•Plant flavonoids are important natural bioactive compounds.•Flavonoid classification and plants rich in flavonoids are summarized.•Flavonoid functions in biological processes in plants are ...reviewed.•Transcription factors regulate the biosynthesis of plant flavonoids.•Epidemic evidence, in vitro and in vivo studies reveal flavonoid bioactivity.
Flavonoids are a group of natural polyphenol substances abundant in vegetables, fruits, grains, and tea. As plant secondary metabolites, flavonoids play essential roles in many biological processes and responses to environmental factors in plants. Flavonoids are common in human diets and have antioxidant effects as well as other bioactivities (e.g., antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties), which reduce the risk of disease. Flavonoid bioactivity depends on structural substitution patterns in their C6-C3-C6 rings. However, reviews of plant flavonoid distribution and biosynthesis, as well as the health benefits of its bioactivity, remain scarce. Therefore, in the present review, we systematically summarize recent progress in the research of plant flavonoids, focusing on their biosynthesis (pathway and transcription factors) and bioactive mechanisms based on epidemic evidence, in vitro and in vivo research, and bioavailability in the human body. We also discuss future opportunities in flavonoid research, including biotechnology, therapeutic phytoproducts, and dietary flavonoids.
Nano-encapsulation is promising in improving the stability and biological activity of bioactive compounds. Here, the food-sourced protein nanotubes (NTs) from self-assembly of partially hydrolyzed ...α-lactalbumin (α-lac) were developed. The α-lac NTs had a dimension of 20 nm in diameter and 200–1000 nm in length. Lycopene (LYC) was loaded into the hydrophobic inner wall of NTs via hydrophobic interaction. Interestingly, we discovered that NTs became nanospheres in gastrointestinal conditions and LYC was mainly released under intestinal condition. The stability of LYC loaded in NTs against temperature and UV light was greatly improved. Besides, LYC showed an improved antioxidant property after NTs loading both by DPPH method and Caco-2 cellular antioxidant activity method. Additionally, the colloidal stability of LYC was greatly enhanced by NTs and therefore lycopene-loaded α-lac nanotubes (NTs/LYC) can be successfully added in the dairy drink, showing an increased viscosity and a long-term stability. α-Lac NTs have shown a promising future in protecting and delivering the hydrophobic compounds in food system.
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•A lycopene nanocarrier was formed by α-lac self-assembled nanotubes (NTs).•Lycopene loaded in NTs was beneficial to improve its stability and solubility.•Lycopene loaded in NTs were majorly released at small intestine.•The α-lac NTs with high aspect ratios improves the viscosity of dairy drink.•a-lac NTs showed a promising potential as food delivery systems.
Antiradical activity and free radicals before and after gamma-treatment of beebread were investigated by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. A narrow signal the intensity of which ...increased with the dose was assigned to O-centred free radicals induced by gamma rays. They are stable for 120 days after irradiation. The irradiation effect on antioxidant potential and content of phenolic compounds were studied. It was found that total phenolic and flavonoid content values increased after beebread irradiation depending on the dose. The antiradical activity of extracts was assessed by the DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The EPR study showed that it increased after irradiation with 5 kGy (27%) and 20 kGy (19%), while the slight decreasing (6%) was observed after irradiation at 10 kGy.
•The polysaccharide of yam was extracted by hot water method.•The physicochemical properties of Chinese yam polysaccharide were analyzed.•P and its derivatives showed good antioxidant activity.•This ...laid a theoretical foundation for the development of yam polysaccharide-related foods.
The polysaccharide of yam was extracted by hot water method and purified by column chromatography. The physicochemical properties of Chinese yam polysaccharide were analyzed by UV, IR, GPC, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR spectra. The results showed that Chinese yam polysaccharide had α-d-Gluc-(1 → 4) glycoside bond, and the C2 hydroxyl group was replaced by ethoxyl group. The average molecular weight was determined to be 7.28 × 104. It showed that The scavenging effect of yam polysaccharide on hydroxyl radicals was similar to VC. The sulfated polysaccharide (SP), phosphorylated polysaccharide (PP), carboxymethylated polysaccharide (CP) and acetylated polysaccharide (A-P) were identified by IR and NMR. The results showed that P and its derivatives showed good antioxidant activity. Especially, their scavenging ability to hydroxyl radicals reached the level of VC. This laid a theoretical foundation for the development of yam polysaccharide-related foods.
Antioxidant and pH-sensitive chitosan based films were developed by incorporating different amounts of black soybean seed coat extract (BSSCE). Spectroscopic analysis showed the main anthocyanins in ...BSSCE were cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (21.38%), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (63.30%) and peonidin-3-O-glucoside (11.92%). Incorporation of BSSCE could greatly alter the barrier, optical and mechanical properties of chitosan film. Notably, chitosan-BSSCE films presented better water vapor and UV–vis light barrier properties and higher mechanical strength than chitosan film. However, chitosan-BSSCE films exhibited lower moisture content and transparency than chitosan film. Among all films tested, chitosan-BSSCE film containing 15 wt% of BSSCE on chitosan basis exhibited the best performance. Scanning electron microscopy showed BSSCE was uniformly distributed in chitosan-BSSCE films. Fourier transform infrared spectra of chitosan-BSSCE films further revealed chitosan could interact with BSSCE through non-covalent bonds. Importantly, chitosan-BSSCE films showed dose- and time-dependent 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Moreover, color variations were observed in chitosan-BSSCE films by changing pH. Results suggested chitosan-BSSCE films could be used as promising antioxidant and visible pH-sensing food packing materials.
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•Chitosan-black soybean seed coat extract (BSSCE) films were developed.•Chitosan-BSSCE films had improved water vapor and UV–vis light barrier properties.•Chitosan-BSSCE films had better mechanical and thermal properties than chitosan film.•Antioxidant activity of chitosan-BSSCE films was dose- and time-dependent.•Color variations to pH change were observed in chitosan-BSSCE films.
This study showed the significantly differences of basic nutrients and metabolite compounds in nine types of beans involved in soybean, mung bean, pea, and common beans. The metabolomics results ...showed that serval metabolites such as histidine, proline, 3-alanine, and myricetin which could be used to identify different beans. The random forest model showed that amino acid and fatty acid could be used as special indexes to distinguish different types of beans in practice. The different expressed metabolites among different types of beans were involved in various pathways including alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and purine metabolism. The antioxidant activity was significantly different among different types of beans, and the contents of amino acid, coumarin, and polyphenol contributed the antioxidant activities of beans. Together, these results will provide a comprehensive understanding of metabolites in different types of beans and theoretical guideline for the future application of beans.
•The basic nutrient and metabolite compositions were significantly different among different types of beans.•Several metabolites could be used to identify the different types of beans.•Amino acid and fatty acid contents play critical roles in the antioxidant activity in beans.
Guavinoside B (GUB) is a characteristic constituent from guava with strong antioxidant activity; however, its low water solubility limits its utilization. Herein, we investigated the interaction ...between GUB and zein, a prolamin with self-assembling property, using multiple spectroscopic methods and fabricated GUB-zein-NaCas nanoparticles (GUB-Z-N NPs) via the antisolvent coprecipitation approach. GUB caused fluorescence quenching to zein via the static quenching mechanism. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and computational analysis revealed that GUB bound to zein via van der Waals interaction, hydrogen bond, and hydrophobic forces. The GUB-Z-N NPs were in the nanometric size range (< 200 nm) and exhibited promising encapsulation efficiency and redispersibility after freeze-drying. These particles remained stable for up to 31 days at 4 °C and great resistance to salt and pH variation, and displayed superior antioxidant activity to native GUB. The current study highlights the potential of zein-based nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for GUB in the food industry.
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•GUB binds to zein mainly via the van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bond.•GUB caused fluorescence quenching to zein via a static quenching mechanism.•GUB-zein-NaCas NPs are fabricated via the anti-solvent coprecipitation method.•GUB-zein-NaCas NPs have good redispersibility and physical and storage stability.•GUB-loaded NPs exhibit superior antioxidant activity than native GUB.
