In this study, the synthesis parameters of the lotus root polysaccharide iron complex (LRPF) were determined and optimized by response surface methodology. Under the optimum preparation conditions, the pH of the solution was 9, the ratio of M (trisodium citrate): m (lotus root polysaccharide) was 0.45, the reaction time was 3 h. UV spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, CD, and NMR were used for the characterization of the LRPF. LRPF has good stability and easily releases iron ions under artificial gastrointestinal conditions. LRPF exhibited antioxidant activity in vitro and can significantly improve the antioxidant activity in vivo. In addition, LRPF has a good effect in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in model mice, impacts the gut microbiome, and reduces the iron deficiency-induced perniciousness by regulating steroid hormone biosynthesis. Therefore, LRPF can be used as a nutritional supplement to treat and prevent iron-deficiency anemia and improve human immunity.

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With the increasing global incidence of infertility, the influence of environmental factors, lifestyle habits, and nutrients on reproductive health has gradually attracted the attention of researchers. The quantity and quality of sperm play vital roles in male fertility, and both characteristics can be affected by external and internal factors. In this review, the potential role of genetic, environmental, and endocrine factors; nutrients and trace elements in male reproductive health, spermatozoa function, and fertility potency and the underlying mechanisms are considered to provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of infertility.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a type of mycotoxin produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus and is commonly found in cereals, oils and foodstuffs. In order to understand the toxic effects of AFB1 exposure on Porcine alveolar macrophages (3D4/2 cell), the 3D4/2 cells were exposed to 40 μg/mL AFB1 for 24 h in vitro, and several methods were used for analysis. Edu and TUNEL analysis showed that the proliferation of 3D4/2 cells was significantly inhibited and the apoptosis of 3D4/2 cells was significantly induced after AFB1 exposure compared with that of the control group. Whole-transcriptome analysis was performed to reveal the non-coding RNA alteration in 3D4/2 cells after AFB1 exposure. It was found that the expression of cell-cycle-related and apoptosis-related genes was altered after AFB1 exposure, and lncRNAs and miRNAs were also significantly different among the experimental groups. In particular, AFB1 exposure affected the expression of lncRNAs associated with cellular senescence signaling pathways, such as MSTRG.24315 and MSTRG.80767, as well as related genes, Cxcl8 and Gadd45g. In addition, AFB1 exposure affected the expression of miRNAs associated with immune-related genes, such as miR-181a, miR-331-3p and miR-342, as well as immune-related genes Nfkb1 and Rras2. Moreover, the regulation networks between mRNA-miRNAs and mRNA-lncRNAs were confirmed by the results of RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence. In conclusion, our results here demonstrate that AFB1 exposure impaired proliferation of 3D4/2 cells via the non-coding RNA-mediated pathway.