Structure-dependent modulation of Morchella esculenta protein by ferulic and chlorogenic acids: Improving techno-functionality and digestibility of a fungal alternative protein.

Optimized Extraction and Bioactivity Profiling of Phenolics from Bostrychia scorpioides (Hudson) Mont: A Sustainable Approach for Pharmaceuticals Applications

Biotransformation-Driven Enhancement of Tannins and Bioactivity in Opuntia ficus-indica Peel via Solid-State Fermentation

Agro-industrial residues such as prickly pear peel represent an underutilized source of bioactive compounds. However, comparative evidence on green extraction versus biotransformation strategies remains limited. This study evaluated solid-state fermentation (SSF), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for tannin recovery from Opuntia ficus-indica peel. SSF using Aspergillus niger significantly enhanced condensed tannins (>50 mg/g) and hydrolyzable tannins (~7 mg/g), outperforming UAE and MAE. This improvement was associated with fungal-mediated cell wall degradation and metabolic transformation. SSF extracts also showed superior antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) and exclusive antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (4.5 mm inhibition zone). HPLC analysis revealed increased phenolic diversity, with rhamnetin as the predominant metabolite. These findings demonstrate that SSF is not only an extraction method but also a biotransformation strategy that enhances both the yield and functionality of phenolic compounds. This approach supports the sustainable valorization of agro-industrial residues within a circular bioeconomy framework.

Biosynthesis and functionalization of recombinant bovine lactoferrin: Alginate-mediated stabilization and MTGase-induced gelation for anthocyanin delivery.

Bovine lactoferrin (BLF) is a milk-derived glycoprotein with diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions, with potential for applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, its practical utilization remains limited by key challenges: low efficiency of traditional extraction methods, poor gastrointestinal stability, and a narrow range of application forms. To address these issues, this study developed an integrated strategy spanning from efficient production to functional application. First, the Pichia pastoris expression system was optimized through signal peptide engineering and chaperone co-expression, achieving high-yield secretory production of recombinant BLF (rBLF) at 232.6 mg/L in shake-flask fermentation. Subsequently, rBLF was complexed with sodium alginate (NaAlg) via electrostatic self-assembly to form nanocomposites for gastrointestinal protection. The rBLF-NaAlg complex exhibited remarkable resistance to simulated gastric digestion, with only a 23.7% reduction in particle size, significantly lower than the 71.1% reduction observed for free rBLF. Furthermore, a three-dimensional hydrogel delivery system was constructed through microbial transglutaminase (MTGase)-catalyzed cross-linking. This system demonstrated encapsulation and sustained release of anthocyanins as a model bioactive compound. The gel structure and performance showed a clear enzyme concentration dependence: moderate cross-linking (<80 U/g) resulted in a uniform and dense network, enhancing encapsulation efficiency and providing controlled release. This work establishes a complete technological pathway from high-yield production and stabilization to functional expansion, demonstrating that rBLF can be transformed from a labile bioactive protein into a dual-functional material with both nutritional and delivery capabilities. This integrated strategy provides a viable solution for developing advanced BLF-based functional foods and nutraceutical delivery systems.

Investigation of Polysaccharides from Morchella esculenta Cap and Stipe: Structural Characterization and Antioxidant Activities in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model

Morchella esculenta is a valuable edible and medicinal mushroom. Investigation and comparison of polysaccharides from various parts of M. esculenta are still deficient, especially the stipes are mostly discarded, causing resource wastage. This study investigated structural characteristics and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from the cap (MECP) and stipe (MESP) of M. esculenta. MECP and MESP were both composed of glucose, mannose, ribose, and glucuronic acid but in different proportions. MECP and MESP possessed polysaccharide characteristic functional groups and dense sheet-like structures, which can effectively scavenge free radicals (ABTS+, DPPH) and had strong reducing power. Under hydrogen peroxide stress, MECP and MESP enhanced the survival rate and time of Caenorhabditis elegans by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and up-regulating gst-4, sod-3, and gsh-px gene expression, thereby resisting oxidative stress and aging process. These findings provided certain valuable insights for further development and utilization of M. esculenta cap and stipe.

Sustainable valorization of lemon juice pomace into bioactive pectin: Experimental cytoprotection, molecular docking, and DFT analysis against cadmium-induced oxidative damage.

This study uniquely integrates extraction optimization, structural characterization, cytoprotection, molecular docking, and DFT analysis to valorize lemon juice pomace pectin within a circular bioeconomy framework, distinguishing it from previous work limited to peel pectin or crude extracts. The extraction process was carefully optimized to preserve the structural integrity of the polysaccharide, resulting in a high yield of galacturonic acid-rich pectin with moderate degrees of esterification. Structural analyses confirmed typical pectic features, including α-configured galacturonic acid residues as well as rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, mannose, xylose and galactose units. Therefore, PLP polysaccharides exhibited significant antioxidant activity, demonstrated by dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging (79.5% at 10 mg/mL) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of 1522.5 μmol Fe2+/L, comparable to other pomace-derived pectins. Moreover, toxicological evaluations on HEK and HCT cell lines revealed no cytotoxicity at functional concentrations and highlighted a pronounced cytoprotective effect against cadmium-induced oxidative stress. PLP significantly enhanced cell viability, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and attenuated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Complementary in silico analyses supported these findings: molecular docking on the KEAP1 Kelch domain (PDB ID: 4L7B) showed that a galacturonic-acid tetramer engages the NRF2-binding pocket, while DFT calculations confirmed a strongly favorable carboxylate-bridged coordination of Cd2+ by pectin. Collectively, these findings position PLP as a safe and effective bioactive polysaccharide with promising potential for incorporation into functional foods, nutraceuticals, and antioxidant-enriched materials, while promoting the circular and sustainable valorization of agro-industrial by-products in line with "zero waste" principles.

Structural Characterization and In Vivo Gastric Mucosal Protective Activity of a Polysaccharide from Laoxianghuang (Fermented Finger Citron) in Mice