Many researchers have found that Pb exposure can cause oxidative stress damage to the body’s tissue. Black soybean peptide (BSP) has a variety of physiological functions, especially in terms of oxidative stress. Nevertheless, the mitigation function of BSPs on Pb-induced oxidative stress damage in PC12 cells has not been clearly defined. In this study, cell viability was detected by CCK8. Oxidative stress indicators, such as ROS, GSH/GSSG, MDA, SOD, CAT, GPx, and GR, were tested with biochemical kit. Protein expression of Keap1, Nrf2, and TXNIP was measured by Western blot. Compared with the control group, Pb reduced the cell viability of PC12 cells. However, BSP treatment significantly increased the viability of PC12 cells induced by lead exposure (p < 0.05). Lead can enrich the contents of MDA and ROS, but decrease the amount of CAT, SOD, GR, GPx, and GSH/GSSG in PC12 cells, while BSP can alleviate it (p < 0.05). Lead can enhance the expression of Keap1 and TXNIP proteins, but reduce Nrf2 expression. In contrast, BSPs reversed this phenomenon (p < 0.05). BSPs can alleviate oxidative stress injury induced by lead in PC12 cells through the Keap1/Nrf2/TXNIP signaling pathway.

2’-Fucosyllactose (2’-FL), the functional oligosaccharide naturally present in milk, has been shown to exert health benefits. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) on the browning of white adipose tissue in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C3H10T1/2 cells. The results revealed that 2’-FL decreased lipid accumulations with reduced intracellular triglyceride contents in vitro. 2’-FL intervention increased the mitochondria density and the proportion of UCP1-positive cells. The mRNA expressions of the mitochondrial biogenesis-related and browning markers (Cox7a, Cyto C, Tfam, Ucp1, Pgc1α, Prdm16, Cidea, Elovl3, Pparα, CD137, and Tmem26) were increased after 2’-FL intervention to some extent. Similarly, the protein expression of the browning markers, including UCP1, PGC1α, and PRDM16, was up-regulated in the 2’-FL group. Additionally, an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, compound C (1 μM), significantly decreased the induction of thermogenic proteins expressions mediated by 2’-FL, indicating that the 2’-FL-enhanced beige cell formation was partially dependent on the AMPK pathway. In conclusion, 2’-FL effectively promoted the browning of white adipose in vitro.

Pea peptides (PPs), as organic compounds, exhibit a variety of biological functions that make them useful for both the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders. This study focused on how PPs modified by steam explosion (SE-PP) may help to treat mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-mediated glucose metabolism disorders. The experimental results indicate that both the 100 mg/kg BW SE-PP (SE-PPL group) and 400 mg/kg BW SE-PP (SE-PPH group) experienced substantial decreases in body weight, epididymal and inguinal fat mass, and blood glucose levels of obese mice (notably, the body weight of the SE-PPH group was decreased by 33.13% when compared with that of the HFD group (p < 0.05)). By stimulating the IRS-1/PI3K/AKT signaling system, SE-PP controlled glucose metabolism disorder in adipose tissue, while also inhibiting the TLR4/MYD88/NF-κB pathway to reduce inflammation. Furthermore, SE-PP restored the diversity of the gut microbiota destroyed by HFD. SE-PPH increased the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio from 0.042 to 0.26 (p < 0.05), which is a key indicator of microbiota balance. In addition, SE-PP enhanced the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as isovalerate, propionate, and acetate, which are essential for maintaining intestinal homeostasis and improving metabolic health (supplementation of SE-PPH increased the levels of total SCFAs by 49.87% in obese mice (p < 0.05)).

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) exhibits high toxicity and has the potential to induce cancer, deformities, and mutations. It is therefore highly desirable that sensitive and straightforward methods for detecting AFB₁ be developed. In this study, due to the high specific adsorption capacity of AFB₁ aptamers, we applied a sensing strategy based on quantum dots (QDs) and carboxyl-functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) to construct a simple fluorescence quenching platform. FGO and CdTe QDs modified with AFB₁ aptamers cause a FRET effect that produces CdTe QDs with yellow-green fluorescence quenching. When AFB₁ is present, aptamers form complexes with it and CdTe QDs leave the quenching platform, resulting in fluorescence recovery. In this study, we used a fluorescence aptasensor with a wide detection range of 0.05 to 150 ng/mL and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 8.2 pg/mL. The average recoveries of AFB₁ in peanut and pure milk samples ranged from 94.5% to 107.0%. The aptasensor also exhibited the advantages of simple operation, low cost, and good stability. The sensing strategy reported here can thus serve as a potential candidate for the rapid detection of AFB_1.