•Rice bran protein was hydrolyzed using trypsin and the hydrolysates were isolated and purified.•A novel antioxidant and antihypertension peptide was obtained.•The amino acid sequences, Tyr-Ser-Lys was identified by Q-TOF-MS.•Molecular docking studies were firstly used to reveal the ACE inhibition of the peptide.Rice bran protein was hydrolyzed using trypsin. The hydrolysate (RBPH) was then further separated by membrane bioreactor system, gel filtration and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). A novel antioxidant and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide named as F2-a, which exhibited high DPPH free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 of 76 μM) was isolated. The amino acid sequence, Tyr-Ser-Lys (Mw: 395.0 Da), was identified by Quardrupole Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometer (Q-TOF-MS) with an electro-spray ionization (ESI) source. The molecular docking study revealed that the ACE inhibition of Tyr-Ser-Lys was mainly attributed to forming very strong hydrogen bonds with the active pockets of human ACE. These results indicate that rice bran is a potential source of bioactive peptides possessing antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities.

This study was to investigate the synergistic effects of polysaccharides with the molecular weight more than 80 kDa (OTPS1) and polyphenols (OTP) isolated from oolong tea on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and in vivo. The physicochemical properties of OTPS fractions were characterized. The synergistic effects of OTPS1 and OTP were evaluated based on the combination index (CI). Results showed that the highest uronic acid contents (32.96%) and viscosity (239.56 mL g−1), multicavity structure of OTPS1 were contributed to the synergistic effects with OTP (52.17% content of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)). OTPS1 and OTP showed the strongest synergism ability on SMMC7721 cells (CI < 0.2). Co-administrated with OTPS1 and OTP exhibited the synergistic effects on the tumor proliferation and growth with the CI values of 0.34 and 0.39, respectively. Antioxidative and immune levels of the mice were obviously increased after combination administration. These results suggested that OTPS1 in combination with OTP might be functional supplements for the treatment of HCC.Download high-res image (128KB)Download full-size image

The physicochemical, functional, antioxidant and anticancer properties of protein isolates from the seeds of Soybean (SP), Black soybean (BSP), Adzuki bean (ABP), and Mung bean (MBP) were comparatively characterized. The difference was found in the protein composition and physicochemical properties of the four types of legume proteins, which affected the functional properties and bioactivities. BSP and SP had six predominant proteins with a molecular weight (MW) range of 20–95 kDa, whereas ABP and MBP showed the most intense bands of 48 kDa. ABP with higher essential amino acids content and the highest solubility exhibited the highest antioxidant activities among the four types of proteins. While BSP with higher content of acidic amino acids, low content of the hydrophobic amino acids and higher WHC, may have potential nutraceutical uses.

•A novel polysaccharides-chromium (III) complex (UIOPC) was synthesized and characterized.•UIOPC showed significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects on high fat-diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2DM mice.•The tissue damages induced by oxidant stress and hyperglycemia were protected by UIOPC in STZ-induced T2DM mice.•No obvious sub-acute toxicity was observed after high dose administration of UIOPC.Polysaccharides are important bioactive ingredients from Inonotus obliquus. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize a novel I. obliquus polysaccharides-chromium (III) complex (UIOPC) and investigate the anti-diabetic effects in streptozotocin (STZ) induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice and sub-acute toxicity in normal mice. The molecular weight of UIOPC was about 11.5 × 10 4 Da with the chromium content was 13.01% and the chromium was linked with polysaccharides through coordination bond. After treatment of UIOPC for four weeks, the body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, plasma insulin levels of the diabetic mice were significantly reduced when compared with those of the diabetic mice (p < 0.05). The results on serum profiles and antioxidant enzymes activities revealed that UIOPC had a positive effect on hypoglycemic and antioxidant ability. Histopathology results showed that UIOPC could effectively alleviate the STZ-lesioned tissues in diabetic mice. Furthermore, high dose administration of UIOPC had no obviously influence on serum profiles levels and antioxidant ability of the normal mice and the organ tissues maintained organized and integrity in the sub-acute toxicity study. These results suggested that UIOPC might be a good candidate for the functional food or pharmaceuticals in the treatment of T2DM.Download high-res image (337KB)Download full-size image

•A novel conformed bipolymer paclitaxel-nanoparticle using tea polysaccharides and zein was prepared.•The optimum formula for nanoparticle was obtained using tea polysaccharide as the shell and zein as the core.•The PTX was encapsulated in an amorphous form and had a typical sustained release.To improve the aqueous solubility of the anticancer agent paclitaxel (PTX), a newly conformed bipolymer paclitaxel-nanoparticle using tea polysaccharide (TPS) and zein was prepared and characterized. Tea polysaccharide was used as a biopolymer shell and zein was as the core and the optimal formula was subjected to the characteristic study by TEM, DSC, FTIR and in vitro release study. Results showed that the optimal particle was acquired with particle yield at 40.01%, drug loading at 0.12% and diameters around 165 nm when the concentration of tea polysaccharide was set at 0.2%, and the amount of PTX:zein = 1:10. The particle was a nanoparticle with spherical surface and the encapsulated PTX was in an amorphous form rather than cystalline form. PTX was interacted with zein and polysaccharide through O H and CO groups and it had a sustained release. The results suggested that the novel bipolymer might be a promising agent for PTX delivery and tea polysaccharide was demonstrated its function in drug delivery system.

The aim of this study is to isolate and identify a novel corn peptide (CP) from zein with antioxidant and antihypertensive activities based on bioactive-guided isolation procedures. Zein was hydrolyzed by using double enzymes immobilized with calcium alginate-chitosan beads and then fractionated and purified. The antioxidant and antihypertensive activities of the CP fractions were screened by in vitro and in vivo assays. The in vivo animal studies using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) confirmed the antihypertensive effects of the CP, and its angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was retained after thermal treatment and simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The primary structure of CP-2-1 was identified by RP-HPLC-MS/MS and the amino acid sequence was determined as M-I/L-P-P with the molecular weight of 452.3 Da. CP-2-1 showed effective antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities (IC50 values of 220 μg mL−1 and 70.32 μg mL−1, respectively) and it might be a potential candidate for antioxidant functional food or pharmaceuticals for hypertension.

Chemical modification polysaccharides exerted potent biological property which was related to the physicochemical properties. In the present study, polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus were modified by suflation, acetylation and carboxymethylation. The physicochemical and antioxidant properties of I. obliquus polysaccharide (IOPS) and its derivatives were comparatively investigated by chemical methods, gas chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, scanning electron micrograph, infrared spectra and circular dichroism spectra, and ferric reducing power assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay, respectively. Results showed that physicochemical and antioxidant properties of IOPS were differed each other after the chemical modification of suflation, acetylation and carboxymethylation. Among the three derivatives, acetylationed polysaccharide (Ac-IOPS) resulted in lower molecular weight distribution, lower intrinsic viscosity, a hyperbranched conformation, higher antioxidant abilities on ferric-reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity compared with the native polysaccharide IOPS. Ac-IOPS might be explored as a novel potential antioxidant for human consumption.Highlights► Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide was firstly modified by three chemical methods. ► The physicochemical properties were comparatively investigated. ► Chemical modification resulted in the change of physicochemical properties. ► Acetylationed Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide resulted in higher antioxidant abilities.

•Tea polyphenols (TP) were firstly microencapsulated by spray drying method.•The microcapsules were characterized by SEM and physicochemical methods.•The storage stability and antioxidant activity of free tea polyphenols (FTP) and microencapsulated tea polyphenols (MTP) were compared.•MTP showed good stabilities and antioxidant activities in vitro.In order to improve the stability of tea polyphenols (TP), microencapsulation was applied by using spray drying method with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate as coating material. The obtained microcapsules were further characterized on the physical properties, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro digestion study, storage stability and antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The microcapsules were found to have a smooth surface shape with a particle size distribution of 10–200 μm by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation. The encapsulation efficiency of microencapsulated TP was 70.98%. Release rate of TP from microcapsules in simulated intestinal fluid had increased significantly compared with that in simulated gastric fluid (p < 0.05). The storage stability of TP against adverse environment (such as high temperature, excessive acid and alkaline) was also remarkably improved by microencapsulation (p < 0.05). The antioxidant activity of TP could be effectively protected by microencapsulation. Microencapsulation might be a better way for the storage and application of TP in food industry.

•A corn silk polysaccharide PCS2 with Mw of 45.5 kDa was characterized.•Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of PCS2 were found on T2DM mice induced by high-fat diet and STZ injection.•PCS2 could improve the biochemical indices related to diabetes and repair organ injury.•PCS2 has the potential to be a functional food or medicine for T2DM treatment.This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties and antidiabetic effects of a polysaccharide obtained from corn silk (PCS2). PCS2 was isolated and the physicochemical properties were characterized. The hypoglycemic effects were determined using the high-fat diet and streptozocin induced type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) insulin resistance mice. The results showed that PCS2 was a heteropolysaccharide with the average molecular weight of 45.5 kDa. PCS2 was composed of d-galactose, d-mannose, d-(+)-glucose, d-(+)-xylose, l-arabinose and l-rhamnose. PCS2 treatment significantly reduced the body weight loss, decreased blood glucose and serum insulin levels, and improved glucose intolerance (P < 0.05). The levels of serum lipid profile were regulated and the levels of glycated serum protein, non-esterified fatty acid were decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were notably improved (P < 0.05). PCS2 also exerted cytoprotective action from histopathological observation. These results suggested that PCS2 could be a good candidate of functional food or medicine for T2DM treatment.