Abstract:Human breath volatile metabolites have attracted increasing attention as a source of non-invasive biomarkers. However, the biosynthetic pathways of most breath-borne compounds remain unclear, and their relationships to physiological or pathological states are still poorly defined, which has greatly hindered the clini cal application of breath biomarkers.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent process driven by lipid peroxidation that exacerbates tissue inflammation and has been implicated in a wide range of age-associated disorders. Importantly, some oxidized lipids generated during ferroptosis are volatile and can be released in exhaled breath. Based on this principle, we have developed a non-invasive strategy for detecting deep-tissue ferroptosis using exhaled volatile oxidized lipids as biomarkers and are advancing this approach toward clinical application. In this review, we will highlight the development of breath markers associated with ferroptosis and discuss the broader potential of breath-based technologies for monitoring disease-related metabolism.

Abstract: The increasing global demand for renewable and environmentally sustainable energy has positioned biodiesel as an important component of future fuel strategies, particularly in biodiesel-producing countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Owing to its favourable properties as a fuel composed primarily of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), including biodegradability and compatibility with existing diesel infrastructure, biodiesel contrib utes to both environmental protection and energy security. However, maintaining fuel quality during storage remains a significant challenge, especially under warm and humid climate. This review examines the factors contributing to microbial growth in biodiesel and biodiesel-diesel blend storage systems. Key factors include the hygroscopic nature of biodiesel, water accumulation during prolonged storage, temperature conditions and the influence of storage tank materials. These conditions promote microbial growth such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts, leading to biofilm formation, fuel degradation, corrosion and fuel filter clogging. Major challenges identified include long-term storage, inadequate water control and oxidative instability of biodiesel. Mitigation strategies discussed in this review include improved storage tank design and materials, water and temperature management, routine monitoring and maintenance, and the use of additives such as antioxidants, biocides and corrosion inhibitors to minimize microbial contamination and maintain fuel stability.

Abstract: The release of lipid-related volatile compounds influences the sensory quality and stability of oil-containing foods; however, the physicochemical role of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂) in their partitioning remains unclear. This study examined the effects of dissolved CO₂ on the gas-liquid partitioning of representative lipid-related compounds, including fatty acids with carbon chain lengths ranging from C4 to C14, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and acetate esters, using simplified aqueous model systems. Headspace concentrations under CO₂ were compared with those under nitrogen (N₂) at 30-50 °C by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Dissolved CO₂ modulated gas-phase transfer in a structure- and temperature-dependent manner. The most pronounced differences were observed at 40 °C for medium-chain compounds, particularly C10 species such as decanoic acid and 1-decanol. The CO₂/N₂ headspace ratio showed a positive correlation with hydrogen-bonding capacity, although this relationship should be interpreted cautiously because other physicochemical properties may also contribute. Control experiments using O₂, N₂O, air, and pH-adjusted solutions suggested that the observed effects cannot be explained solely by general gas sparging or acidification.

These results are consistent with the possibility that dissolved CO₂ influences the balance between aqueous solvation and gas-phase partitioning, potentially through weak interactions with the hydrogen-bond network of water. The selective response of medium-chain fatty acids may have implications for understanding flavor release in carbonated and oil-containing food systems.

Abstract: Background: Palmitic acid (PA)-driven lipotoxicity in skeletal muscle is associated with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disturbed mitochondrial dynamics. This study aimed to characterize PA-induced alterations in oxidative status and fusion-fission balance in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and to test whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), dichloroacetate (DCA), or metformin mitigate these changes.

Methods: Differentiated C2C12 myotubes were exposed to PA under conditions detailed in the Methods. Intracellular ROS was quantified, antioxidant defenses were assessed by activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and mitochondrial dynamics were evaluated by expression of the fusion protein mitofusin 1 (MFN1) and the fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), together with morphological assessment of mitochondrial fragmentation.

Results:PA exposure increased ROS and was accompanied by decreases in CAT, GPx, and SOD activities. PA shifted mitochondrial dynamics toward fission, with reduced MFN1, elevated DRP1, and increased mitochondrial fragmentation. Co-treatment with NAC, DCA, or metformin attenuated PA-induced ROS accumulation, improved antioxidant enzyme activities relative to PA alone, and partially normalized MFN1 and DRP1 expression, with reduced fragmentation.

Conclusions: In an in vitro C2C12 model, PA-induced lipotoxicity is associated with oxidative stress and a fusion-fission imbalance favoring mitochondrial fragmentation. NAC, DCA, and metformin mitigate these alterations and help preserve mitochondrial homeostasis. These findings support targeting oxidative stress and mitochondrial dynamics as a potential approach to counteract mitochondrial dysfunction under lipotoxic conditions.

Abstract: Antifungal drug resistance is a major problem in healthcare and agriculture. Synthesizing new drugs is one of the major mitigating strat egies for overcoming this problem. In this context, carbon-dots (CDs) are a newer category of nanoparticles that have wide applications, potentially including use as antibiotics. However, there is a lack of understanding of the effect of long-term use of CDs as antimicrobials, particularly the ability of microbes to evolve resistance to antibiotic CDs. In this study, we synthesized novel florescent CDs using hydrothermal bottom up method using two antifungal drugs fluconazole and nourseothricin sulphate (ClonNAT). The newly synthesized Flu-Clo CDs were extensively characterized by investigating the physical properties. The fluorescence spectra showed that maximum emission wavelength of the Flu-Clo CDs was at 435 nm which corresponds to the green fluorescence. TEM and AFM reveal that the median size of Flu-Clo CD is 2.5nm. The FTIR spectra displays the presence of -OH, N-H and -C=O on the surface of the Flu-Clo CDs. The cytotoxicity test of Flu-Clo CDs on budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that it had comparable antifungal inhibition with extensively used drug fluconazole. Furthermore, Flu-CLO CDs demonstrated no cytotoxicity to human fibroblasts cell lines. Then, the ability of yeast to evolve resistance to Flu-Clo CDs was quantified by evolving replicate laboratory yeast populations for 250 generations in the presence of Flu-Clo CDs or aqueous fluconazole. The results revealed that yeast evolved resistance to Flu-Clo CDs and aqueous fluconazole at similar rates. Further, resistance to Flu-Clo CDs also conferred cross-resistance to aqueous fluconazole. Overall, the results demonstrate the efficacy of CDs as potential antifungal drugs. It can be concluded that yeast populations can adapt quickly to novel antibiotics including CD based antibiotics, indicating the importance of proper use of antimicrobials in combating infections.

Abstract: Irinotecan (IRI) is a widely used anticancer agent; however, its clinical use is often associated with severe gastrointestinal toxicity, particularly intestinal inflammation. Rice-derived lipophilic fractions and glucosylceramide (GlcCer), a major plant sphingolipid, exert anti-inflammatory effects in the colon; however, it remains unclear whether these effects extend to the small intestine, the primary site of nutrient absorption. This study investigates the protective effects of dietary GlcCer and rice extract (RE) against IRI-induced jejunal injury in mice. Female ICR mice were fed experimental diets containing GlcCer or RE for 10 days, followed by intraperitoneal administration of IRI for 4 days. Jejunal tissues were evaluated using histopathological analysis and protein array profiling of inflammation-related cytokines and apoptosis-related proteins. IRI treatment induced marked villus atrophy and crypt hypertrophy in the jejunum, accompanied by pronounced increases in inflammation-related cytokine expression levels. Dietary GlcCer substantially attenuated these morphological and inflammatory alterations, whereas apoptosis-associated nuclear changes and cleaved caspase-3 expression were largely unaffected. Dietary RE also modulated inflammatory responses, despite containing lower amounts of GlcCer, suggesting contributions from additional lipophilic components. These findings indicate that dietary GlcCer is a key bioactive constituent that attenuates IRI-induced jejunal inflammation, while leaving jejunal cleaved caspase-3 expression and apoptosis-associated nuclear changes largely unaffected. Thus, dietary GlcCer or rice-derived lipophilic fractions represent candidate nutritional strategies to mitigate local gastrointestinal toxicity associated with IRI chemotherapy.

Abstract: The essential oil of Ageratum conyzoides collected from Dak Lak Province, Vietnam, was investigated for its chemical composition and biological activities. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 26 volatile constituents, accounting for 78.8 % of the total oil content, predominantly composed of monoterpenoids (60.6 %) and sesquiterpenoids (18.2 %). The major components included caryophyllene (15.57 %), sabinene (14.78 %), isomyocorene (3.62 %), eucalyptol (12.46 %), humulene (8.91 %), nerolidol (5.80 %), α-pinene (3.09 %), and 3-carene (3.05 %). The essential oil exhibited notable antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay with an IC₅₀ value of 6.03 ± 0.4 mg/mL. In addition, moderate antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli was observed, with an inhibition zone diameter of 27.0 mm at 3.00 mg/mL and a minimum inhibitory concentration of 100 µg/mL. The oil also demonstrated moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 415.4 μg/mL. Molecular docking analysis provided only preliminary and hypothesis-generating insights, suggesting that major constituents such as caryophyllene and nerolidol may be associated with the observed activities. However, these in silico results do not provide direct evidence of DNA GyrB or α-glucosidase inhibition by individual compounds. These findings indicate that A. conyzoides essential oil represents a potential natural source of multifunctional bioactive compounds for further pharmacological investigation.

Abstract:Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) leaf tea is a traditional beverage rich in polyphenols and has been associated with various health benefits; however, its potential to inhibit dietary lipid digestion remains to be fully elucidated. This study evaluated the pancreatic lipase-inhibitory effect of hot-water extracts of persimmon leaves (persimmon leaf tea) using both a synthetic substrate (p-nitrophenyl palmitate, pNPP) and a physiologically relevant triacylglycerol substrate in an oil-in-water emulsion system. Persimmon leaf tea exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition in both assays, indicating lipase-inhibitory effects against both synthetic and physiologically relevant lipid substrates. The pNPP assay was therefore used for subsequent evaluations. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified astragalin and isoquercitrin as the predominant flavonol glycosides in the tea. Astragalin and isoquercitrin individually inhibited porcine pancreatic lipase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Astragalin exhibited a slightly stronger lipase-inhibitory effect than isoquercitrin. When the two compounds were combined at concentrations corresponding to those in persimmon leaf tea, the mixture produced stronger inhibition than the tea itself, suggesting that matrix components may modulate flavonoid activity. Removal of polyphenols by polyvinylpolypyrrolidone treatment markedly reduced lipase-inhibitory effect and reconstitution with the two flavonoids substantially restored the effect, demonstrating that polyphenolic compounds are major contributors to the effect, although they may not fully account for the total inhibition. Although the tea exhibited lower maximal inhibition than the combined authentic standards, this difference is likely attributable to matrix effects from other constituents present in the tea. Compared with the pharmaceutical inhibitor orlistat, persimmon leaf tea showed milder inhibition, with IC₅₀ values several hundred times higher, which may be advantageous for long-term dietary use. These findings indicate that persimmon leaf tea suppresses lipid digestion through the combined actions of its major flavonoids and suggest its potential as a functional beverage for moderating dietary fat absorption.

Abstract: Liquid‑crystalline compounds with 5‑alkoxytropon‑2‑yl groups were synthesized from acyclic amines such as tris(2‑aminoethyl)amine, 1,5‑diaminopentane, bis(2‑aminoethyl)ether, diethylenetriamine, and N‑(3‑aminopropyl)‑1,3‑propanediamine. All of the acyclic amines functionalized with 5‑alkoxytropon‑2‑yl groups exhibited the SmA phase. The POM and XRD analyses revealed that these compounds possess a high degree of self‑orienting ability and adopt a homeotropic alignment in the SmA phase.

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of Thymus hirtus essential oil and to assess its acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory potential. This essential oil extracted by hydrodistillation from the leaves has a yield of 2.08 ± 0.5 %. The identification of its chemical composition was conducted using both GC-FID and GC-MS. Fifty-four constituents were detected, representing 98.53 % of the essential oil's composition. The major constituents were : thymol (48.5 %) and carvacrol (17.75 %). The oral acute toxicity of this essential oil was evaluated in mice by administering single doses ranging from 50 to 2000 mg/kg. The lethal dose (LD50) obtained was equal to 875 mg/kg. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using carrageenan-induced paw edema test in mice. A notable reduction of paw edema was obtained at dose of 50 mg/kg (50.9 %) and 100 mg/kg (65.6 %). The reported anti-inflammatory activity represents a significant initial outcome, underscoring the relevance of this work and paving the way for future investigations to validate and extend these findings.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Naematelia aurantialba ethanol extract (NAAE) against skin photoaging. Furthermore, we sought to elucidate the underlying repair mechanisms and related pathways. The results indicated that NAAE treatment significantly enhanced cell viability and proliferation under UV stress, while exerting potent antioxidant effects by effectively reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitigating oxidative damage. Furthermore, NAAE accelerated the migration capacity of damaged cells and promoted skin repair. In animal models, NAAE inhibited UV-induced skin injuries in a concentration-dependent manner and facilitated tissue regeneration. Further investigations revealed that NAAE exerted photoprotective effects by modulating several key metabolic pathways and biological processes, including fatty acid metabolism and nuclear receptor activity. Moreover, NAAE positively influenced the skin microbiota by reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria and promoting the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, potentially enhancing skin barrier function through the cross-system mechanism of the "gut-skin axis." This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of NAAE in preventing and repairing skin photoaging and offers new insights for the development of natural plant-derived skincare products.