Gastrointestinal (GI) afflictions are prevalent among the feline population, wherein the intricacies of the gut microbiome exert a profound influence on their overall health. Alterations within this microbial consortium can precipitate a cascade of physiological changes, notably in immune function and antioxidant capacity. This research investigated the impact of Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) and Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) on cats’ GI health, exploring the effects of probiotic supplementation on the intestinal ecosystem using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The findings demonstrated a significant improvement in gut barrier function by reducing plasma concentrations of D-lactate (D-LA) by 30.38% and diamine oxidase (DAO) by 22.68%, while increasing the population of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus. There was a notable 25% increase in immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels, evidenced by increases of 19.13% in catalase (CAT), 23.94% in superoxide dismutase (SOD), and 21.81% in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Further analysis revealed positive correlations between Lactobacillus abundance and IgA, CAT, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels. These correlations indicate that B. lactis and L. plantarum enhance feline immune and antioxidant functions by increasing the abundance of beneficial Lactobacillus in the GI tract. These findings provide a foundation for probiotic interventions aimed at enhancing health and disease resistance in feline populations.

In this study, 12 flavonoid glycosides were selected based on virtual screening and the literature, and Quercimeritrin was selected as the best selective inhibitor of α-glucosidase through in vitro enzyme activity inhibition experiments. Its IC₅₀ value for α-glucosidase was 79.88 µM, and its IC₅₀ value for α-amylase >250 µM. As such, it could be used as a new selective inhibitor of α-glucosidase. The selective inhibition mechanism of Quercimeritrin on the two starch-digesting enzymes was further explored, and it was confirmed that Quercimeritrin had a strong binding affinity for α-glucosidase and occupied the binding pocket of α-glucosidase through non-covalent binding. Subsequently, animal experiments demonstrated that Quercimeritrin can effectively control postprandial blood glucose in vivo, with the same inhibitory effect as acarbose but without side effects. Our results, therefore, provide insights into how flavone aglycones can be used to effectively control the rate of digestion to improve postprandial blood glucose levels.

Volatile active ingredients in biopolymer nanofibers are prone to burst and uncontrolled release. In this study, we used electrospinning and crosslinking to design a new sustained-release active packaging containing zein and eugenol (EU). Vapor-phase glutaraldehyde (GTA) was used as the crosslinker. Characterization of the crosslinked zein nanofibers was conducted via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical properties, water resistance, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. It was observed that crosslinked zein nanofibers did not lose their fiber shape, but the diameter of the fibers increased. By increasing the crosslink time, the mechanical properties and water resistance of the crosslinked zein nanofibers were greatly improved. The FT-IR results demonstrated the formation of chemical bonds between free amino groups in zein molecules and aldehyde groups in GTA molecules. EU was added to the zein nanofibers, and the corresponding release behavior in PBS was investigated using the dialysis membrane method. With an increase in crosslink time, the release rate of EU from crosslinked zein nanofibers decreased. This study demonstrates the potential of crosslinking by GTA vapors on the controlled release of the zein encapsulation structure containing EU. Such sustainable-release nanofibers have promising potential for the design of fortified foods or as active and smart food packaging.