In the present study, the hypoglycemic effects of wheat bran alkyresorcinols (ARs) were investigated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice induced by a high-fat/high-sucrose diet (HFSD) combined with low dose streptozotocin (STZ). After the consumption of 5 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ acarbose (positive control) and different doses of wheat bran ARs (50, 200 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) for 4 weeks, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in T2DM mice were found to be reduced significantly (p < 0.05), and the effects of 200 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ administration were better than that of 50 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹. The results of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) also showed that both acarbose and AR administration significantly increased the glucose tolerance of the T2DM mice. Then, the fasting serum insulin levels (FINS) were significantly reduced by AR treatment, and the effect of 500 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ AR administration was better than that of 5 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ acarbose. The profile of plasma lipids was analyzed simultaneously, and the results showed that the contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly decreased, while the content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was increased significantly after 200 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ AR treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, 200 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ ARs significantly increased the content of hepatic glycogen and the activity of glucokinase (p < 0.01) in T2DM mice. The relative mRNA levels of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in the liver tissue were increased markedly in 200 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ AR treatment groups (p < 0.01), and the relative mRNA levels of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in the epididymal adipose tissue were increased significantly in all AR treatment groups, especially significantly higher than acarbose (p < 0.01). Histological analyses revealed that treatment with ARs exerted a protective role on pancreatic β-cells. The results indicated that ARs could be an effective hypoglycemic active ingredient in whole grain diets.

Mulberry leaves are medicinal and edible, with many physiological functions. To improve the potential function of yogurt, the effects of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) incorporation on the fermentation kinetics, physicochemical, antioxidant properties, and sensory parameters of yogurt were evaluated. The results showed that 0.1–0.3 % MLE improved the acidification rate and shortened the fermentation process. The addition of MLE significantly increased the values of total titratable acids, water holding capacity (WHC), total phenolic content and antioxidant capacities of the yogurt (p＜0.05). Specifically, the WHC values of 0.1 % MLE added yogurt were 1.33–1.41 times that of the control over 21 days of storage. In addition, MLE changed the texture and sensory quality of yogurt, resulting in light green, more stable products. Compared to the control, the yogurt with an appropriate concentration of MLE (0.1 % and 0.2 %) showed stable microbiological properties, and the survival of lactic acid bacteria in the yogurt was able to maintain a stable probiotic count of 10⁸ CFU/g over 21 days of shelf life. The yogurt containing 0.1 % MLE achieved a good balance between the physicochemical and sensory qualities of the yogurt, and the use of MLE as an ingredient in yogurt production was a step towards the development of healthier dairy products.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have become recognized contaminants and pose a high public health risk. The animal gut microbiota is a reservoir of ARGs, but the knowledge of the origin and dissemination of ARGs remains unclear. In this study, we provide a comprehensive profile of ARGs and mobile genetic elements in the gut microbiota from 30 bovines to study the impact of modern antibiotics on resistance. A total of 42 ARG types were detected by annotating the metagenomic sequencing data from Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD). We found that the diversity and abundance of ARGs in individual yaks were significantly lower than those in dairy and beef cattle ( p < 0.0001). The results of heat map and single nucleotide polymorphism clustering suggest that ARGs from dairy and beef cattle are more similar, whereas those from yaks cluster separately. The long-term use of antibiotics may contribute to this difference, suggesting that antibiotic consumption is the main cause of ARG prevalence. Furthermore, abundant insertions were also found in this study, signifying a strong potential for horizontal transfer of ARGs among microbes, especially pathogens.

Mulberry leaves contain polysaccharides, phenols, alkaloids, and other active ingredients which have medicinal and edible value. In this study, fermented mulberry leaf powder was prepared by solid-state fermentation using Pediococcus pentosaceus JC30. The effects of the fermentation on the phytochemical, flavor characteristics, phenolics, and antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves were studied. The results showed that the content of γ-aminobutyric acid in fermented mulberry leaf powder (FMLP) increased by 6.73-fold and the content of phytic acid decreased by 11.16%. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) analysis showed that the fermentation of Pediococcus pentosaceus JC30 altered the phenolic composition of mulberry leaves, increasing the total free phenolic content by 88.43%. In particular, the contents of free phenols such as leucocyanidin, myricetin, and quercetin increased significantly and were positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. The fermentation of Pediococcus pentosaceus JC30 significantly enhanced the scavenging ability of DPPH free radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and the total reducing ability of mulberry leaves. Gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) analysis showed that FMLP has an intense fruity and floral aroma, while having less grassy and earthy odor. The fermentation improved the phytochemical, flavor, and nutritional value of mulberry leaves, which provides more possibilities for the development of mulberry leaf products outside the sericulture industry.

Bombyx batryticatus is the dried body of silkworm (Bombyx mori Linnaeus) larvae infected with Beauveria bassiana. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating convulsions, epilepsy, and hyperglycemia. In this study, Bombyx batryticatus and its extract were prepared. The total reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities, as well as the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Bombyx batryticatus extract were superior to those of normal silkworm larvae extract. Among them, the IC₅₀ value of Bombyx batryticatus extract for α-glucosidase was 5.76 mg/mL, while that of normal silkworm larvae extract was 7.0 mg/mL. Untargeted metabolomic analysis was employed to compare the material composition of normal silkworm larvae and Bombyx batryticatus. The results revealed 101 metabolic differences between the two groups, including a significant increase in fatty acids and their derivatives in the Bombyx batryticatus extract. Further separation and purification of the Bombyx batryticatus extract were performed using solvents of varying polarity. The chloroform fraction exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, with an IC₅₀ value of 0.217 mg/mL. LC-MS further identified compounds in the chloroform fraction, suggesting that those alkaloids, fatty acids, and their derivatives may be responsible for its strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This study elucidates the material basis underlying the pharmacological effects of Bombyx batryticatus, particularly its hypoglycemic components, thereby providing critical experimental support for its future development and application in medicine.