Okara is a byproduct generated during tofu or soymilk production processes. Crude polysaccharide (yield 56.8%) was isolated by removing fat, protein and low molecular weight carbohydrates from initial okara. Crude okara polysaccharide was further divided into four soluble fractions and an insoluble residue fraction by extracting with 0.05 M EDTA + NH4 oxalate, 0.05 M NaOH, 1 M NaOH and 4 M NaOH, with yields of 7.7%, 3.6%, 20.7%, 16.0% and 27.9%, respectively. Arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, xylose and glucose (only for the insoluble fraction) were the major constituent sugars. The primary sugar residues of okara polysaccharides were 1,4-linked β-galactopyranose, 1,5- and 1,3-linked α-arabinofuranose, 1,5-linked α-xylofuranose, 1,2-linked, 1,2,4-linked and terminal α-rhamnopyranose (or fucopyranose), and 1,4-linked β-glucopyranose (only for the insoluble fraction), indicating okara polysaccharides might contain galactan, arabinan, arabinogalactan, xylogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan, xylan, xyloglucan and cellulose.

Abstract:The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different cultivation regions on the pattern and content of flavonoids in two pummelo cultivars (C. grandis L. Osbeck) in China. Results showed that similar patterns of flavonoids were observed in the flavedo or juice of each pummelo cultivar from these cultivation regions, whereas the individual flavonoid content showed unique characteristics. Naringin, the predominant flavanone glycoside, showed the highest content in both flavedo and juice of C. grandis "Guanximiyu" from the Pinghe of Fujian (FJ) cultivation region compared with the Dapu of Guangdong (GD) and Nanbu of Sichuan (SC) regions. However, its content in the flavedo of C. grandis "Shatianyu" from the Pingle of Guangxi (GX) was significantly lower than in the GD and SC regions. Vicenin-2 appeared to be the dominant flavone C-glycoside in the flavedo of both cultivars, and the lowest content was observed in the flavedo of C. grandis "Guanximiyu" from the SC region. However, C. grandis "Shatianyu" contained the highest content of vicenin-2 in the flavedo from SC region. Similarly, the predominant flavone O-glucoside, rhoifolin, showed the highest content in C. grandis "Guanximiyu" from the GD and FJ regions, whereas C. grandis "Shatianyu" in SC region showed the highest content of rhoifolin. Cluster analysis suggested that genotype played a primary role in determining the flavonoid profiles of pummelo cultivars,

The phenolic compound profiles in the skins of white grapes, containing ten wine grape and six table grape cultivars grown in the National Grape Germplasm Resource Nursery at the Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute of China, were investigated using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The objective of this study was to evaluate if phenolic compound profiles can be used as indictors to differentiate the quality of wine and table grape cultivars. Significant differences in phenolic compound profiles were observed among these grape cultivar skins. The highest content of total hydroxybenzoic acids, total hydroxycinnamic acids, total flavan-3-ols, total flavones and flavonols and total stilbenes was observed in the skin of the Canada Muscat, Rommel, Kadin parmac, Bacchus and Silvaner cultivars respectively. A great compositional difference was observed among these grape cultivars regarding the individual hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonols. Cluster analysis showed that three table grape cultivars, namely Canada Muscat, Rommel and Kadin parmac, possessed significantly different phenolic compound profiles compared to the other grape cultivars. These results suggested that phenolic compound patterns and contents played important roles in evaluating the quality of table and wine grapes and might provide useful information on grape breeding and winemaking in China.

Bavachalcone is an important active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Fructus Psoraleae. The inhibitory effect of bavachalcone on α-glucosidase activity is reported for the first time and the mechanism elucidated by molecular docking. The inhibition of α-glucosidase by bavachalcone (IC50 15.35 ± 0.57 μg/mL) was significantly superior to acarbose (IC50 2.77 ± 0.09 mg/mL). Inhibition type was mixed competitive and non-competitive. Molecular docking suggested this inhibition stems from hydrogen bonds formed with the trp391, arg428, and trp710 residues of α-glucosidase.

The gel-forming ability of myofibrillar protein (MP) is highly correlated with the characteristics of emulsified meat products. Incorporation of Agaricus bisporus (Ab) powder into MP gels may enhance its gel properties to facilitate the development of a novel and safe meat product. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of Ab powder on gel strength, water holding capacity (WHC), texture, rheological behaviour, LF-NMR spin-spin relaxation (T 2 ), microstructure and protein secondary structure of the MP gel system. The results indicated that the gel strength, WHC, G' value and G" value were significantly improved when the addition of Ab powder increased from 0% to 6% (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the T 2 relaxation time was shortened, and free water was transformed into immobilised water. The texture of the gel was improved when 1%-4% Ab powder was added compared to the control. Furthermore, Ab filled in the gel network and promoted the unfolding of MP a-helix and the formation of MP b-sheet during the thermal denaturation of MP, leading to a dense aggregated network structure. The study suggested that Ab could be a promising ingredient in improving chicken MP's gel properties and developing fatreduced meat products.