The rational design of advanced composite gels requires rigorous rheological analysis to decode their flow-deformation mechanisms, a prerequisite for optimizing performance in food and biomedical applications. However, systematic thermal analysis and rheological profiling of Salecan/Sanxan hydrogels remain unexplored, constituting a critical knowledge gap in this field. This study engineered Salecan/Sanxan hydrogels and systematically probed Salecan-dependent rheological and thermal properties. Through Power Law and Herschel–Bulkley model analyses, the hydrogels demonstrated composition-dependent rheological properties: yield stress (4.7–29.2 Pa), η₅₀ (342.6–3011.4 mPa·s), and Arrhenius equation fitting revealed tunable activation energy (14,688.3–30,997.1 J·mol⁻¹). Notably, when the gel was formulated with 3% Sanxan and 2% Salecan at a volume ratio of 1:2, its thermal-decomposition temperature rose by 9%, from 224.4 °C to 245.1 °C. Conversely, a 1:1 mixture of 2% Sanxan and 2% Salecan produced the lowest freezing point recorded (–18.3 °C), an 18% reduction compared with the control (–15.4 °C). These findings demonstrate the tunable rheological and thermal properties of Salecan/Sanxan hydrogels. By establishing that precise modulation of polymer mixing ratios can match the entire processing shear spectrum, this study not only fills a critical knowledge gap but also creates a versatile platform for designing tailor-made foods and biomedical matrices.

Lanzhou lily is a plant native to China with high edible, medicinal, and ornamental value that is relatively susceptible to Fusarium wilt. In this study, the application of Trichoderma longibrachiatum SMF2 (TlSMF2) effectively controlled Lanzhou lily wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani. TlSMF2 and the antimicrobial peptaibols trichokonins (TKs) produced by TlSMF2 inhibited the mycelial growth and spore germination of these two pathogens. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the TKs-induced defense responses of Lanzhou lily were mainly related to the production of plant hormones and defense enzymes. In detail, TKs treatment increased the levels of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) and the expression of their related genes and upregulated the activities of chitinase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Moreover, TKs caused the induction of LzWRKY26 and LzWRKY75, which is highly homologous to LrWRKY3 that positively regulates Lilium regale resistance to F. oxysporum. LzWRKY26 expression was also induced by SA and MeJA treatments and F. oxysporum infection, which was consistent with the findings that many cis-acting elements associated with phytohormones and stress responses are present in the promoter region of LzWRKY26. Therefore, the biocontrol mechanisms of TlSMF2 against Lanzhou lily wilt disease involve substrate competition and toxicity against pathogens, as well as the induction of systemic resistance in plants. Our results highlight a promising biological control agent for soil-borne fungal diseases and offer deeper insights into the biocontrol mechanisms of TlSMF2.

Caudatin is a C₂₁ steroidal glycoside isolated from many species of the genus Cynanchum, has been utilized by traditional medicine to treat cancer and inflammation which is increasingly being considered a drug candidate because of the pharmacological activity it displays. This review provides a discussion of caudatin’s structure-activity relationship (SAR), pharmacology, and therapeutic uses along with a synthesis of future challenges. Caudatin is a potent anti-cancer therapeutic that has been shown to modulate several important signaling pathways, which include but are not limited to: Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT pathway, induce apoptosis through ROS mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, reduce metastatic spread through inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and have an anti-inflammatory effect through inhibition of JNK/AP-1/NF-κB signaling. Caudatin has also displayed neuroprotection in models of Alzheimer’s disease by activating TFEB and the autophagosome-lysosomal pathway mechanism of action, while also modulating PPARα. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic studies indicate that caudatin is rapidly absorbed and is able to selectively tail hepatic tissue while having little to no toxicity or significant adverse events in pre- clinical animal studies. Structure-activity studies suggest that modifications on the C-3 hydroxyl position, primarily with nitrogen heterocycles and/or sugars greatly enhance the bioactivity and solubility. With caudatin being such a great scaffold for medicinal chemistry, there is great opportunity to take advantage of caudatin as a building block to generate novel therapies which bridge traditional medicine with modern drug discovery. The future is aimed primarily at a combination strategy of synthetic derivatives, translational studies, and formulations. In further exploring caudatin as a treatment for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammation.

Weishe Hu, Aizhi Ren, Mengjiao Guan, Xiaoting Wang, Ming Li, Xiusheng Zhang, and Peibao Zhao. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2026;36:1-11. https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.2602.02013