The objective of this study was to investigate effects of anthocyanins (AC) and microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) on the physicochemical properties of surimi gels from silver carp. The addition of AC and MTGase significantly increased gel strength and water holding capacity (WHC) of surimi gels, but the effect of MTGase was much stronger (p < .05). There were the highest gel strength, storage modulus (G') and WHC with 0.1 g/100 g AC and 0.4 g/100 g MTGase, while they were higher than that with AC or MTGase alone. AC promoted the cross-linking mainly by covalent and non-covalent bonds in surimi gels, while MTGase did mainly through covalent bonds. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) confirmed the results of gel strength, WHC, chemical interactions and G' of surimi gel or paste with AC and MTGase. In general, AC and MTGase could synergistically improve the physicochemical properties of surimi gels and potentially enhance the quality of surimi-based product from silver carp.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Bushen Ningxin decoction (BSNXD) on postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS Postmenopausal osteoporosis model of female BALB/c mice were founded and afforded with BSNXD. The experiment was ceased, and the skeleton and blood of mice in each group were collected following 12 weeks of the treatment. Change of osteoblastic organelle in right femur was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Osteoblasts from calvaria of different groups were isolated and cultured by the tissue fragment migrating growth method and the proliferation ratio of osteoblasts in the second passage was examined with thiazolyl blue reagents when cultured for 1 day and 5 days, respectively. RESULTS TEM showed that the osteoblasts of the animal treated by BSNXD had more cell organelles and developed Golgi complex, whose ability of proliferation(P < 0.05) and anti-apoptosis is stronger than that of OVX group. CONCLUSION BSNXD can accelerate the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of osteoblasts, the effective concentration of pharmacological serum varies from 10% to 20%.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ultrasonically emulsified palm oil (UE-PA), peanut oil (UE-PE), and sunflower oil (UE-SU) on the whiteness, textural, rheological, and microstructural properties of surimi gels from silver carp. Three ultrasonically emulsified oils had different specific fatty acids and oil droplet sizes of 300-400 nm. Compared with the control group, low addition of UE-SU (2.5 g/100 g) showed the highest water-holding capacity (WHC), storage modulus (G’), and hydrogen bond in surimi gels. The low addition of UE-PE (2.5 g/100 g) increased disulfide bond, β-sheet, and β-turn of surimi gel, so had higher hardness and chewiness values, comparing to those with other emulsified oils. As ultrasonically emulsified oil addition increased in surimi gels (2.5–7.5 g/100 g), hardness, chewiness, WHC, G’ were decreased, while whiteness was increased (p < .05). Light microscopy showed the most uniform distribution of oil droplets of UE-SU in surimi gels. Results demonstrated that lower addition of UE-PE and UE-SU (2.5 g/100 g) could potentially improve the whiteness, textural, rheological, and nutritional quality of surimi-based products.
The objective of this study was to investigate the gel strength, chemical interactions, water distribution, SDS-PAGE and rheological characteristics of surimi washed with different pH values and monovalent/divalent cations. There was higher gel strength in surimi washed with monovalent cations at pH 3.0 or 7.0 and divalent cations at pH 3.0 or 9.0. More divalent cations in the washing delayed surimi protein denaturation. Myosin heavy chain and actin were more intense in surimi washed with 0.25% Na+ or 0.5% other cations. The gel relaxation time was shortened in surimi washed with an increased ionic strength. The gel disulfide bond was decreased in surimi washed at pH 3.0 or 9.0, whereas hydrophobic interactions and ionic and hydrogen bonds were increased in those at pH 5.0 or 7.0. In general, washing with different pH values and monovalent/divalent cations could significantly influence the gel network structure of surimi.
Abstract The escalation in the intensity, frequency, and duration of high-temperature (HT) stress is currently unparalleled, which aggravates the challenges for crop production. Yet, the stage-dependent responses of reproductive organs to HT stress at the morphological, physiological, and molecular levels remain inadequately explored in pivotal staple crops. This review synthesized current knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which HT stress induces abnormalities and aberrations in reproductive growth and development, as well as by which it alters the morphology and function of florets, flowering patterns, and the processes of pollination and fertilization in maize (Zea mays L.). We identified the stage-specific sensitivities to HT stress and accurately defined the sensitive period from a time scale of days to hours. The microspore tetrad phase of pollen development and anthesis (especially shortly after pollination) are most sensitive to HT stress, and even brief temperature spikes during these stages can lead to significant kernel loss. The impetuses behind the heat-induced impairments in seed set are closely related to carbon, reactive oxygen species, phytohormone signals, ion (e.g. Ca2+) homeostasis, plasma membrane structure and function, and others. Recent advances in understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying HT stress responses during maize sexual reproduction have been systematically summarized.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of okara on the quality of silver carp surimi gels. The characteristics of surimi gels without and with okara (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% w/w) were evaluated by measuring water-holding capacity (WHC), color, sensory, textural, and rheological properties. With further addition of okara, WHC, breaking force, textural properties, and whiteness were decreased (P < 0.05), while springiness of surimi meatballs had no significant difference in sensory evaluation. Storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) decreased along with increasing okara concentration. However, the sensory evaluation showed it was acceptable for surimi meatballs with 6% okara or less. Among different particle sizes (375, 805, 509, 387, 190, and 34 μm) of okara, surimi gels with 6% okara of larger particle sizes had higher values of hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and breaking force, while those with smaller particle sizes showed higher whiteness, but there was no significant difference on WHC of surimi gels. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of surimi pastes also decreased with increasing particle sizes of okara. However, sensory evaluation showed no difference on surimi meatballs with different particle sizes of okara. Results demonstrated that okara could be used as an ingredient to improve the quality and nutritional value of surimi-based products.
This study aimed to compare the effects of the phytoestrogens resveratrol (RES) and genistein (GEN) on the contractility of isolated uterine smooth muscle from rats, focusing on both spontaneous and stimulated contractions, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, rhubarb is said to remove accumulation with purgation, clearing heat, and discharging fire. Modern pharmacology has shown that rhubarb extract has a purgative effect when given to experimental animals in an appropriate dose. However, the active components and their mechanism of action are still not clearly defined.Aim of the study: The current research aimed to evaluate the synergistic stool-softening effects and explore the action mechanism of rhubarb free anthraquinones (RhA) and their monomers on constipation in rats.Materials and methods: A rat model of water deficit-induced constipation was established to induce constipation, and these rats were treated with RhA and its monomers. ELISA, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, qPCR and Western blotting were conducted to explore the possible mechanism of action of RhA and its monomers.Results: RhA, aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol showed stool-softening activity, and the combination of aloe-emodin and rhein had the strongest softening effect on faecal pellets. Aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol significantly increased the serum levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin (MTL), and substance P (SP), upregulated the expression of VIP, cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1), protein kinase A (PKA), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), aquaporin 3 (AQP3), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and aquaporin 8 (AQP8), decreased the expression of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3), and reduced the colonic tissue concentration of Na+-K+-ATPase in the constipated rats. Osmolality of colonic fluid in model rats treated by RhA, aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol was increased.Conclusion: Aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol were the stool-softening components of the RhA extract. RhA upregulated VIP expression, activated the cyclic adenosine monophosphate protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) pathway, and further stimulated CFTR expression while inhibiting NHE3 and ENaC expression, resulting in a hypertonic state in the colonic lumen. Water transport could then be driven by an osmotic gradient, which in turn led to the upregulation of AQP3, AQP4, and AQP8 expression. In addition, RhA likely improved gastrointestinal motility by increasing serum VIP, SP, and MTL concentrations, thus promoting faecal excretion.
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