Fermentation with Lactobacillus has been shown to improve the nutritional value of juice. In this study, Cerasus humilis juice was fermented using two commercial probiotics, namely, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum. The total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), viable count, chemical properties, antioxidant activity after in vitro digestion, and alterations in the gut microbiota composition of the fermented juice were investigated. After fermentation, the TAOC increased from 107.66 U mL⁻¹ to 126.72 U mL⁻¹; viable count increased from 5.85 lg (CFU mL⁻¹) to 8.17 lg (CFU mL⁻¹); and the contents of total phenols, total flavonoids, proanthocyanins, four organic acids, and 29 amino acids had changed. Overall, 47 compounds were identified in the juice, 20 of which were enriched after fermentation. Furthermore, Lactobacillus co-fermentation improved the antioxidant properties of the juice after in vitro digestion and increased the abundance of probiotics to regulate the gut microbiota. These findings illustrate the potential use of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum in the co-fermentation of C. humilis juice to enhance its nutritional and functional properties.

Baicalein is a unique flavonoid compound with important pharmacological activities, derived from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Baicalein, as the aglycone of baicalin, is a key form for exerting pharmacological activity in vivo. β-glucuronidases (GUSs) are the enzymes involved in the conversion of baicalin to baicalein. In this study, the content of baicalein in S. baicalensis was significantly increased by 20.44% after treatment with 5% PEG6000. Seven GUSs from the glycoside hydrolase 79 family were identified through comparative transcriptome analysis. Among them, GUS1 and GUS2 were confirmed to have catalytic activity in converting baicalin to baicalein in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. The correlation analysis further revealed a significant positive correlation of 0.962 (p < 0.01) between the expression of GUS2 and baicalein content in six different sources of S. baicalensis. Interestingly, the presence of variable sites in the GUS1 and GUS2 genes significantly affected their catalytic efficiency in the S. baicalensis samples from the six geographic origins. These findings also provide valuable GUS biological enzyme resources for the effective synthesis of baicalein and offer new insights into the accumulation pattern of baicalein in S. baicalensis.

Background: Cerasus humilis is rich in proanthocyanidins (PAs), which confer antioxidant activity. However, little is known about PAs in C. humilis fruits. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the accumulation characteristics, extraction, purification, and antioxidant activities of C. humilis PAs. Methods: The total proanthocyanidins content (TPAC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) of fruits of three C. humilis varieties (Jing-Ou 1, Jing-Ou 2, and Nong-Da 4) were determined. PA extraction was optimized using an orthogonal experimental design. The purification process of macroporous resin method was optimized and the purified PAs of C. humilis fruit was further refined by gelatin precipitation methods. The antioxidant capacity of C. humilis PAs before and after purification was by 2,2-biphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay in vitro . Results: TPAC and TAOC showed a positive correlation and decreased in all three varieties as fruits ripened . After ripening, Jing-Ou 2 had the highest PAs content. The optimal solvent extraction method yielded a TPAC of 883.0 mg/100 g FW. The purity of PAs reached 47.52% using the macroporous resin method and 98.14% using gelatin precipitation. IC ₅₀ values of the purified PAs were comparable to those of vitamin C at the same mass concentration. Conclusions: In this study, C. humilis PAs were systematically investigated for the first time. Not only its dynamic changes during fruit development were analyzed, but also the extraction and purification methods were optimized. Meanwhile, its antioxidant activity was verified, which provided a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of C. humilis PAs as antioxidants in functional foods and pharmaceutical formulations and sheds light on the health benefits of the species.

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a progressive systemic skeletal disease with complex pathogenesis. Cerasus humilis is a unique functional fruit in China. Its fruit is rich in polyphenols and other pharmacologically active components and can be used to improve bone health, making it a valuable resource for treatment OP. Objective: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of C. humilis polyphenol extract (CPE) using experimental and network pharmacology approaches. Methods: The composition of CPE was identified using UPLC. OVX mice served as a model to ascertain the therapeutic efficacy of CPE in osteoporosis OP. Employing network pharmacology, we predicted the principal bioactive constituents and pivotal molecular targets of CPE implicated in the management of OP. Subsequently, molecular docking studies were conducted to confirm the interaction between the identified active compounds and their corresponding targets. Results: The CPE content reached 0.65 g/100 g FW. A total of 27 components were identified in CPE. After CPE treatment, the degree of trabecular bone separation decreased, the density increased, and the size of the bone marrow cavity decreased. The bone formation marker PINP and the ratio of OPG/sRANKL increased significantly, while the bone absorption marker β-CTX did not change significantly. Network pharmacology revealed 109 targets of CPE components and 35 pathways involved in the effect on OP. Molecular docking results showed that key components, such as rutin, caffeic acid, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-catechin gallate, and apigenin-7- O -glucoside, had good binding abilities to the core targets TNF, INS, IL6, and IL1B. Conclusions: CPE can alleviate OP via various targets and pathways, provided insight into the pharmacological mechanism, and support the commercial value of C. humilis , promoting its sustainable utilization and contribution to health.