Cardiovascular disease represents a leading cause of mortality and is often characterized by the emergence of endothelial dysfunction (ED), a physiologic condition that takes place in the early progress of atherosclerosis. In this study, two cytoprotective peptides derived from blue mussel chymotrypsin hydrolysates with the sequence of EPTF and FTVN were purified and identified. Molecular mechanisms underlying the cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress which lead to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) injury were investigated. The results showed that pretreatment of EPTF, FTVN and their combination (1:1) in 0.1 mg/mL significantly reduced HUVEC death due to H₂O₂ exposure. The cytoprotective mechanism of these peptides involves an improvement in the cellular antioxidant defense system, as indicated by the suppression of the intracellular ROS generation through upregulation of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1. In addition, H₂O₂ exposure triggers HUVEC damage through the apoptosis process, as evidenced by increased cytochrome C release, Bax protein expression, and the elevated amount of activated caspase-3, however in HUVEC pretreated with peptides and their combination, the presence of those apoptotic stimuli was significantly decreased. Each peptide showed similar cytoprotective effect but no synergistic effect. Taken together, these peptides may be especially important in protecting against oxidative stress-mediated ED.

The growing need for sustainable protein sources has led to increased interest in marine-based alternatives, particularly those with bioactive properties.

Highlight Research Proximate of Ulva lactuca after cooking treatments were analyzed. The cooking treatments carried out in this study were roasted and boiled-roasted Protein quality such as in-vitro digestibility, protein solubility, and amino acids composition of Ulva lactuca after cooking treatments were analyzed The result showed that boiled-roasted samples had the highest protein content, amino acid score and essential acid index, and predicted-protein efficiency ratio Abstract Plant-based protein has been increasingly demanded as a sustainable protein source. Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) is one of the potential sources as plant protein due to its high protein content. During processing, the sea lettuce is exposed to heat which might affect its nutrition, particularly the protein quality. This study aimed to evaluate two different cooking processes on the nutritional quality of the sea lettuce based on the proximate and protein quality analyses. The samples were raw, roasted, and boiled-roasted sea lettuce. All treatment using temperature 100°C. The protein quality was assessed by in-vitro protein digestibility, solubility, and amino acid profiles. The result showed that boiling treatment followed by roasting treatment had significantly higher protein content, amino acid score and essential amino acid index, and predicted-protein efficiency ratio compared with the value of roasting treatment only. It resulted in protein content of 18.87% (dry basis), amino acid score of 37.96%, essential amino acid index of 79.41% and predicted-protein efficiency ratio of 2.58. Therefore, boiling followed with roasting process is recommended to maintain the nutrition quality of sea lettuce.

Transportation of Bonylip barb fish is important for supports the production of cultivation and economic markets distribution. The high mortality of Bonylip barb seeds is an problem for Bonylip barb fish farmers. An addition of peppermint oil (Mentha piperita L.) attempts to suppress respiratory response and minimize mortality. The purposes the research was to test the effect of peppermint oil on Bonylip barb seeds and find out the best dosage of peppermint oil on Bonylip barb seeds. The research design is Completely Randomized Design consisting of 4 treatments and 3 replications, i.e. A (0 mL/L); B (0.1 mL/L); C (0.2 mL/L); and D (0.3 mL/L). This study used Bonylip barb seeds (3.33 ± 0.58 g) with density of 20 fish/L. Research procedures included seed preparation and acclimatization, fasting, adding peppermint oil, packaging, fish transportation for 8 hours, and rearing for 7 days. The results showed that peppermint oil had a significant effect on induction time, recovery time, blood glucose after transportation and maintenance, and survival life of Bonylip barb seeds. The best dose of peppermint oil was shown by 0.1 mL/L, which produced an induction time of 8.14 ± 5.07 minutes and a sedative time of 11.54 ± 2.60 minutes; fish blood glucose after transportation and maintenance was 68.33 ± 3.06 mg/dL and 64.67 ± 0.58 mg/dL, and the survival rate of 88.33 ± 5.77%. Result of this research is expected to provide essential guidance for fish farmers during the transportation of Bonylip barb, helping to enhance the safety and well-being of the fish throughout the shipping process

Phloroglucinol (PG) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound and the fundamental monomeric unit of marine phlorotannins, yet its effects on adipocyte differentiation and browning remain incompletely understood. This study investigated whether PG inhibits adipogenesis and induces browning markers in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through Nrf2/HO-1 pathway activation. Differentiating 3T3-L1 cells were treated with PG (10, 50, and 100 µM) with or without ZnPP (5 µM), a specific HO-1 inhibitor. PG concentration-dependently reduced lipid accumulation and intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while suppressing PPARγ, C/EBPα, FAS, and aP2 protein expression. PG also upregulated the browning markers UCP1, PGC-1α, and PRDM16, and activated AMPK. Mechanistically, PG promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and increased HO-1 expression, accompanied by reduced ROS production and enhanced SOD, GPx, and CAT activities. Notably, ZnPP co-treatment reversed all these effects—lipid accumulation returned toward control levels, adipogenic markers increased, browning markers decreased, and antioxidant enzyme activities were attenuated—while Nrf2 nuclear translocation and HO-1 protein expression remained elevated. These findings demonstrate that PG inhibits adipogenesis and induces browning markers through an HO-1-dependent mechanism, with ZnPP experiments confirming that HO-1 activity is functionally required for these effects. This is the first study to establish a causal link between Nrf2/HO-1 activation and the anti-adipogenic effects and browning marker upregulation of PG in adipocytes. Given PG’s established safety profile as an approved antispasmodic agent, these findings support its potential as a multi-target therapeutic candidate for obesity and related metabolic disorders.