Journal of Animal Science and Technology (JAST) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing original research, review articles and notes in all fields of animal science. Topics covered by the journal include: genetics and breeding, physiology, nutrition of monogastric animals, nutrition of ruminants, animal products (milk, meat, eggs and their by-products) and their processing, grasslands and roughages, livestock environment, animal biotechnology, animal behavior and welfare.

The aim of the current study was to examine the antidiabetic effect of noodle containing fermented lettuce extract (FLE) on diabetic mice as a pre-clinical study. The γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, antioxidant capacity, and total polyphenol content of the FLE noodles were analyzed and compared with those of standard noodles. In addition, oral glucose and sucrose tolerance, and fasting blood glucose tests were performed using a high-fat diet/streptozotocin-mediated diabetic mouse model. Serum metabolite profiling of mice feed standard or FLE noodles was performed using gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC–TOF-MS) to understand the mechanism changes induced by the FLE noodles. The GABA content, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity were high in FLE noodles compared with those in the standard noodles. In vivo experiments also showed that mice fed FLE noodles had lower blood glucose levels and insulin resistance than those fed standard noodles. Moreover, glycolysis, purine metabolism, and amino acid metabolism were altered by FLE as determined by GC–TOF-MS-based metabolomics. These results demonstrate that FLE noodles possess significant antidiabetic activity, suggesting the applicability of fermented lettuce extract as a potential food additive for diabetic food products.

Acer pseudoplatanus (maple) is a widely grown ornamental plant. In addition to its ornamental and ecological value, it also has potentially high economic value. It is a rich source of polyphenols and exhibits antioxidant activity. However, the relationship between polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in maple leaves of different colors (green, yellow, and red) has not yet been investigated. In this study, the total polyphenol (TP), total flavonoid (TFlav), tannin (TET), chlorophyll a and b (Chl a and b), total anthocyanin (TAN), and total carotene (TAC) contents in maple leaves of different colors were evaluated. Their antioxidant activities were determined based on the inhibition of lipid oxidation, DPPH scavenging, ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power, and iron-chelating abilities. The concentrations of TP, TET, TFlav, TAN, and TAC in red maple leaves were higher than those in green and yellow maple leaves. In addition, red maple leaves showed a higher antioxidant effect than the leaves of the other two colors. We observed that antioxidant activity was positively correlated with TP, TFlav, and TAN and negatively correlated with Chl a and b. Finally, we analyzed the metabolites of the different colored (i.e., green, yellow, and red) maple leaves using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and found that the metabolite profile significantly varied between the different colors. These results suggest that red leaves are a good source of polyphenols and antioxidants and have potential use in the development of functional foods and medicinal applications.

Skin has heterogenous identities on different body sites despite similar cellular compositions. There are two types of skin, volar (palmoplantar) and non-volar (dorsal), which are characterized by epidermal thickness, pigmentation, and presence of hair follicles. However, the mechanisms underlying the development of these different skin types remain unclear. To investigate these, we profiled the cellular metabolites of volar and non-volar skin in mice using gas chromatography-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS), and further assessed the metabolic differences between them. In total, 96 metabolites from both volar and non-volar skin of mice were identified using the BinBase database system. Metabolomics analysis revealed important differences associated with amino acid metabolism (phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; aspartate and glutamate metabolism), sugar metabolism (pentose phosphate pathway), and nucleotide metabolism (pyrimidine metabolism) in volar skin. Fifty metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers differentiating the physiological characteristics of these skin types. Of these, nine were highly increased whereas 41 were significantly decreased in volar skin compared with those in non-volar skin. Overall, these results provide valuable information for understanding the metabolic differences between volar and non-volar skin.

The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction method for caffeic acid from the leaves of Dendropanax morbifera using response surface methodology (RSM), and subsequently determine the polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the D. morbifera leaves extracts. The extraction process considered operating variables such as solvent concentration, extraction temperature, and extraction time, which were optimized via Box–Behnken experimental design. In addition, the antioxidant capacity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The optimal extraction conditions of 41.23% (v/v) methanol concentration, at 88.61 °C, and 1.86 h produced a maximum caffeic acid (CA) yield of 20.35 mg/g. Additionally, total polyphenols, total tannins, and total flavonoids contents in the leaves extracts of D. morbifera were 32.48 ± 2.05 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalents)/g, 17.61 ± 2.61 mg GAE/g, and 9.14 ± 0.17 mg QE (quercetin equivalents)/g, respectively. The results showed that methanol extracts exhibited an IC50 of approximately 14.3 mg AAE (ascorbic acid equivalent)/g. The results suggested that the extracts of D. morbifera leaves contain potential antioxidant activity, and could be a good source of functional food and used in medicinal applications.

Iron deficiency chlorosis severely limits the productivity of ‘Yali’ pears in alkaline soils. This study systematically investigated the physiological and molecular responses of ‘Yali’ pears to varying degrees of iron deficiency, focusing on the roles of PbFRO2 (Pyrus bretschneideri Ferric Reductase Oxidase 2), PbIRT1 (Pyrus bretschneideri Iron-Regulated Transporter 1), and PbCS2 (Pyrus bretschneideri Citrate Synthase 2) in iron uptake and homeostasis. Based on field observations, pear trees were categorized into normal, moderately chlorotic, and severely chlorotic groups. Results demonstrated that moderate iron deficiency upregulated PbFRO2 (2.86–7.09-fold), enhanced root ferric reductase (FCR) activity, and promoted Fe³⁺ reduction and Fe²⁺ transport. In contrast, severe deficiency suppressed the expression of these genes and reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Leaf citrate content significantly increased with chlorosis severity, while root citrate content exhibited seasonal fluctuations, peaking in July. Multivariate analyses (PCA and PLS-DA) revealed distinct physiological clustering: normal and moderately chlorotic groups overlapped, whereas the severely chlorotic group formed a separate cluster, reflecting a transition from compensatory activation to metabolic collapse. PbFRO2 emerged as a central regulator, driving root iron storage in spring and redistribution in summer. These findings elucidate a biphasic adaptation strategy, where moderate deficiency triggers gene-mediated iron mobilization, whereas severe stress disrupts homeostasis. This study provides critical insights into iron metabolism dynamics and proposes PbFRO2 as a molecular target for breeding iron-efficient pear cultivars.