First report of a new potato disease caused by Galactomyces candidum F12 in China

Potato(Solanum tuberosum L.)is an important crop throughout the world.An uncharacterized disease has been observed on potato plants during the growing season and tubers during the storage period from Nileke County,Qitai County and other locations in Xinjiang,China.A particular fungus was consistently isolated from the infected potato plants and tubers.Based on its morphology,molecular characteristics,pathogenicity test and internal transcribed spacer(ITS)sequence,the pathogens was identified as Galactomyces candidum F12.Further study also showed that the hyphae and conidia of the pathogenic fungus grew faster as the temperature was 30℃,pH was 7,soluble starch was used as optimal carbon source and yeast powder as optimal nitrogen source.In addition,12-h continuous ilumination light was beneficial to the hyphal growth,while 24-h continuous ilumination was beneficial to the sporulation of the strain at 30℃.To our knowledge,this is the first report of Galactomyces candidum causing leaf wilt and postharvest tuber rot on potato in China.

Guizhifuling Pills alleviates CCl-induced liver fibrosis in mice via modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways

Liver fibrosis is the common consequence underlying most chronic liver diseases.Guizhifuling(GZFL)pills are a traditional medicine described in Jin Gui Yao Lue,which has been confirmed to exert an anti-fibrotic effect.However,underlying mechanisms of GZFL in liver fibrosis remain understood.The present study was aimed to investigate the protective effects and the underlying mechanism of GZFL on liver fibrosis.We established the carbon tetrachloride(CCl,)-model of mice to induce hepatic fibrosis.

Plasma-assisted synthesis of porous bismuth nanosheets for electrocatalytic CO_(2)-to-formate reduction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction(eCO_(2)RR)to formate,driven by clean energy,is a promising approach for producing renewable chemicals and high-value fuels.Despite its potential,further development faces challenges due to limitations in electrocatalytic activity and durability,especially for nonnoble metal-based catalysts.Here,naturally abundant bismuth-based nanosheets that can effectively drive CO_(2)-to-formate electrocatalytic reduction are prepared using the plasma-activated Bi_(2)Se_(3) followed by a reduction process.Thus-obtained plasma-activated Bi nanosheets(P-BiNS)feature ultrathin structures and high surface areas.Such nanostructures ensure the P-BiNS with outstanding eCO_(2)RR catalytic performance,highlighted by the current density of over 80 mA cm^(-2) and a formate Faradic efficiency of>90%.Furthermore,P-BiNS catalysts demonstrate excellent durability and stability without deactivation following over 50h of operation.The selectivity for formate production is also studied by density functional theory(DFT)calculations,validating the importance and efficacy of the stabilization of intermediates(^(*)OCHO)on the P-BiNS surfaces.This study provides a facile plasma-assisted approach for developing high-performance and low-cost electrocatalysts.

Gelatins and antioxidant peptides from Skipjack tuna(Katsuwonus pelamis)skins:Purification,characterization,and cytoprotection on ultraviolet-A injured human skin fibroblasts

For full use of Skipjack tuna(Katsuwonus pelamis)canning by-products,gelatins(STG)were extracted from tuna skins using acid(STG-A),enzyme(STG-E)and hot water(STG-H)methods with yields of 65.30±1.56%,39.83±1.61%,and 50.97±1.44%,respectively.Due to the high imino acid contents(228,216,and 213 residues/1000 residues for STG-A,STG-E,and STG-H,respectively),STG-A showed the highest transparency and gel strength properties.Amino acid analysis,sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE),ultraviolet(UV)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)analysis confirmed that STG-A,STG-E,and STG-H kept the main structure of type I collagen,but enzyme and hot water extraction methods showed much stronger hydrolysis ability onαandβchains.Moreover,neutrase hydrolysate(STG-AH)of STG-A showed the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical(DPPH•)scavenging activity and the fraction STG-AH-І(<3.5 kDa)from STG-AH prepared by ultrafiltration could significantly protect human skin fibroblasts(HSFBs)against ultraviolet-A(UVA)injury.Furthermore,nineteen peptides with high antioxidant activity were purified from STG-AH-Іand identified.These results suggested that STG-AH and its derived antioxidant peptides could serve as potential ingredients applied in health benefiting products for preventing UVA injury.

Multi-protective effects of wheat embryo globulin on D-gal-induced aging mice

Wheat embryo globulin(WEG)has been proven to possess multiple biological activities,including antioxidative properties,immunomodulatory,and so on.Aged mouse model were established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose(D-gal),and the effects of WEG on learning,memory,and antioxidant capacity in aging mice were explored through behavioural tests and antioxidant enzyme activities determination.Compared with the Model group,WEG improved the percentage of the platform quadrant,increased the number of crossing platforms,and enhanced the identification indexs.WEG also increased total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activities in the liver and brains of aging mice,and reduced malondialdehyde(MDA)content.Pathological observations indicated that WEG protected against damage to brain in D-gal-induced aging mice.These results effectively revealed that WEG not only improved the abilities of learning and memory,and the cognitive impairment,but also delayed the aging process of the D-gal-induced mice.

High Fischer ratio oligopeptides in food:sources,functions and application prospects

High Fischer ratio oligopeptides(HFROs)are a group of oligopeptides containing high levels of branched-chain amino acids(BCAA)and low levels of aromatic amino acids(AAA).HFROs have received a lot of attention as they are believed to have significant physiological activities,including antioxidant,liver damage repair,anti-fatigue,anti-tumor and energy supply to the body.HFROs are available from a wide range of sources and both plant and animal proteins can be used to prepare HFROs but the physiological tolerability and rejection of special populations needs to be considered.Enzymatic hydrolysis is the most common method for the preparation of HFROs,but optimization of the separation and purification process is still needed in the future.Diseases caused by disruptions in the balance of BCAA and AAA in the blood,such as hepatic encephalopathy,can be treated by supplementing HFROs with drugs or food.In addition,HFROs are able to reduce fatigue feedback and assist in the treatment of phenylketonuria at the molecular nutrient level.The aim of this review is to review recent research on HFROs and provide new perspectives on the high value use of crops and the development of novel functional and special medical purpose foods.

Bacterial nanocellulose assembly into super-strong and humidity-responsive macrofibers

Cellulose macrofibers (MFs) are gaining increasing interest as natural and biodegradable alternatives to fossil-derived polymers for both structural and functional applications. However, simultaneously achieving their exceptional mechanical performance and desired functionality is challenging and requires complex processing. Here, we reported a one-step approach using a tension-assisted twisting (TAT) technique for MF fabrication from bacterial cellulose (BC). The TAT stretches and aligns BC nanofibers pre-arranged in hydrogel tubes to form MFs with compactly assembled structures and enhanced hydrogen bonding among neighboring nanofibers. The as-prepared BC MFs exhibited a very high tensile strength of 1 057 MPa and exceptional lifting capacity (over 340 000 when normalized by their own weight). Moreover, due to the volume expansion of BC nanofibers upon water exposure, BC MFs quickly harvested energy from environmental moisture to untwist the bundled networks, thus generating a torsional spinning with a peak rotation speed of 884 r/(min·m). The demonstrated rapid and intense actuation response makes the MFs ideal candidates for diverse humidity-response-based applications beyond advanced actuators, remote rain indicators, intelligent switches, and smart curtains.

Plasma-electrified up-carbonization for low-carbon clean energy

Low-value,renewable,carbon-rich resources,with different biomass feedstocks and their derivatives as typical examples,represent virtually inexhaustive carbon sources and carbon-related energy on Earth.Upon conversion to higher-value forms(referred to as“up-carbonization”here),these abundant feedstocks provide viable opportunities for energy-rich fuels and sustainable platform chemicals production.However,many of the current methods for such up-carbonization still lack sufficient energy,cost,and material efficiency,which affect their economics and carbon-emissions footprint.With external electricity precisely delivered,discharge plasmas enable many stubborn reactions to occur under mild conditions,by creating locally intensified and highly reactive environments.This technology emerges as a novel,versatile technology platform for integrated or stand-alone conversion of carbon-rich resources.The plasma-based processes are compatible for integration with increasingly abundant and cost-effective renewable electricity,making the whole conversion carbon-neutral and further paving the plasma-electrified upcarbonization to be performance-,environment-,and economics-viable.Despite the chief interest in this emerging area,no review article brings together the state-of-the-art results from diverse disciplines and underlies basic mechanisms and chemistry underpinned.As such,this review aims to fill this gap and provide basic guidelines for future research and transformation,by providing an overview of the application of plasma techniques for carbon-rich resource conversion,with particular focus on the perspective of discharge plasmas,the fundamentals of why plasmas are particularly suited for upcarbonization,and featured examples of plasma-enabled resource valorization.With parallels drawn and specificity highlighted,we also discuss the technique shortcomings,current challenges,and research needs for future work.

Characterization of acid-and pepsin-soluble collagens from spines and skulls of skipjack tuna(Katsuwonus pelamis)

Acid-soluble collagen(ASC) and pepsin-soluble collagen(PSC) from the spine(ASC-SP and PSC-SP) and skull(ASC-SK and PSC-SK) of the skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, were successfully isolated and characterized. The yields of ASC-SP, PSC-SP, ASC-SK and PSC-SK were(2.47 ± 0.39)%,(5.62 ± 0.82)%,(3.57 ± 0.40)%, and(6.71 ± 0.81)%, respectively, on the basis of dry weight. The four collagens contained Gly(330.2-339.1 residues/1 000 residues) as the major amino acid, and their imino acid contents were between 168.8 and 178.2 residues/1 000 residues. Amino acid composition, SDS-PAGE, and FTIR investigations confirmed that ASC-SP and ASC-SK were mainly composed of type I collagen, and had higher contents of high-molecular weight cross-links than those of PSC-SK and PSC-SP. The FTIR investigation also certified all the collagens had triple helical structure. The denaturation temperatures of ASC-SK, PSC-SK, ASC-SP, and PSC-SP were 17.8, 16.6, 17.6, and 16.5 °C, respectively. All isolated collagens were soluble at acidic pH(1-5) and lost their solubilities when the NaCl concentration was above 2%(W/V). The isolated collagens from the spines and skulls of skipjack tuna could serve as an alternative source of collagens for further application in food, cosmetic, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries.

Chemical and biological diversity of new natural products from marine sponges:a review(2009–2018)

Marine sponges are productive sources of bioactive secondary metabolites with over 200 new compounds isolated each year,contributing 23%of approved marine drugs so far.This review describes statistical research,structural diversity,and pharmacological activity of sponge derived new natural products from 2009 to 2018.Approximately 2762 new metabolites have been reported from 180 genera of sponges this decade,of which the main structural types are alkaloids and terpenoids,accounting for 50%of the total.More than half of new molecules showed biological activities including cytotoxic,antibacterial,antifungal,antiviral,anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,enzyme inhibition,and antimalarial activities.As summarized in this review,macrolides and peptides had higher proportions of new bioactive compounds in new compounds than other chemical classes.Every chemical class displayed cytotoxicity as the dominant activity.Alkaloids were the major contributors to antibacterial,antifungal,and antioxidant activities while steroids were primarily responsible for pest resistance activity.Alkaloids,terpenoids,and steroids displayed the most diverse biological activities.The statistic research of new compounds by published year,chemical class,sponge taxonomy,and biological activity are presented.Structural novelty and significant bioactivities of some representative compounds are highlighted.Marine sponges are rich sources of novel bioactive compounds and serve as animal hosts for microorganisms,highlighting the undisputed potential of sponges in the marine drugs research and development.

Comparative analysis of four active compounds of Baikal skullcap and its classical TCM prescriptions according to different clinical curative effects

Objective: A sensitive HPLC-DAD detection method was established for the comparative analysis of the four active compounds(including baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside and wogonin) of Baikal Skullcap and its classical TCM prescriptions according to different clinical curative effects. And analyze the relationship between compatibility of medicines, content and clinical curative effect.Methods: Water extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection(HPLC-DAD), using an Agilent extend-C_(18)(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm) column by using solvent A(0.2% phosphoric acid water) and solvent B(methanol) in the ratio of 52:48(v/v) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. The column temperature was maintained at 25°C and the detection wavelength was set at 280 nm.Results: In quantitative analysis, the four selected markers showed good regression(R^2>0.999) within test ranges. The average recoveries were between 99.75~100.60% and their RSD values were between 0.97%~1.71%. The proportions of the four chemical compounds for different efficacy were 33.51~35.76: 6.78~6.87: 3.45~3.64: 1; 18.6~23.64: 3.63~4.27: 1.36~1.53: 1; 29.94~31.78: 5.14~5.23: 3.28~3.56: 1; 33.99~41.91:5.83~7.42: 2.83~3.39: 1.Conclusion: Clinical practice of thousands of years have proved that the curative effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine depends on the compatibility of different kinds of medicine material crude slices. According to this study we found that different compatibility of medicines leads to different proportions of the chemical compounds. We assume that there is a certain correlation between therapeutical effect of TCM and compatibility of medicines.

Effect of NaCl treatments on glucosinolate metabolism in broccoli sprouts

To understand the regulation mechanism of NaCI on glucosinolate metabolism in broccoli sprouts, the germination rate, fresh weight, contents of glucosinolates and sulforaphane, as well as myrosinase activity of broccoli sprouts germinated under 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mmol/L of NaCI were investigated in our experiment. The results showed that glucoerucin, glucobrassicin, and 4-hydroxy glucobrassicin in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts were significantly enhanced and the activity of myrosinase was inhibited by 100 mmol/L of NaCI. However, the total glucosinolate content in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts was markedly decreased although the fresh weight was significantly increased after treatment with NaCI at relatively low concentrations （20, 40, and 60 mmol/L）. NaCI treatment at the concentration of 60 mmol/L for 5 d maintained higher biomass and comparatively higher content of glucosinolates in sprouts of broccoli with decreased myrosinase activity. A relatively high level of NaCI treatment （100 mmol/L） significantly increased the content of sulforaphane in 7-d-old broccoli sprouts compared with the control. These results indicate that broccoli sprouts grown under a suitable concentration of NaCI could be desirable for human nutrition.

Antihepatofibrotic effect of Guizhifuling pill(桂枝茯苓丸) on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects and the underlying mechanism of Guizhifuling pill(桂枝茯苓丸, GZFL) on carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. METHODS: Male ICR mice by intraperitoneally administered with 20% CCl4(mixed 1∶4 in soybean oil) to induce liver fibrosis. Mice that underwent CCl4 were orally with GZFL. Using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson staining to examine the pathological changes in liver tissue. Serum biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity and proinflammatory cytokines was assessed. Nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) pathway and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) family members were evaluated by Western blotting. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that GZFL could effectively suppress the progression of liver fibrosis in mice, which was determined based on the improvement in liver function and reduction of collagen deposition. GZFL treatment also decreased the level of cytokines and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in liver tissue. Moreover, GZFL exerted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through regulating the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant system and inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSIONS: GZFL may prevent the progression of liver fibrosis by regulating the Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways, thereby highlighting its role in the management of liver fibrosis.

Polyphenol-based hydrogels: Pyramid evolution from crosslinked structures to biomedical applications and the reverse design

As a kind of nature-derived bioactive materials, polyphenol-based hydrogels possess many unique and outstanding properties such as adhesion, toughness, and self-healing due to their specific crosslinking structures, which have been widely used in biomedical fields including wound healing, antitumor, treatment of motor system injury, digestive system disease, oculopathy, and bioelectronics. In this review, starting with the classi-fication of common polyphenol-based hydrogels, the pyramid evolution process of polyphenol-based hydrogels from crosslinking structures to derived properties and then to biomedical applications is elaborated, as well as the efficient reverse design considerations of polyphenol-based hydrogel systems are proposed. Finally, the existing problems and development prospects of these hydrogel materials are discussed. It is hoped that the unique perspective of the review can promote further innovation and breakthroughs of polyphenol-based hydrogels in the future.

High Fischer ratio oligopeptides from hard-shelled mussel:Preparation and hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice

High Fischer ratio oligopeptides(HFOPs)have a variety of physiological activities,but there are few literatures reporting the hepatoprotective effects of HFOPs against acetaminophen(APAP)-induced liver injury.The ob-jectives of this study were to establish the preparation process of HFOPs from hard-shelled mussel(Mytilus coruscus)(HFOPs-HM)and investigate the hepatoprotective effects and potential mechanisms of HFOPs-HM against APAP-induced liver injury in mice.Therefore,trypsin and papain were selected as the endo and exog-enous proteases for preparing HFOPs-HM according to the degree of hydrolysis(DH)of hard-shelled mussel hydrolysates,and activated carbon of XHJ-200 displayed the best effect to remove aromatic amino acids ac-cording to the Fischer ratio(OD220/OD280)and its parameters were optimized as adsorption time of 3.0 h and solid-liquid ratio of 1:10.The HFOPs-HM’s Fischer ratio and average molecular weight were 26.03(>20)and 878.54 Da,respectively.Furthermore,a mice model of liver injury induced by APAP was established.HFOPs-HM could significantly improve liver index and histopathological features,decrease the serum alanine aminotrans-ferase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)activities,increase the glutathione content and superoxide dis-mutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)activities.Further research demonstrated that HFOPs-HM could alleviate liver oxidative stress in liver tissue via activating the Nrf2 pathway to initiate the intracellular antioxidant enzyme system.In addition,HFOPs-HM also suppressed liver inflammation by downregulating the secretion of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6.Thus,HFOPs-HM could serve as an auxiliary functional dietary molecule applied in function products to alleviate drug-induced liver injury.

CaCO_(3)-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-responsive fungicides release

The utilization of fungicides in plants is very low,emphasizing the need to improve their utilization rates.In this study,the fungicide dimethachlon(Dim)was encapsulated within hollow mesoporous silica(HMSNs),and a coating was formed on the HMSNs surface through the reaction of Na_(2)CO_(3)and CaCl_(2),resulting in a pH-responsive delivery system named D/H@CaCO_(3),proven valuable in preventing sclerotinia diseases in romaine lettuce.When disease-infested romaine lettuce was treated with D/H@CaCO_(3),it degraded in the acidic microenvironment of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum(S.sclerotiorum),allowing for the p H-responsive release of Dim and effectively killing S.sclerotiorum.Moreover,the degraded CaC O_(3)coating releases CO_(2),which enhances the photosynthetic pigment contents,such as chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b,and carotenoids,in turn promoting plant growth.D/H@CaCO_(3)is biologically safe for plants and is environmentally friendly,as confirmed by assessments involving zebrafish and earthworms.Given their antifungal capabilities,the controlled release of fungicides offers potential for plant protection.

Two new diterpene alkaloids from the South China Sea Sponge Agelas aff. nemoechinata

Two new N-methyladenine-containing diterpenes,nemoechines F（l）and G（2）,were isolated from the South China Sea sponge Agelas aff.nemoechinata.The structures were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic date.Compound 2 showed weak activity against Jurkat cell lines with IC50 of 17.1 μmol/L

New bisabolane-type phenolic sesquiterpenoids from the marine sponge Plakortis simplex

Six new bisabolane-type phenolic sesquiterpenoids,including plakordiols A-D(1-4),(7 R,10 R)-hydroxycurcudiol(5)and(7 R,10 S)-hydroxycurcudiol(6)were isolated from the marine sponge Plakortis simplex collected from the South China Sea.Their structures were determined based on extensive analysis of spectroscopic data.Their configurations were assigned by coupling constant analysis,NOESY correlations,and the modified Mosher’s method.Furthermore,their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities were evaluated.