In this study, we investigated the phenolic compounds in hop strobile extracts and evaluated their antioxidant property using DPPH and ABTS assay. The total phenolic compound (TPC) and total flavonoid compound (TFC) estimated in two different solvent extracts considerably varied depending on the extraction solvent. The most abundant phenolic compound in hop strobile was humulones (α-acid) with levels ranging from 50.44 to 193.25 µg/g. El Dorado accession revealed higher antioxidant activity in ethanol extracts (DPPH: IC₅₀ 124.3 µg/mL; ABTS: IC₅₀ 95.4 µg/mL) when compared with that of the other accessions. Correlations between DPPH (IC₅₀) scavenging TFC in ethanol extract (TFC_E, −0.941), and TPC_E (−0.901), and between ABTS (IC₅₀) scavenging TFC_E (−0.853), and TPC_E (−0.826), were statistically significant at p < 0.01 level, whereas no significant correlation was observed between antioxidant activities, TPC and TFC in water extract. This study is the first to report that variations in the level of phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of various hop cultivars depended on the type of extraction solvent used and the cultivation regions. These results could provide valuable information on developing hop products.

This study examined the effects of defatted mealworm fermentation extract (MWF) on alcoholic liver injury in rats. The rats were fed either a Lieber-DeCarli control (Con) or alcohol liquid diet (EtOH). The alcohol-fed rats were administered MWF (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day) and silymarin (200 mg/kg/day) orally for eight weeks. MWF prevented alcohol-induced hepatocellular damage by decreasing their serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels significantly compared to the EtOH group. MWF effectively reduced the relative hepatic weight, lipid contents, and fat deposition, along with the down-regulation of transcriptional factors and genes involved in lipogenesis compared to the EtOH group. It also enhanced the antioxidant defense system by elevating the glutathione level and glutathione reductase activity. MWF attenuated the alcohol-induced inflammatory response by down-regulating hepatic inflammation-associated proteins expression, such as phosphorylated-inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in chronic alcohol-fed rats. Furthermore, sequencing analysis in the colonic microbiota showed that MWF tended to increase Lactobacillus johnsonii reduced by chronic alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that MWF can attenuate alcoholic liver injury by regulating the lipogenic and inflammatory pathway and antioxidant defense system, as well as by partially altering the microbial composition.

Anthocyanins (a subclass of flavonoids) and flavonoids are crucial determinants of flower color and substances of pharmacological efficacy, respectively, in chrysanthemum. However, metabolic and transcriptomic profiling regarding flavonoid accumulation has not been performed simultaneously, thus the understanding of mechanisms gained has been limited. We performed HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) and transcriptome analyses using “ARTI-Dark Chocolate” (AD), which is a chrysanthemum mutant cultivar producing dark-purple ray florets, and the parental cultivar “Noble Wine” for metabolic characterization and elucidation of the genetic mechanism determining flavonoid content. Among 26 phenolic compounds identified, three cyanidins and eight other flavonoids were detected only in AD. The total amounts of diverse flavonoids were 8.0 to 10.3 times higher in AD. Transcriptome analysis showed that genes in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway were not up-regulated in AD at the early flower stage, implying that the transcriptional regulation of the pathway did not cause flavonoid accumulation. However, genes encoding post-translational regulation-related proteins, especially F-box genes in the mutated gene, were enriched among down-regulated genes in AD. From the combination of metabolic and transcriptomic data, we suggest that the suppression of post-translational regulation is a possible mechanism for flavonoid accumulation in AD. These results will contribute to research on the regulation and manipulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in chrysanthemum.

Intensive study of the organic extract of the marine-derived bacterium Saccharomonospora sp. CNQ-490 has yielded three new α-pyrones, saccharomonopyrones A–C (1–3). The chemical structures of these compounds were assigned from the interpretation of 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectrometry data. Saccharomonopyrone A (1) is the first α-pyrone microbial natural product bearing the ethyl-butyl ether chain in the molecule, while saccharomonopyrones B and C possess unusual 3-methyl and a 6-alkyl side-chain within a 3,4,5,6-tetrasubstituted α-pyrone moiety. Saccharomonopyrone A exhibited weak antioxidant activity using a cation radical scavenging activity assay with an IC₅₀ value of 140 μM.

Preventing disease and maintaining the health of the elderly are crucial goals for an aging population, with obesity and immune function restoration being of paramount importance. Obesity, particularly visceral obesity characterized by excessive fat accumulation around the abdominal organs, is linked to chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and immune dysfunction. Globally, obesity is considered a disease, prompting significant research interest in its treatment. Therefore, it is essential to explore potential therapeutic and preventive strategies to address obesity and the decline in immune function brought about by aging. Tenebrio molitor larvae (TML), commonly known as 'mealworms,' are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic and linoleic acids, and essential amino acids, such as isoleucine and tyrosine. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the consumption of TML oil and mealworm fermented extract (MWF-1) on obesity and immunological changes in aged obese mice. Our data showed reduced body fat in 23-week-old C57BL/6 mice fed processed TML products for 6 weeks. Additionally, the characteristically high levels of serum triglycerides decreased by treating with TML oil. The immune responsiveness results confirmed an increase in B cells by treating with MWF-1, while cytokine levels (interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2, and -6) were restored to levels similar to young mice. These results suggest that TML oil and MWF-1 are promising dietary supplements for addressing obesity and restoring immune function.

Currently, new agri-tech has been developed and adapted for the cultivation of crops using smart farming technologies, e.g., plant factories and hydroponics. Kelp (Laminaria japonica), which has a high industrial value, was considered as an alternative to chemicals for its eco-friendly and sustainably wide use in crop cultivation. In this study, a fermented kelp (FK) was developed for use in hydroponics. The FK contained various free and protein-bound amino acid compositions produced by fermenting the kelp with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Supplementing FK as an aeroponic medium when cultivating ginseng sprouts (GSs) elevated the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Additionally, seven ginsenosides (Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, Rg2, Rb2, and Rd) in GSs cultivated with FK in a smart-farm system were identified and quantified by a high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector/mass spectrometry analysis. Administering FK significantly increased the ginsenosides in the GSs compared to the control group, which was cultivated with tap water. These results indicate the FK administration contributed to the increased accumulation of ginsenosides in the GSs. Overall, this study suggests that FK, which contains abundant nutrients for plant growth, can be used as a novel nutrient solution to enhance the ginsenoside content in GSs during hydroponic cultivation.