Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have physicochemical characteristics similar to those of ionic liquids but are more cost-effective, easier to produce, and less harmful to the environment, making them viable alternatives to ionic liquids. In this study, various DESs have been created to assess their potential as storage media for enzymes. The impact of the DES composition and water content on the thermal and storage stability of cellulase and pectinase was also investigated. Molecular simulation was used to examine the kinetic parameters of cellulase and pectinase in DESs with varying water levels based on choline chloride. The results demonstrated that the stability of the enzymes initially increased and then decreased with an increase in water content in DESs. The enzymes experienced secondary structural changes, leading to variations in fluorescence values. Ultimately, DESs can be utilized as a stabilizers for long-term enzyme preservation, and this study provides a theoretical basis for the coapplication of DESs and enzymes.

Tea saponins have high surface-active and biological activities and are widely used in chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. Tea saponins are usually extracted using ethanol or water, but both methods have their disadvantages, including a negative impact on the environment, high energy consumption, and low purity. In this study, we explored an effective process for extracting tea saponins from tea meal using deep eutectic solvents combined with ultrasonic extraction and enzymatic techniques. The experimental results showed that a high extraction efficiency of 20.93 ± 0.48% could be achieved in 20 min using an ultrasonic power of 40% and a binary DES consisting of betaine and ethylene glycol (with a molar ratio of 1:3) at a material–liquid ratio of 1:35 and that the purity of the tea saponins after purification by a large-pore adsorption resin reached 95.94%, which was higher than that of commercially available standard tea saponin samples. In addition, the extracted tea saponins were evaluated for their antioxidant and bacteriostatic activities using chemical and biological methods; the results showed that the tea saponins extracted using these methods possessed antioxidant properties and displayed significant antibacterial activity. Therefore, the present study developed a method for using deep eutectic solvents as an environmentally friendly technological solution for obtaining high-purity tea saponins from tea meal oil. This is expected to replace the current organic solvent and water extraction process and has great potential for industrial development and a number of possible applications.

The use of nanomedicines for cancer treatment has been widespread. Fullerenes have significant effects in the treatment of solid tumors. Here, we are going to study the effects of hydroxylated fullerene C₆₀(OH)_n(n = 18–22) treatment on chronic myeloid leukemia cell proliferation and investigate its toxicity. The results showed that hydroxylated fullerene C₆₀(OH)_n (n = 18–22) at low concentrations (less than 120 μM) not only had apparent toxic side effects, but also promoted the growth of K562 cells, while a high concentration of C₆₀(OH)_n had different degrees of inhibition on K562 cells. When the concentration is higher than 160 μM, the K562 cells showed morphological changes, the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, the cell cycle was blocked in the stage of G2-phase, and cell apoptosis occurred, which may cause apoptosis, autophagy, and a variety of other damage leading to cell death. Meanwhile, it also indicated that its inhibition of solid tumors might be related to the tumor microenvironment; we verified the safety of fullerene without apparent cellular toxicity at a specific concentration.

Neurological diseases, which include various neurodegenerative disorders, not only impair patients’ physical health but also impact their psychological and social functions. It is particularly urgent to seek effective prevention and treatment strategies for neurological diseases. Alpiniae oxyphyllae Fructus (AOF), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, has been widely used in treating urinary, digestive, and neurological disorders. Contemporary medical research has demonstrated that AOF exerts neuroprotective effects through multiple mechanisms, including by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, alleviating neuroinflammation, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating nerve cell dynamic balance. In recent years, substantial advancements have been achieved in investigations concerning the neuroprotective effects and underlying mechanisms of AOF, alongside significant breakthroughs in its clinical applications. This review systematically summarizes the neuroprotective effects of AOF and delineates its clinical applications, thereby offering valuable reference and guidance for the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases using AOF.

C₆₀-Lys reduces oxidative stress in pancreatic islet cells by lowering excess ROS through effects on gene expression, antioxidant enzymes, and MMP, thereby restoring cell function, morphology, glucose homeostasis, and improving T2DM.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by Tau hyperphosphorylation, β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, and progressive neuronal loss. Gastrodia elata (G. elata), a traditional Chinese medicine with well-established neuroprotective properties, was investigated. Two G. elata-derived miRNAs, Gas-miR04-3p and Gas-miR19-5p, were identified as regulators of JNK3. By means of Western blot, RT-qPCR, and assessments of antioxidant indices, it was demonstrated that Gas-miR04-3p and Gas-miR19-5p can suppress JNK3 expression, reduce Tau phosphorylation at Ser202 and Ser396, enhance antioxidant capacity, and attenuate apoptosis in AD-related cellular and molecular pathology models. These miRNAs were also detectable in murine brain tissues following oral administration of total RNA extracted from G. elata. Their administration was associated with decreased JNK3 activation, alleviated Tau hyperphosphorylation, and improved expression of apoptosis-related proteins in AD mouse models. These results suggest that G. elata miRNAs may exert neuroprotective effects through regulation of JNK3 signaling, thereby attenuating Tau-related pathological changes and neuronal injury in AD-related models.