The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lycopene-loaded liposomes (L-LYC) could interfere with the antitumor efficacy and cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (DOX). L-LYC were prepared by a thin-film hydration method to overcome the instability, insolubility, and low bioavailability of lycopene. The mean diameter and morphology of the liposomes were determined by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively, and then, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity were determined to evaluate the effects of L-LYC and their combination with DOX. Finally, we evaluated whether L-LYC could decrease the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in vivo. The results showed that the particle size of L-LYC appeared uniform, and the average diameter was approximately 160.4 nm. Compared with DOX treatment alone, the combination of L-LYC and DOX showed significantly increased cytotoxicity in vitro and decreased the tumor size in B16 melanoma-bearing mice in vivo. Furthermore, the DOX-induced cardiotoxicity was clearly relieved in combination with L-LYC. The overall findings indicated that L-LYC have a great potential for improving the therapeutic efficacy and attenuating the cardiotoxicity of the chemotherapy drug DOX.

Temperature is the most critical factor in fish preservation. Superchilled storage represents a novel technology that effectively retards quality deterioration in aquatic products. This study investigated the flavor variation patterns and deterioration mechanisms in 16 northern pike (Esox lucius) samples during superchilled storage (−3 °C) based on analysis using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). The results indicate that GC-MS analysis identified 25 key volatile flavor compounds. These comprised seven ketones, thirteen alcohols, aldehydes including 2-methylbutanal, esters such as 2-heptyl acetate and methyl butyrate, as well as nitrogen-containing compounds, exemplified by pyrazines and indole. Non-targeted metabolomics further revealed four pivotal metabolic pathways, glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, and arginine biosynthesis. These metabolic pathways were found to regulate flavor changes through modulation of lipid oxidation, nucleotide degradation, and amino acid metabolism. Notably, the arginine biosynthesis pathway exhibited significant correlations with the development of characteristic cold-storage off-flavors, mediated by glutamate accumulation and fumarate depletion. This investigation provided a theoretical foundation for optimizing preservation strategies in cold-water fish species at the molecular level.

Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and FEAST microbial source tracking, this study characterized the bacterial communities in tissues (roots, stems, leaves, seeds) and associated soils (rhizosphere and bulk soil) of Vernonia anthelmintica, an important Uyghur medicinal plant endemic to arid southern Xinjiang. We found significantly higher bacterial diversity in soil than in plant tissues, with Pseudomonadota-dominated plant-associated communities and Actinobacteria co-dominating in soils. Bacterial community structures varied across plant compartments, with soil communities exhibiting greater stability and broader niche breadth. Critically, FEAST source tracking revealed that rhizosphere soil contributed 23.8%, 13.4%, 17.9%, and 10.8% of the bacterial communities in roots, stems, leaves, and seeds, respectively, identifying soil as the primary source of endophytic bacteria. These findings highlight the pivotal role of arid-region soil microbial diversity in shaping the unique endophytic microbiome of V. anthelmintica, providing a scientific basis for conserving soil microbial health to support its standardized cultivation and sustainable utilization in Uyghur medicine.