Journal of Food and Drug Analysis最新文献

The tubers of Lepidium meyenii (commonly known as maca) have been used in the Andean cuisine for ages. The study aims to determine the behavior of the extract from the red phenotype of maca in the in vitro gastrointestinal tract model and also to define the overall impact of the extract on the microbiota. Glucosinolates, lepidilines, and a derivative of β-carboline alkaloid, i.e. 1-methyltetrahydro-β-5,6-hydride-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, as representatives of one of the main groups of metabolites were selected for the quantitative analysis after in vitro digestion at every stage of the digestion model. The results showed that lepidilines remained highly stable throughout the digestive simulation, whereas glucosinolates and the β-carboline derivative were substantially degraded, under the influence of the enzymes and bacteria applied in the "large intestine". In addition, the red maca extract exhibited prebiotic activity by promoting the growth of selected lactic acid bacteria, with Lactococcus lactis showing the most pronounced response, suggesting that maca-derived preparations may hold promising potential as ingredients in functional foods and microbiota-targeted nutritional formulations.

Heroin is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance with severe legal consequences for its use, whereas liquid Brown Mixture (BM) is a legally available and commonly prescribed cough remedy in Taiwan. However, numerous cases of BM ingestion have been misinterpreted as heroin use because BM contains opium tincture, leading to similar urine test results. Owing to the rapid metabolism of heroin, detection of the parent drug and its primary metabolite, 6-acetylmorphine, in urine is difficult; thus, interpretation often relies on morphine concentration and the morphine-to-codeine (M/C) ratio, which can be inconclusive. In our BM analysis, the M/C ratio was 3.3 ± 0.4, and among 5094 morphine-positive urine samples, 279 (5.5%) had M/C ratios between 2 and 4, suggesting that a substantial number of individuals could be misidentified. Given the lack of reliable urinary biomarkers to distinguish BM from heroin use, this study aimed to identify BM-specific indicators. BM contains antimony (Sb) potassium tartrate, an emetic agent absent in heroin formulations. Although urinary Sb levels are low, they can be quantified using highly sensitive inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A pharmacokinetic study involving single and multiple BM doses revealed that urinary Sb increased from ≤0.11 ng/mL pre-dose to 0.4-98.9 ng/mL post-dose. Morphine and codeine were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and M/C ratios ranged from 2.0 to 14.9, showing a secondary rise at later stages. These findings suggest that urinary Sb may serve as a useful supplementary biomarker for BM ingestion, thereby enhancing the accuracy of forensic toxicological interpretation and reducing false identification of heroin use.

This study provides real-world evidence by comparing the long-term clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus medical therapy alone in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) diagnosed non-invasively, given the lack of evidence in this population. This retrospective cohort study (2013-2018) utilized data from a medical center's Cardiovascular Disease Databank, which was linked to national mortality records in Taiwan. Propensity score matching (PSM) and stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were applied to adjust for baseline differences between the PCI and medication-only groups. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and revascularization, were compared between groups. After 1:4 propensity score matching, a total of 4369 patients were included (PCI, N = 1058; medication only, N = 3311). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models showed that the PCI group had a higher hazard of MACE (aHR, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.22-1.56]), primarily driven by increased revascularization (aHR, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.39-1.95]), compared to the medication-only groups. No significant differences were observed in all-cause mortality (aHR, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.96-1.34]) or MI (aHR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.77-1.52]). Furthermore, the mean total healthcare cost during the index year was US$3232 (SD = 9896) for the medication-only group, compared with US$10,931 (SD = 8781) for the PCI group. Among CCS patients diagnosed non-invasively, the medication-only group demonstrated comparable all-cause mortality and MI rates, but a significantly lower risk of revascularization compared with the PCI group, while incurring only onethird of the healthcare costs. Clinicians should carefully evaluate the benefits and risks of stent placement in CCS patients.

Purpose: Huatan Huoxue decoction (HTHXD) is effective in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); however, its underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. Gene targets were obtained through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using druggable genes from public databases and genome-wide association study data for PCOS from the FinnGen R12 database. These targets were integrated with the active ingredients and protein targets of HTHXD retrieved from the TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM databases for network pharmacology analysis. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were conducted. Core targets were validated using molecular docking. Experimental validation was performed using a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model treated with HTHXD, with key targets assessed via quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemical staining. MR analysis identified 131 proteins causally related to PCOS, of which 52 with strong associations remained after quality control. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 549 gene targets and 243 active ingredients in HTHXD. The intersection of these datasets identified four core targets for HTHXD in PCOS treatment (CA2, CASP3, SNCA, and TSPO). Molecular docking identified tanshindiol B, 4-methylenemiltirone, and danshenol B in Danshen and crocetin in leech as key active components. HTHXD substantially ameliorated polycystic ovarian morphology and reduced corpora lutea in PCOS model rats. CA2 expression was significantly upregulated in PCOS ovarian tissue (P < 0.0001), and markedly reduced after HTHXD treatment, consistent with immunohistochemical findings. CA2 may serve as a potential candidate gene associated with the therapeutic response to HTHXD in PCOS, with tanshindiol B and crocetin as major active components.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction involving heterogeneous motor, sensory, immune, and oxidative stress-related mechanisms. Simotang oral liquid (SMT), a traditional Chinese medicine formulation used for dyspeptic and gastrointestinal motility-related symptoms, has not been evaluated with an integrated clinical, functional, and molecular framework. This single-arm prospective pre-post study assessed gastric emptying by the 13C-octanoic acid breath test, gastric electrical activity by electrogastrography, postprandial tolerance by nutrient drink testing, symptom scores, serum biomarkers, and gastric antral tissue markers in patients with FD. FD-like mice were used for charcoal meal transit, smooth muscle strip tension, calcium channel blockade, and mucosal RNA sequencing. Public transcriptomic data from GSE169304 were analyzed to characterize FD-associated duodenal mucosal molecular features. SMT treatment was associated with reduced gastric emptying half-time, improved 3-cpm stability, lower gastric dysrhythmia, reduced Nepean Dyspepsia Index and Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index scores, increased motilin and gastrin levels, lower malondialdehyde, higher superoxide dismutase activity, and lower tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 levels. Paired gastric antral biopsy analyses showed increased α-smooth muscle actin and higher phosphorylation ratios of myosin light chain kinase and myosin light chain after SMT treatment. In mice, SMT increased intestinal transit, acetylcholine-induced smooth muscle tension, Cav1.2 abundance, calmodulin fluorescence, and p-MLCK/p-MLC signaling, while nifedipine reduced the SMT-associated phosphorylation changes. Transcriptomic analyses showed enrichment of smooth muscle contraction, calcium signaling, oxidative stress response, and Nrf2-related antioxidant pathways, while protein analyses showed reduced canonical NF-κB activation markers. The data are consistent with Ca²⁺-dependent smooth muscle contraction as the central motor pathway associated with SMT- related functional improvement in FD, with Nrf2/NF-κB modulation as a microenvironmental regulatory component.

Pomelo (Citrus maxima) is a widely cultivated tropical fruit with global production reaching approximately 8.55 million tons in 2023. This large-scale production generates a substantial amount of peel waste despite the fact that pomelo peel contains secondary metabolites with promising pharmacological potential. This study aimed to evaluate global research trends related to the pharmacological potential of pomelo peel using a bibliometric and review-based approach, as well as to identify future research directions. Data were collected from the Scopus database and filtered for English-language scientific articles, reviews, and conference proceedings. The analysis was performed using the Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software. In total, 251 relevant articles were identified between 2002 and 2025, with a significant increase in publications since 2020. Countries such as China, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Thailand have emerged as leading contributors, supported by institutions focused on natural product research. Research has evolved from compound characterization to pharmacological applications, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and other activities. Keyword analysis revealed a growing trend toward multidisciplinary approaches involving green synthesis, electroactive biosensors, and nanoencapsulation to enhance the stability and efficacy of bioactive compounds. Future studies should integrate nanotechnology and sustainable bioprocessing to advance the clinical validation and practical biomedical applications of pomelo peel.

Aquatic products are nutritionally valuable but highly perishable, with quality loss driven by microbial spoilage, biochemical changes, including total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine (TMA) and histamine, and physicochemical deterioration, including lipid oxidation, gas production and texture loss. Conventional packaging slows these processes but does not report real-time freshness. This review analyzes how active packaging (antimicrobial, antioxidant, enzyme-inhibiting, and oxygen-scavenging systems, including bio- and nanocomposites) can be combined with freshness monitoring technologies (colorimetric/pH indicators, gas sensors, biosensors, and digital tools such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and Internet of Things (IoT) systems) specifically for fish, shrimp, and mollusks. We first map key spoilage mechanisms and markers, then evaluate active systems for aquatic products and compare three main monitoring families in terms of sensitivity, response time, cost-complexity and qualitative technology readiness. Integrated case studies (peptide-grafted films, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with time-temperature integrators (TTIs), smart labels with active papers and battery-free near-field communication (NFC) systems) are critically assessed for scalability, cost-effectiveness, safety, and regulatory feasibility. The review concludes that low-cost visual indicators coupled to simple active functions are closest to near-term deployment, while sensor- and biosensor-based systems remain at prototype level. Future work must prioritize marker- and species-specific validation, safe and scalable material systems, techno-economic evaluation, and early integration of regulatory and consumer aspects to justify industrial adoption in aquatic supply chains.

Bifidobacterium longum is a probiotic that resides in the intestine, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by microorganisms have garnered attention in recent years for their role in regulating host health. This study found that triacylglycerol, cholesteryl esters, and free fatty acid (18:0 and 16:0) are primarily composed of lipids in B. longum-derived EVs by lipidomics assay. Such lipid composition facilitates the entry of EVs into ARPE-19 cells and protects the cells from oxidative death induced by blue light exposure. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that treatment with B. longum-derived EVs can regulate phosphoinositide 3-kinase and mTOR, thereby enhancing the survival capacity of blue light-induced ARPE-19 cells. Intestinal microbiota is strongly associated with host disease, and this study provides a strategy suggesting that intestinal probiotic EVs might potentially be used in the future to protect eyes from damage caused by blue light sensitivity through the gut-eye axis.

Obesity is a growing public health challenge worldwide, strongly linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Inulin, a soluble, fermentable fiber derived mainly from Jerusalem artichoke and chicory, has been reported to improve weight management and metabolic health. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of inulin-enriched tapioca pearls (I-fiber pearl) on body composition and lipid parameters in obese women. Methods: Fifty women (BMI ≥27 or waist >80 cm; age 20-50 years) were randomized to receive either I-fiber pearl or placebo (2 packs/day, 100 g/pack) for 12 weeks. Anthropometric indices, body composition, and blood biochemistry were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: After 12 weeks, the I-fiber group showed significant reductions in body weight, BMI, body fat mass, visceral fat, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. I-fiber pearl improved body composition and lipid profiles, suggesting potential benefits as a functional supplement for obesity management.

Trifolium repens (white clover) is rich in bioactive volatiles with therapeutic potential. This study developed an advanced hybrid ultrasound-infrared-microwave hydro-distillation (UIMHD) method for efficient essential oil (EO) isolation and investigated its active sesquiterpene, pseudoionone, for multi-mechanistic neuroprotection in diabetic neuropathy (DN). The optimized UIMHD system synergistically combined ultrasound cavitation, infrared heating, and microwave hydro-distillation, enhancing yield and reducing time versus conventional extraction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling identified pseudoionone as the dominant constituent. Pharmacological evaluations were performed in alloxan-induced diabetic mice to assess antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant activities. Cytokine modulation (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10), oxidative stress markers (CAT, GSH, TBARS), and strychnine-induced seizure assays were conducted to elucidate mechanisms. The UIMHD technique increased T. repens essential oil (TR-EO) yield by 62.5% and shortened isolation time by 50%. Pseudoionone (49.16%) exhibited potent hypoglycemic and insulin-restorative effects, alleviated thermal hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia, and improved antioxidant defenses. Both the TR-EO and pseudoionone significantly down-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 while up-regulating IL-10, indicating anti-inflammatory cytokine balance restoration. Additionally, pseudoionone delayed strychnine-induced tonic seizures, suggesting functional involvement of glycinergic pathways. Strong antibacterial and antibiofilm activities were also observed against multidrug-resistant Shigella dysenteriae. The advanced UIMHD method provides a sustainable platform for isolating bioactive volatiles from T. repens. Pseudoionone emerges as a multi-target natural agent mitigating diabetic neuropathy via TNF-α/IL-6/IL-10 modulation, oxidative- stress restoration, and strychnine-sensitive GlyR potentiation.