Nutritional component changes in Xiangfen 1 banana at different developmental stages

Chemical component of differences in the endosperm of Gleditsia species seeds revealed based on comparative metabolomics

To investigate the chemical composition and interfunctional differences among the endosperm of Gleditsia species seeds (EGS), this study was conducted to determine the metabolic profiles in three EGSs based on the metabolomics approach of UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A total of 505 metabolites were identified, of which 156 metabolites of EGS were annotated as pharmaceutical ingredients for six human diseases. A total of 110, 146, and 104 metabolites showed different accumulation patterns in the three control groups, LEGS vs. MEGS, LEGS vs. SEGS, and MEGS vs. SEGS, respectively. The metabolic profiles of EGSs differed significantly, and KEGG annotation and enrichment analyses indicated aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis as the key metabolic pathway of EGSs. This study enriches the understanding of the chemical composition of EGSs and provides theoretical support for the development and application of EGSs.

miR828a-CsMYB114 Module Negatively Regulates the Biosynthesis of Theobromine in Camellia sinensis

Theobromine is an important quality component in tea plants (Camellia sinensis), which is produced from 7-methylxanthine by theobromine synthase (CsTbS), the key rate-limiting enzyme in theobromine biosynthetic pathway. Our transcriptomics and widely targeted metabolomics analyses suggested that CsMYB114 acted as a potential hub gene involved in the regulation of theobromine biosynthesis. The inhibition of CsMYB114 expression using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) led to a 70.21% reduction of theobromine level in leaves of the tea plant, which verified the involvement of CsMYB114 in theobromine biosynthesis. Furthermore, we found that CsMYB114 was located in the nucleus of the cells and showed the characteristic of a transcription factor. The dual luciferase analysis, a yeast one-hybrid assay, and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that CsMYB114 activated the transcription of CsTbS, through binding to CsTbS promoter. In addition, a microRNA, miR828a, was identified that directly cleaved the mRNA of CsMYB114. Therefore, we conclude that CsMYB114, as a transcription factor of CsTbS, promotes the production of theobromine, which is inhibited by miR828a through cleaving the mRNA of CsMYB114.

Metabolic profiling provides insights into the accumulation patterns of flavonoids and phenolic acids in different parts of Lactuca indica L

Lactuca indica L. contains high amounts of flavonoids and phenolic acids. However, there is limited information on the composition of these compounds in different parts of the plant. The present study analyzed the secondary metabolite profiles of the stem, leaf, flower, and seed of Lactuca indicaL.cv. Mengzao (LIM) using a widely targeted metabolomic approach. A total of 576 secondary metabolites were identified, including 218, 267, 232, 286, 302, and 308 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the stem_vs_leaf, stem_vs_flower, stem_vs_seed, leaf_vs_flower, leaf_vs_seed, and flower_vs_seed comparisons. In particular, considerable differences were detected in the flavonoids and phenolic acids, five flavonoids, five phenolic acids, one triterpenoid and one alkaloid being differentially accumulated in the four parts. Compared to the stem and flower, the leaf and seed had higher total flavonoid content and total phenolic content. Thses findings provide comprehensive insights into utilizing different parts of LIM in developing functional food products.

Comparative metabolomics study on areca nut from China and Southeast Asia (Thailand and Indonesia)

INTRODUCTION

Areca nut is an economic crop and an important component in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and ethnomedicine. The crop is rich in alkaloids and flavonoids. Most previous studies have focused on the chemical components, especially alkaloids, in crops from certain areca nut-producing areas.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in areca nut seeds in two main cultivation areas, identify differential metabolites, and evaluate seed quality in different production areas.

METHODS

A widely targeted metabolomics method based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QQQ-MS), combined with the TCM systems pharmacology (TCMSP) database and multivariate statistical analysis, was used in this study to maximise the differentiation between quality characteristics of areca nut seeds from China and Southeast Asian regions.

RESULTS

Altogether, 1031 metabolites were identified in areca nut seeds; by querying the TCMSP database, 375 metabolites were identified as the main active ingredients. Moreover, the research showed that the metabolic profiles of areca nut seeds from China (ASCN) and Southeast Asia (ASSA) exhibit significant differences, and the difference is mainly reflected in 318 compounds. The relative content of 146 metabolites in ASCN was significantly higher than that in ASSA. Through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) comparative analysis, areca nut seed metabolites in Chinese production areas were determined to have a wider metabolic pathway.

CONCLUSION

The areca nut seeds from cultivation areas possess many metabolites that are beneficial for health, including alkaloids, amino acids, phenolic acids, and lipids. Thus, compared with ASSA, ASCN have a higher medicinal value. This study provides a direction for the subsequent development and utilisation of areca nut seeds.

Antidepressant-like Effects of Representative Types of Food and Their Possible Mechanisms

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by low mood, lack of motivation, negative cognitive outlook, and sleep problems. Suicide may occur in severe cases, although suicidal thoughts are not seen in all cases. Globally, an estimated 350 million individuals grapple with depression, as reported by the World Health Organization. At present, drug and psychological treatments are the main treatments, but they produce insufficient responses in many patients and fail to work at all in many others. Consequently, treating depression has long been an important topic in society. Given the escalating prevalence of depression, a comprehensive strategy for managing its symptoms and impacts has garnered significant attention. In this context, nutritional psychiatry emerges as a promising avenue. Extensive research has underscored the potential benefits of a well-rounded diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat in alleviating depressive symptoms. However, the intricate mechanisms linking dietary interventions to brain function alterations remain largely unexplored. This review delves into the intricate relationship between dietary patterns and depression, while exploring the plausible mechanisms underlying the impact of dietary interventions on depression management. As we endeavor to unveil the pathways through which nutrition influences mental well-being, a holistic perspective that encompasses multidisciplinary strategies gains prominence, potentially reshaping how we approach and address depression.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the molecular basis of flavonoid accumulation in fructus of Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis)

BACKGROUND

The fruits of Gardenia are rich in flavonoids and geniposides, which have various pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome and metabolome of gardenia peel and kernel at different growth stages, revealed the regulatory network related to flavonoid synthesis, and identified the key regulatory genes.

RESULTS

The results showed that in terms of flavonoid metabolic pathways, gardenia fruits mainly synthesized cinnamic acid through the phenylpropanoid pathway, and then synthesized flavonoids through the action of catalytic enzymes such as 4-coumaroyl-CoA ligase, chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase and flavanol synthase, respectively. In addition, we found that the metabolomics data showed a certain spatial and temporal pattern in the expression of genes related to the flavonoid metabolism pathway and the relative content of metabolites, which was related to the development and ripening process of the fruit.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this study successfully screened out the key genes related to the biosynthesis metabolism of flavonoids in gardenia through the joint analysis of transcriptome and metabolome. This is of certain significance to the in-depth study of the formation mechanism of gardenia efficacy components and the improvement of quality.

Influence of ripening stage and meteorological parameters on the accumulation pattern of polyphenols in greengages (Prunus mume Sieb. Et Zucc) by widely targeted metabolomic

Greengage is a Chinese traditional medicine food homology plant that contains abundant polyphenols. Greengages with different levels of maturity have different medicinal functions and applications. Therefore, this study comprehensively analysed the phenolic compounds in greengage of whole mature stage. Notably, the influence of climate conditions on greengage polyphenol synthesis was deeply explored. The polyphenols of greengages were profiled based on the widely targeted metabolomic technology using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS). A total of 214 polyphenols were detected, covering 11 subclasses. During the ripening of greengages, these polyphenols first increased and then decreased, peaking during the swell stage. Multivariate statistical methods, including redundancy analysis (RDA), random forest analysis, Mantel test, and Spearman's correlation indicated that temperature, sunshine hours, humidity, and radiation were important factors driving the formation and changes in the polyphenols of greengages. In particular, flavanones and flavonols, showed a structure-dependent response to temperature and radiation.

Ecotype Division and Chemical Diversity of Cynomorium songaricum from Different Geographical Regions

Cynomorium songaricum is an important endangered plant with significant medicinal and edible values. However, the lack of resources and quality variation have limited the comprehensive developments and sustainable utilization of C. songaricum. Here, we evaluated the chemical and genetic traits of C. songaricum from the highly suitable habitat regions simulated with species distribution models. The PCA and NJ tree analyses displayed intraspecific variation in C. songaricum, which could be divided into two ecotypes: ecotype I and ecotype II. Furthermore, the LC-MS/MS-based metabolomic was used to identify and analyze the metabolites of two ecotypes. The results indicated that a total of 589 compounds were detected, 236 of which were significantly different between the two ecotypes. Specifically, the relative content and the kind of flavonoids were more abundant in ecotype I, which were closely associated with the medicinal activities. In contrast, amino acids and organic acids were more enriched in ecotype II, which may provide better nutritional quality and unique flavor. In summary, our findings demonstrate the ecotype division and chemical diversity of C. songaricum in China from different geographical regions and provide a reference for the development of germplasm and directed plant breeding of endangered medicinal plants.

Comparative metabolomics study of Tartary (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn) and common (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) buckwheat seeds

Tartary buckwheat has higher health-promoting value than common buckwheat. However, the related metabolites information except flavonoids is largely deficient. Here, we compared the seed metabolomes of the two species using a UHPLC-QqQ-MS-based metabolomics approach. In total, 722 metabolites were obtained, of which 84 and 78 were identified as the key active ingredients of Traditional Chinese Medicines and the active pharmaceutical ingredients for six major diseases-resistance, respectively. Comparative analysis showed there were obviously difference in metabolic profiles between the two buckwheat species, and further found 61 flavonoids and 94 non-flavonoids metabolites displayed significantly higher contents (≥2 fold) in Tartary buckwheat than in common buckwheat. Our results suggest that Tartary and common buckwheat seeds are rich in metabolites beneficial to human health, and non-flavonoids metabolites also contributed to Tartary buckwheat's higher health-promoting value than common buckwheat. This study provides valuable information for the development of new functional foods of Tartary buckwheat.

Changes in Homogalacturonan Metabolism in Banana Peel during Fruit Development and Ripening

Though numerous studies have focused on the cell wall disassembly of bananas during the ripening process, the modification of homogalacturonan (HG) during fruit development remains exclusive. To better understand the role of HGs in controlling banana fruit growth and ripening, RNA-Seq, qPCR, immunofluorescence labeling, and biochemical methods were employed to reveal their dynamic changes in banana peels during these processes. Most HG-modifying genes in banana peels showed a decline in expression during fruit development. Four polygalacturonase and three pectin acetylesterases showing higher expression levels at later developmental stages than earlier ones might be related to fruit expansion. Six out of the 10 top genes in the Core Enrichment Gene Set were HG degradation genes, and all were upregulated after softening, paralleled to the significant increase in HG degradation enzyme activities, decline in peel firmness, and the epitope levels of 2F4, CCRC-M38, JIM7, and LM18 antibodies. Most differentially expressed alpha-1,4-galacturonosyltransferases were upregulated by ethylene treatment, suggesting active HG biosynthesis during the fruit softening process. The epitope level of the CCRC-M38 antibody was positively correlated to the firmness of banana peel during fruit development and ripening. These results have provided new insights into the role of cell wall HGs in fruit development and ripening.