
COP-UV technology can achieve effective sterilization with minimal structural damage to cells of Spirulina platensis, ensuring the safety and quality of Spirulina platensis powder and related products. Therefore, COP-UV technology will hold great potential applications in ensuring the quality and safety of heat-sensitive products.
Chloropropanols (e.g., 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol) are non-intentionally added contaminants in paper and paperboard materials intended for food contact. They exhibit multiple toxicological effects. These compounds primarily originate from side reactions occurring during the synthesis of wet-strength agents based on polyamide-epichlorohydrin resins, which are commonly used in papermaking processes. If not effectively removed, chloropropanols may migrate from food packaging materials into food, posing potential health risks to consumers. China has already established relevant national food safety standards that set maximum limits for chloropropanol residues in paper and paperboard intended for food contact. Similar risk management measures have also been implemented internationally. This article reviewed the pollution sources, formation mechanisms and supervision measures of chloropropanols in paper and paperboard materials, and provided an overview of existing research on chloropropanol residues in paper and paperboard intended for food contact. The aim is to enhance awareness among industry stakeholders and the general public regarding the health risks associated with these contaminants, thereby supporting further research and improving risk management to better protect consumer health.
To establish an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 19 kinds of metal elements in Oviductus ranae by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Samples were digested using a microwave-assisted digestion system with a HNO3-H2O2 (5:2, V:V) mixed acid system. Spectral interferences were eliminated using an eight-stage rod collision/reaction cell system, and instrument parameters were optimized to improve sensitivity and accuracy. Quantification was performed using the internal standard method.
Method validation using certified reference material (GSB-28) and spiked recovery tests showed that the recoveries for the 19 kinds of elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Tl, Pb, U) ranged from 87.8% to 108.6%, with relative standard deviations less than 10%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.1 to 48.3 μg/kg. Analysis of actual samples indicated higher content of elements such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Sr, while levels of Cr, As and Cd were relatively low.
The established method is simple in sample preparation, highly sensitive and exhibits good stability. It is suitable for the rapid and simultaneous detection of multiple trace elements in Oviductus ranae, providing technical support for quality control and standard formulation.
Glass products are widely used in various food contact articles, including food packaging and kitchenware, due to their texture, stable chemical properties and inherent safety. However, the diversification of glass raw materials and the increasing complexity of processing technologies in recent years, while enhancing product aesthetics and texture, have also raised potential safety concerns regarding the migration of metallic elements such as cobalt and chromium. To better safeguard consumer health, various countries and regions have successively introduced or revised regulations and standards for food-contact glass products. The increase in unknown food safety risks in food-contact glass products and the changes in regulations and standards have greatly increased the compliance difficulty for the industry in global trade. This paper systematically reviewed the regulatory standards for food-contact glass products across key organizations, nations, and regions—including the International Organization for Standardization, China, the European Union and its member states, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Russia. A comparative analysis of their food safety requirements was conducted from 5 dimensions: Regulatory frameworks, limit specifications, testing conditions, analytical methods and compliance assessment criteria. Furthermore, recommendations were proposed for product quality and compliance management within the food-contact glass products industry, as well as for future research directions in this domain. The aim of this study is to provide a reference for enhancing food safety risk control, compliance governance and standard optimization for food-contact glass products.
To establish an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 15 kinds of quinolone residues in aquatic products by magnetic solid-phase extraction purification technology combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).
Samples were extracted with acetonitrile-methanol (80:20, V:V) solution, and the extract was purified and enriched using Fe3O4@ZIF-8 core-shell structured magnetic nanomaterials. The mobile phase consisted of 0.2% formic acid water and methanol, with gradient elution, and analysis was performed under positive ion mode with electrospray ionization.
The 15 kinds of quinolones showed a good linear relationship within the range of 2.0–500.0 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients all greater than 0.998; the limits of detection were 0.05–0.28 μg/kg, and the limits of quantitation were 0.16–0.84 μg/kg. At 3 spiked levels, the average recovery ranged from 75.3% to 108.1%, with relative standard deviations of 1.1%–9.3%.
This method is simple, rapid and highly sensitive, and the magnetic materials used exhibit excellent adsorption performance and are reusable, conforming to green environmental protection principles. It has been successfully applied to the analysis and detection of quinolones in aquatic products such as grass carp, crucian carp, snakehead, loach, eel, bullfrog and geiwei shrimp.
Shrimp meat is abundant in protein and low in fat, making it a quintessential high-protein, low-fat food. Shrimps are important aquatic products with worldwide distribution and huge consumption volume. However, they are highly susceptible to microorganisms, endogenous enzymes and other influencing factors during fishing, processing, storage and transportation, which easily lead to quality deterioration such as spoilage and blackening. As the most widely used preservation method in production, chemical preservatives have the advantages of good practical effect, low price and simple operation. However, their strict use limit is difficult to guarantee in production practice. Other technologies, such as irradiation preservation, fluidized ice, slightly acidic electrolyzed water, ultra-high pressure, nanomaterials and biologically-derived preservatives, each have distinct advantages but also suffer from various drawbacks, including high costs, complex operations, poor practicality and low efficiency. This paper reviewed the existing anti-blackening and preservation technologies for shrimp, focused on the combination strategies of different barrier factors and their collaborative anti-blackening and preservation effectiveness, aiming to provide ideas for the development of new, efficient and environmentally friendly shrimp preservation technologies.
To study the optimal application conditions for alginate lyase and construction the optimal process for a specialized composite enzyme preparation targeting Ascophyllum nodosum.
The optimal reaction conditions of alginate lyase were determined by the control variable method. Based on these optimal conditions, Ascophyllum nodosum was selected as the research material, and cellulase, pectinase and papain were used for composite enzyme preparation. The optimal technological parameters for compound enzymatic hydrolysis of Ascophyllum nodosum were obtained via response surface methodology. Under the optimized conditions, Ascophyllum nodosum from different geographical populations (Peru, Chile and France) were subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis. Using the extraction rate of alginate oligosaccharides as the evaluation index, the degradation capacity of the compound enzyme preparation against seaweed from different origins was analyzed. By comparing the extraction rate of alginate oligosaccharides and the solid conversion rate of enzymatic hydrolysis products, the hydrolysis efficiency of the composite enzyme preparation was verified.
The optimal application conditions for the alginate lyase were an enzyme dosage of 0.50%, pH 7.5, reaction time 18 h and hydrolysis temperature 45 ℃. The optimal process conditions for the composite enzyme preparation of Ascophyllum nodosum enzymatic hydrolysis were cellulase 1.82%, pectinase 1.2%, papain 1.5% and alginate lyase 0.6%, solid-liquid ratio was 1:25 (g:mL), with an enzymatic hydrolysis temperature of 45 ℃, pH 7.22 and a reaction time of 18 h. Under these conditions, the extraction rates of alginate oligosaccharides was 14.46%.
By analyzing the degradation effects of the composite enzyme preparation from this study on Ascophyllum nodosum from different sources, it is found that this composite enzyme preparation effectively degrades Ascophyllum nodosum from various sources, and its enzymatic efficacy surpasses that of commercially available composite enzyme preparations on the market. The composite enzyme preparation constructed in this study can directly enzymolyze Ascophyllum nodosum to prepare alginate oligosaccharides, realizing the direct utilization of seaweed resources. It provides a new idea and technical reference for the low-cost preparation of functional alginate oligosaccharides and the development of related agricultural biological products.
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