Camellia oleifera seed cake (COSC), an agricultural byproduct, offers untapped potential as a biosurfactant source but suffers from inefficient extraction. We developed a pH-responsive platform integrating ultrasound-assisted alkaline three-phase partitioning (t-butanol/ammonium sulfate, pH 10) and acid-triggered precipitation (pH 4.5). This achieved 13.5 g saponins/100 g COSC in 30 min (92 % faster than Soxhlet) with 91 % t-butanol recovery. Acid-driven purification eliminated organic solvents, attaining 85 % purity versus conventional 70 %. Scalability was validated through pilot-scale trials (22.5–25 L working volume), achieving 12.7 g/100 g yield and 82 % purity. FTIR/HPLC analysis confirmed intact oleanane-type triterpenoids, correlating with superior functionality: critical micelle concentration of 1.0 % (vs. 3.0 % for conventional extract), 14-day emulsion stability, and enhanced bioactivities (DPPH IC₅₀ 1.23 g/L; MIC 1.29 g/L). Three breakthroughs were achieved: 1) pH-responsive efficiency-purity synergy, 2) closed-loop solvent reuse, and 3) acetone-free precipitation. This work provides a scalable, sustainable route to valorize agro-industrial residues into high-performance plant-based emulsifiers.

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus is a strain predominantly used for juice production because of its excellent fermentation characteristics and strong acid production capacity. However, the influence of L. rhamnosus on the quality of mango juice has not yet been determined. Therefore, the effects of L. rhamnosus FJG1530 on the physicochemical properties, physiological activity, and volatile and non-volatile compounds of mango juice were extensively examined in this study. The data showed that L. rhamnosus FJG1530 possessed strong adaptability to mango juice, reducing its total sugar and increasing its total flavonoids. L. rhamnosus FJG1530 fermentation enhanced the ability of mango juice to clear the free radicals ABTS and DPPH, as well as improving the inhibition of lipase and α-glucosidase. In addition, L. rhamnosus FJG1530 treatment improved the volatile compounds in mango juice, especially promoting the formation of acids and alcohols. Simultaneously, metabolomic analysis revealed that 592 non-volatile compounds in mango juice were significantly changed by L. rhamnosus FJG1530 fermentation, with 413 dramatically increased and 179 significantly decreased metabolites. This study demonstrates that the fermentation process using L. rhamnosus FJG1530 was beneficial for ameliorating the quality of mango juice.

Probiotics hold great potential in aquaculture, as they can effectively modulate gut microbiota and improve fish health, thereby enhancing farming efficiency. Translating this potential into practical application critically relies on screening high-efficacy probiotic strains. This study evaluated the growth-promoting and health-enhancing effects of probiotic candidates Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), Lactobacillus plantarum FZU310 (LP-FZU310) and Bacillus subtilis FZU103 (BS-FZU103) in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). After feeding different probiotics for 30 days, the growth, antioxidant, and intestinal enzyme indicators of M. salmoides were detected. BS-FZU103 demonstrated superior efficacy among the tested strains, showing significant differences in both specific growth rate (SGR) (p < 0.05) and condition factor (CF) (p < 0.05). It also markedly enhanced hepatic antioxidant status, elevating superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while reducing malondialdehyde levels by 80%. Improved liver integrity was indicated by significant decreases in serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. Digestively, BS-FZU103 specifically increased intestinal amylase activity by 14.7%, without affecting protease or lipase, suggesting enhanced carbohydrate digestion. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed BS-FZU103 remodeled gut microbiota, increasing Proteobacteria abundance at the phylum level and enriching Bacillus while reducing Clostridium sensu stricto 1 at the genus level. Functional prediction based on PICRUSt2 indicated an enhanced metabolic potential of the gut microbiota, with inferred upregulation of pathways related to carbohydrate transport and metabolism (e.g., ABC transporters) and intestinal enzymatic activities. Collectively, BS-FZU103 is associated with metabolic modulation, promoting M. salmoides growth through gut microbiota remodeling, hepatic antioxidant fortification, and targeted augmentation of carbohydrate utilization efficiency.

This study established a biological fermentation process using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactobacillus plantarum to deodorize squid cartilage homogenate. The optimal fermentation conditions for S. cerevisiae were determined as follows: fermentation time 105 min, temperature 34 °C, and inoculum size 0.85%. For L. plantarum, the optimum conditions were 79 min, 34.5 °C, and 4.5% inoculum. Based on electronic nose and HS-SPME-GC-MS analyses, S. cerevisiae outperformed L. plantarum in eliminating key offensive odor compounds, especially sulfur-containing compounds and aldehydes, while promoting the formation of pleasant aroma compounds such as esters and ketones (e.g., carvone and δ-pentenol). Mechanistic insights suggest that the enhanced deodorization efficiency of S. cerevisiae may be attributed to its multi-pathway synergistic metabolism, involving enzymes like dioxygenases and sulfide oxidases that facilitate the conversion of malodorous substances into odorless or pleasantly aromatic compounds. These findings provide a valuable theoretical and practical foundation for the high-value utilization of squid processing by-products and propose a promising bio-deodorization strategy for aquatic products.