Kombucha, a functional beverage rich in glucuronic acid, is fermented in the presence of acetic acid bacteria and yeast as the primary microorganisms. Glucuronic acid is recognized for its various physiological benefits, such as detoxification, antioxidation, and anti-inflammation. To optimize the glucuronic acid content in kombucha, various strain combinations by selecting fermented sources were accomplished. According to the experimental results, kombucha produced through co-fermentation with Pichia anomala and Komagataeibacter hansenii, with glucose-added black tea as the carbon source, exhibited the highest glucuronic acid production. A response surface methodology found that under optimized conditions of a 12.27% (w/v) carbon source concentration, a 10.07% (w/v) substrate concentration, and a 28.4 °C temperature, the highest glucuronic acid production reached 80.16 g/L, which represented a 2.39-fold increase compared to the original kombucha. Furthermore, the total polyphenol content increased by 3.87-fold, while DPPH and ABTS free radical–scavenging capacities increased by 1.86- and 2.22-fold, respectively. To sum up, these observations reveal the potential for commercial production of glucuronic acid–enriched kombucha and contribute to the development of functional food products related to kombucha in the future.

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, trace elements, and functional components like glucosinolates, which are essential for promoting health. This study aims to enhance the health benefits and nutritional content of cabbage through lactic acid fermentation using a bioreactor, with a particular focus on glucosinolate retention. The fermentation utilized a consortium of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, known for its robust acidifying capabilities, and antioxidant-rich strains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum. A 5 L bioreactor facilitated the controlled fermentation process (35 °C, 24 h of fermentation at 5 rpm). The efficacy of glucosinolate retention was quantitatively assessed alongside the analysis of antioxidant properties via 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The results indicated a notable enhancement in antioxidant capacity with a 16.32% increase in the DPPH radical scavenging rate compared to non-fermented cabbage. Glucosinolate retention was impressively sustained at 82.02% in bioreactor conditions. Storage stability tests conducted at 4 °C revealed minimal degradation of glucosinolates, maintaining significant levels up to 14 days (from 90.34% to 66.49%). This study underscores the potential of bioreactor-facilitated lactic acid fermentation in preserving and enhancing the nutritional and functional qualities of cabbage, thereby extending its market value and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Botryocladia leptopoda is a red macroalga known for its bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-regenerative properties. The study aimed to examine their effects on UV protection, collagen synthesis, fibroblast proliferation, and pigmentation modulation. Bioactive compounds were extracted using two solvents, producing ethanol extract (FE) and alkaline extracts (AE). Methods involved characterizing extracts using mass spectrometry and assessing their effects on human fibroblasts under UVB-induced damage. UV absorbance, ROS production, and collagen synthesis were evaluated. The FE extract, which comprised 4-hydroxyquinoline, phytosphingosine, and docosapentaenoic acid, reinstated procollagen type I synthesis to 113% of baseline levels and reduced TGF-β1-mediated fibroblast proliferation to 87.78%. FE also suppressed Smad2 and α-SMA by 71% and 68%, respectively, indicating modulation of fibrosis-associated pathways. AE, containing 4-hydroxyquinoline and phenylalanine betaine, demonstrated dose-responsive cellular repair, reducing fibroblast proliferation to 97.86% and collagen Type I expression by 73% at 1000 μg/mL. Both extracts decreased ROS production, with FE and AE reducing levels by 21.4% and 19.7%, respectively, under UVB-induced oxidative stress. FE showed superior scar inhibition, while AE excelled in skin regeneration and pigmentation management.

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is enriched with dietary fiber, vitamins, trace elements, and functional components like glucosinolates, essential for promoting health. This study aims to enhance the health benefits and nutritional content of cabbage through lactic acid fermentation using a bioreactor, with a particular focus on glucosinolates retention. The fermentation utilized a consortium of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, known for its robust acidifying capabilities, and antioxidant-rich strains Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum. A 5-L bioreactor facilitated the controlled fermentation process. The efficacy of glucosinolate retention was quantitatively assessed alongside the analysis of antioxidant properties via DPPH and ABTS assays. Results indicated a notable enhancement in antioxidant capacity with a 16.32% increase in the DPPH radical scavenging rate compared to non-fermented cabbage. Glucosinolate retention was impressively sustained at 82.02% in bioreactor conditions. Storage stability tests conducted at 4°C revealed minimal degradation of glucosinolates, maintaining significant levels up to 14 days. This study underscores the potential of bioreactor-facilitated lactic acid fermentation in preserving and enhancing the nutritional and functional qualities of cabbage, thereby extending its market value and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Wound healing is a complex process involving coordinated actions of multiple cell types. Therefore, when developing therapeutics to promote wound healing, it is essential to consider the synergistic contributions of various cells at different stages of the healing process. In this study, we evaluated the potential of different extracts of Botryocladia leptopoda as wound-healing agents by examining their effects on antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, cell migration, anti-inflammatory properties, and expressions of specific biomarkers associated with wound healing. Results indicated that the ethanol extract (FE) and hexane extract (HE) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, reaching up to 94%. The alkaline extract (AE) showed the strongest antioxidant ability in the FICA assay, with a maximum of 99%. In addition, the FE and AE provided anti-inflammatory actions that inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Further analyses suggested that the FE and AE enhanced cell proliferation (210% and 112%) and migration (442.2% and 535.6%) and regulated wound healing-related genes, including matrix metalloproteinase 2, MMP9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) to avoid scar formation and accelerate wound healing. Lastly, the identification of potential compounds within the extract using the UHPLC system further supports its prospective medical applications. Taken together, these findings indicated that the FE and AE from B. leptopoda exhibited remarkable in vitro wound-healing properties, highlighting their potential for applications in pharmaceutical industries and health food development.

In this study, we explored the development and characterization of fungus-immobilized foamed bacterial cellulose (FBC) scaffolds using Pleurotus ostreatus and Aspergillus oryzae. FBC, a porous biomaterial with high structural integrity and resistance to enzymatic degradation, served as a three-dimensional matrix for fungal cultivation. The results indicated effective fungal immobilization, with the 1% A. oryzae-immobilized FBC group (FBC/1A) achieving the highest production yield. The water content (97%) and swelling behavior (95.9%) analyses revealed that P. ostreatus-immobilized FBC maintained high hydration levels and rehydration capacities, whereas A. oryzae immobilization led to slightly reduced water retention. Morphological assessments via SEM confirmed the presence of fungal-derived fibers integrated with native cellulose structures, suggesting successful immobilization. A thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated enhanced thermal stability in fungus-immobilized FBC, particularly in the A. oryzae group, while FTIR spectra suggested possible structural alterations induced by fungal activity. Collectively, these findings support the potential of fungal-immobilized FBC as a robust, biodegradable material with promising applications in biotechnology and sustainable material development.