Dongxiao Sun-Waterhouse

University of Auckland · School of Chemical Sciences

The numerous health benefits of dietary fibers (DFs) justify their inclusion in human diets and biomedical products. Given the short- and long-term human impacts of the COVID-19 virus on human health, the potential of DFs in building immunity against gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders is currently receiving high attention. This paper review...

Organosulfur compounds (OSCs) in garlic-processing wastewater are decomposed and generated to toxic and harmful substances with unpleasant odors under anaerobic conditions. Herein, were report the successful development of novel copper-based metal organic framework (Cu-MOF) adsorbents with high adsorption capacities for OSCs in aqueous media. Defec...

Colloidal crystal templating is a simple yet remarkably versatile synthetic strategy toward inverse opal (IO) photonic crystals for optical sensing and catalytic applications. Herein, we report the successful fabrication of tantalum (V) oxide, Ta2O5, inverse opal thin films and powders using the colloidal crystal templating method, utilizing poly(m...

Sustainable innovation seeks more energy-efficient processes for producing highly demanded products from industrial by-products. This study follows this endeavor. Comparisons were made on two processes for producing pectins from citrus peel as well as the two derived pectin products: a high-intensity pulsed electric field (HIPEF) pretreatment of ci...

Covalent organic framework-coated magnetite particles (Fe3O4@COF) were synthesized and applied as the adsorbent to the selective capture of phthalate esters (PAEs) in liquid foods. Combined with the magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) technology, a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) method was employed for the separation and...

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional value of five commercial meal-replacement shakes, and mainly focused on the lipid digestion fates and fat-soluble vitamin bioavailability. Four out of five samples exhibited a low lipolysis level (37.33–61.42%), aligning with the intended objectives of these products. Although the remaining sample ric...

This study aimed to produce stable plastic fat with desired physicochemical characteristics and ω-6/ω-3 fatty acid ratio (1:1-4:1) from palm stearin (PS), flaxseed oil (FSO) and cottonseed stearin (CS) via enzymatic interesterification (EIE). For the first time, the EIE variables of the blends containing PS, FSO and CS were investigated and optimiz...

Regular consumption of fish promotes sustainable health while reducing negative environmental impacts. Fermentation has long been used for preserving perishable foods, including fish. Fermented fish products are popular consumer foods of historical and cultural significance owing to their abundant essential nutrients and distinct flavor. This revie...

This study addresses the limitations of konjac glucomannan (KGM) films in mechanical properties, hydrophobicity and antibacterial activities. For the first time, a zein-pectin nanoparticle-stabilized corn germ oil-oregano essential oil Pickering emulsion (ZPCEO) was incorporated into KGM, with the resulting film being further ionically crosslinked...

Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai cultivated widely in temperate regions possesses anti-inflammatory properties, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain not fully understood. In this study, a purified phenolic extract of C. speciosa rich in chlorogenic acid, procyanidin B1 and catechin (determined by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) exhibited dose-de...

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L) seeds are rich in proteins of high nutritional value, which makes the study of beneficial properties of hemp seed proteins and peptides, such as hypotensive and hypoglycemic effects, increasingly attractive. The present results confirm the good processability and stability of the hemp protein hydrolysate obtained by enzymat...

UV/H2O2 process is increasingly used to degrade carbohydrates, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap, focusing on mechanisms and energy consumption involved in hydroxyl radical (•OH)-mediated degradation of xylooligosaccharides (XOSs) in UV/H2O2 system. Results showed that UV photolysis of H2O2...

Organophosphorus pesticide (OP) residues pose a serious threat to human health, motivating the search for novel adsorbents and detection methods. Herein, defective copper-based metal organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) were synthesized by the reaction of Cu2+ ions and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate linkers in the presence of acetic acid. As the amount of ace...

Many health problems including chronic diseases are closely associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Tea has abundant phenolic compounds with various health benefits including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on the present understanding of the impact of tea phenolic compounds on the expression of miRNAs,...

Tailoring the Maillard reaction (MR) can improve the flavor of soybean meal hydrolysates (SMH). This study showed that the type and concentration of the reaction medium, including glycerol, sorbitol or polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) in water, greatly affected the MR (115 °C, 60 min) of SMH with a reducing sugar mixture (d-xylose/d-ribose, 2:1). T...

Three pectin fractions (water-soluble fraction (WSF), chelator-soluble fraction (CSF), and sodium carbonate-soluble fraction (NSF)) were obtained from Chinese dwarf cherry (Cerasus humilis) fruits. All of them were branched low methoxylated pectins with an amorphous or partially nanocrystalline nature and eight neutral monosaccharides (arabinose an...

This is the first report on a polysaccharide (RCJ2-Ib) isolated from Rosa Chinensis Flos. RCJ2-Ib was obtained through the extraction with water, precipitation with ethanol, separation with DEAE-52 column and purification with DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column and Sephadex G100 column. GC, FT-IR and NMR analyses revealed that RCJ2-Ib (3.3 kDa) was a...

Cadmium (Cd), as Group I carcinogen, can induce damage to various organs including the gut. It is of great importance to meet the rising demand for effective therapies against Cd-induced damage and investigate the mechanism. Flammulina velutipes is a popular edible mushroom, despite the well-known health benefits of Flammulina velutipes, little is...

This study aimed to prepare a complex of Cr (III) and garlic polysaccharides (GPs) and evaluate the in vitro and in vivo hypoglycemic activities of GPs and GP-Cr (III) complexes. The chelation of GPs with Cr (III) increased molecular weight, modified crystallinity, and altered morphological characteristics, through targeting the OH of hydroxyl grou...

PtNi nanoalloys have demonstrated electrocatalysis superior to that of benchmark Pt/C catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), yet the underlying mechanisms remain underexplored. Herein, a PtNi/NC catalyst comprising PtNi nanoparticles (∼5.2 nm in size) dispersed on N-doped carbon frameworks was prepared using a simple pyrolysis strategy....

Quercetin is a flavonol found in edible plants and possesses a significant anticancer activity. This study explored the mechanism by which quercetin prevented liver cancer via inducing apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Quercetin induced cell proliferation and apoptosis through inhibiting YY1 and facilitating p53 expression and subsequently increasing the B...

This study aimed to support the pursuit of healthy oils and investigate the relationships between lipid compositions and digestion fates of diacylglycerol (DAG)-rich lipids using an in vitro digestion model. Soybean-, olive-, rapeseed-, camellia-, and linseed-based DAG-rich lipids (termed SD, OD, RD, CD, and LD, respectively) were selected. These l...

RG-I enriched pectins exhibit distinct biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and regulating the intestinal flora environment. Understanding their processing properties helps realize their applications in food and pharmaceuticals. In this study, pectin was extracted from Prunus cerasus pomace (RPC) and Prunus avium pomace (RPA)...

In this study, a surfactant-mediated ultrasonic-assisted process was used for the first time to produce an antioxidant-enriched extract from Chaenomeles speciosa (Sweet) Nakai (C. speciosa, a popular fruit grown widely in the temperate regions of China). Ultrasonic treatment at 51 °C and 200 W for 30 min with sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactan...

This study explores cherry waste valorization through sustainable green approaches. Two low-methoxy rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) enriched pectins were produced via mild aqueous extraction from cherry pomaces before and after yeast fermentation (RCUP and RCFP: RG-I, 52.02% and 48.81%; methylation degree, 44.71% and 37.55%). Both pectins contained gal...

Palmitic acid (PA) can lead to intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction. In this study, the protective effects and working mechanisms of 6-shogaol against PA-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction were investigated in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), paracellular flux, qRT-PCR, immunofluoresce...

Growth of semiconductor heterojunction nanoarrays directly on conductive substrates represents a promising strategy toward high-performance photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. By controlling the growth conditions, heterojunction nanoarrays with different morphologies and semiconductor components can be fabricated, result...

The discovery of highly efficient, durable, and affordable bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalysts is of great significance for the commercialization of rechargeable metal–air batteries. Herein, we synthesized uniformly sized CoNi alloy nanoparticles encapsulated with N-doped few-layer graphene (N-FLG) sheets via pyrolysis of a CoNi dual metal–organi...

Fruit waste valorisation to generate value-added pectin products is an active research area. In this study, pectin products from unfermented apple/grape pomace (AP/GP) and from fermented apple/grape pomace (FAP/FGP) were prepared via extraction with aqueous citric acid at 60 °C. Fermented apple/grape pomace was produced via yeast fermentation. Comp...

Seabuckthorn seed meal (SSM) is a waste of oil extraction industry that rich in protein. In order to seek suitable protein extraction method, three different deep eutectic solvents (DESs) (including choline chloride-glycerol, choline chloride-oxalic acid and choline chloride-urea) were developed for extracting protein from SSM and compared with alk...

Fermented golden pomfret (a popular marine fish product) is prepared via spontaneous fermentation. However, no comprehensive analysis has been reported on its lipid composition and metabolism. Herein, UHPLC-MS/MS-based untargeted lipidomic analysis identified 998 lipids (six classes; 29 subclasses) in fermented golden pomfret, including glycerolipi...

Garlic is a common food, and many of its biological functions are attributed to its components including functional carbohydrates. Garlic polysaccharides and oligosaccharides as main components are understudied but have future value due to the growing demand for bioactive polysaccharides/oligosaccharides from natural sources. Garlic polysaccharides...

Fe–N–C catalysts offer excellent performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. With a view towards boosting the intrinsic ORR activity of Fe single atom sites in Fe–N–C catalysts, fine‐tuning the local coordination of Fe sites to optimize the binding energies of ORR intermediates is imperative. Here we report the successful...

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) as a carcinogen induces oxidative stress and inflammation, causing health problems including liver damage. Puerarin (a natural flavonoid) is traditionally used to provide hepatoprotective effects. This research was established to meet the rising demand for effective therapies/treatments against hepatic diseases and investigate...

To add value to food waste and seek skin aging suppressor, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water phenolic extracts were produced from mung bean hulls subjected to ultrasound-assisted ethanolic extraction. The four extracts all contained protocatechuic acid, isovitexin, vitexin, caffeic acid, 4-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin and ch...

Lipase MAJ1 from Janibacter sp. is an sn-1,3 specific lipase for preparing long-medium-long (LML) type structured triacylglycerols (TAGs), but low optimum reaction temperature limited its application. Based on the structure built with Alphafold2 and MD simulation, we performed mutagenesis on the lid domain. The mutants L171A, A182P and P192C-T100C...

Garlic is a common food, and many of its biological functions are attributed to its components including functional carbohydrates. Garlic polysaccharides and oligosaccharides as main components are understudied but have future value due to the growing demand for bioactive polysaccharides/oligosaccharides from natural sources. Garlic polysaccharides...

Fe–N–C electrocatalysts, comprising FeN4 single atom sites immobilized on N-doped carbon supports, offer excellent activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), especially in alkaline solution. Herein, we report a simple synthetic strategy for improving the accessibility of FeN4 sites during ORR and simultaneously fine-tuning the microenvironmen...

Novel γ-[Glu](n≥1)-Gln-Ca chelates were prepared by using γ-[Glu](n≥1)-Gln (mixture peptides containg γ-Glu-Gln, γ-Glu-Glu-Gln, γ-Glu-Glu-Glu-Gln, γ-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Gln, γ-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Gln) which were synthesized by glutaminase. Based on single factor and orthogonal array experiments, the optimal calcium-chelation conditions were as follows:...

Two immunomodulatory polysaccharides (Vp2a-II and Vp3) were isolated and identified from Apocynum venetum L. flowers, and their innate immune-stimulating functions and working mechanisms were evaluated in RAW264.7 cells. Both the level of released nitric oxide (NO) and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA were significantly enh...

Ethnopharmacological relevance Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F. H. Wigg.), as a garden weed grown globally, has long been consumed as a therapeutic herb. Its folkloric uses include treatments of digestive disorders (dyspepsia, anorexia, stomach disorders, gastritis and enteritis) and associate complex ailments involving uterine, liver an...

This study for the first time explores the possibility of using Corynebacterium glutamicum Ⅲ (C. glutamicum) to shorten the soy sauce fermentation period without compromising product quality. C. glutamicum was added to soy sauce that had been fermented with Aspergillus oryzae for 30 days (SS30) to initiate a further 3‐day fermentation (yielding SS3...

Diacylglycerols are appreciated for their unique nutritional and pharmaceutical values. This study compared the thermal characteristics, oxidative stability and frying applicability of a high‐purity soybean‐based diacylglycerol oil (SDO, 98.07%) and soybean oil (SO, 98.80%) that had similar fatty acid compositions. SDO showed similarity in solid fa...

This research follows the current trend of food waste valorisation via green approaches. The structural and functional characteristics of active polysaccharides from the cooking liquid of Adzuki beans were examined, filling an existing knowledge gap. Enzymatic extraction (EE) followed by ultrasonic modification (UM) or high-pressure homogenisation...

This research investigated the method for loading liposomes with soybean protein isolate hydrolysate (SPIH) to create stable and antioxidative protein hydrolysate-containing liposomes. SPIH (SPIH-AF) prepared via a two-step hydrolysis by alcalase and flavourzyme was added at different concentrations to liposomes by two methods. More effective adsor...

Lead can lead to neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment. In this study, for the first time, the protective effects and working mechanisms of apple phenolic extracts (APEs) against lead acetate (Pb(Ac)2)-induced cognitive impairment and depression- and anxiety-like behavior were examined in vivo. Forty male mice were administered daily (via gastric...

Quercetin and EGCG exhibit anti-diabetic and anti-obesity activities, however, their interactive effects in anti-diabetic/anti-obesity actions and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to fill these knowledge gaps. Quercetin, EGCG or their combination attenuated insulin resistance and decreased hepatic gluconeogenesis in high-fat-h...

Mycotoxins can impart different types of combined toxicity to humans and animals, therefore, it is critical to understand the underlying mechanisms to eliminate the harm. Herein a combination of zearalenone (ZEA) at 2 μM and deoxynivalenol (DON) at 0.1 μM decreased cell viability and increased ROS level in HepG2 cells, suggesting synergistic toxici...

Global challenges require novel solutions. Microbial nanotechnology has the potential to offer an eco-friendly approach for advancing the pharmaceutical, food, environment and agriculture sectors. This review summarizes recent developments in the synthesis and applications of bionanomaterials created by intracellular and/or extracellular biosynthes...

Component optimization and structure engineering are commonly used strategies to realize high-performance electrocatalysts for sustainable energy technologies. Herein, we successfully synthesized FeCoNi nanoalloys embedded in a hierarchical N-rich carbon matrix (FeCoNi@HNC), which served as an efficient and durable electrocatalyst for both the oxyg...

Pleurotus spp. is one of the most precious and common edible fungi, polysaccharides were the main active component. The structural, biological activities and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of polysaccharides from Pleurotus spp. were systematically reviewed. On the basis of structure and biological activity, structure-activity relationships w...

In this study, degraded polysaccharides from Sargassum fusiforme (PSF-T2) were prepared by UV/H2O2 treatment for 2 h, and its effects on ameliorating dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis were evaluated using a mouse model. Results showed that PSF-T2 relieved colitis symptoms, characterized by increasing the colon length and body weight, decreasin...

Diacylglycerol (DAG)-based edible oils have attracted increasing research interest owing to their health-promoting properties. Recent animal and human studies showed that an increased 1,2-DAG content in the liver and skeletal muscle may cause insulin resistance. However, earlier studies using animal models or humans reported that dietary DAGs with...

This review article provides an overview of the physiology and biomechanics of food oral processing, with a wider view towards the development of wellness foods that facilitate proper chewing and safe swallowing. The complexity of food oral processing is well recognized, involving food-mouth-gut-brain interplay. This process requires precise coordi...

The numerous health benefits of pectins justify their inclusion in human diets and biomedical products. This review provides an overview of pectin extraction and modification methods, their physico-chemical characteristics, health-promoting properties, and pharmaceutical/biomedical applications. Pectins, as readily available and versatile biomolecu...

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant that can be accumulated in organs including the spleen, thereby threatening human health. In this study, the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE, a bioactive component of honeybee propolis) on CdCl2-induced spleen toxicity and underlying mechanisms were examined in mice. Histological examinatio...

To address the limitations of existing konjac glucomannan (KGM)-based films, KGM films activated by zein–pectin nanoparticle-stabilized oregano essential oil Pickering emulsions (ZPEOs) were prepared. Results showed that the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of KGM films can be tuned through adjusting the ZPEO concentration. ZPEO addition altered the h...

Cadmium (Cd) is a potent neurotoxic metal present in the environment and food. In this study, CdCl2 (2 or 4 μM) induced cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, causing decreases in cell viability and NEP protein expression and increase in p-tau protein expression. For the first time, CdCl2-initiated injury was found to result from the inducti...

Metal dissolution induced by lattice distortions was found to be responsible for the activity degradation of NiFe-LDH catalysts during alkaline OER. This degradation could be suppressed by introducing atomic cation vacancies in the LDH basal plane. Cation vacancy engineering strengthened the binding energy between metal cations and oxygen in the LD...

NiFe-layered double hydroxides (NiFe-LDH) are among the most active catalysts developed to date for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media, though their long-term OER stability remains unsatisfactory. Herein, we reveal that the stability degradation of NiFe-LDH catalysts during alkaline OER results from a decreased number of active s...

Background: Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites with wide biological activities, and their biological activity is inseparable from their interactions with proteins. Phenolic-protein interactions will occur at the moment they are mixed, and this interaction will continue during food processing, handling, ingestion, digestion, metabolism and...

In recognition of the demand for fit-for-purpose oil deacidification processes, an industrially feasible enzymatic deacidification system was established for alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)-enriched oils using Lipase G (from Penicillium camembertii) immobilized with ECR8806 resins. The system was first built based on crude silkworm pupal oil (SPO). The...

Background Memory and cognitive impairments/disorders are the main clinical symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. The prevalence of such chronic conditions has increased over the past three decades. There is a growing interest in the use of food-derived bioactive products as intervention agents in functional foods and dietary supplements for the...

Nutrients that can be considered as functional foods and exert physiological benefits on immune system. The seeds of Nigella sativa with many active constituents are mainly used for medicine, food spice and nutritional supplements in Egypt. Much attention has been paid to N. sativa seeds for their anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and im...

BACKGROUND reducing anti-nutritional factors like phytates in seed protein products represents an ongoing effort. This study was the first to investigate the content of phytic acid in seabuckthorn seed protein (SSP) and its reduction by an exogenous phytase during protein isolation from seabuckthorn seed meal through the common alkaline solubilizat...

Increasing studies focus on the degradation of polysaccharides by free radicals. The review mainly provides an overview of degradation of polysaccharides by free radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Evidence suggests that free radicals generated from H2O2 can be generated by various mechanisms. It broke glycosidic bonds mainly through...

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a bioactive component of honeybee propolis, which has protective effect against heavy metal induced toxicology. Cadmium is a kind of heavy metal pollutant that is hazardous to human health especially liver, and apoptosis is an important mechanism related to cadmium injury. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) are involved...

Tryptophan (TRP), as an essential amino acid, plays crucial roles in maintaining immune homeostasis due to its complex metabolism pathway, including the microbial metabolism, 5-hydroxytryptamine and kynurenine pathways (KP). Metabolites from these pathways can act antioxidant and endogenous ligand of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (including microbiota...

Fe-N-C catalysts represent very promising cathode catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, owing to their outstanding activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), especially in alkaline media. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the design and synthesis of Fe-N-C catalysts rich in highly dispersed FeNx active sites. S...

EGCG and quercetin are flavonoids which usually co-exist in edible plants and they exhibit anti-diabetes effects. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms by which quercetin and EGCG synergistically protected pancreatic β-cells from streptozotocin-induced apoptosis. EGCG, quercetin, and their combinations (both 15 μM) all reversed STZ-induced cel...

This study investigated the anti-anxiety/anti-depression potential of a formula containing red pomegranate fruit extract (RPFE; 40%, m/m), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) (34%, m/m), magnesium gluconate (25%, m/m) and vanillin (1%, m/m). The RPFE formula (dose: 2.0, 1.5 or 1.0 mg/g day) reversed behavioral dysfunctions and body weight gain induced b...

Rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) enriched pectic polysaccharides were extracted from Cerasus humilis fruits (RPCF, RG-I: 74.46 %). Structural characterization including FTIR, XRD, NMR, HPAEC and SEM demonstrated that RPCF was a high-methoxy acetylated pectin macromolecule with abundant arabinose and galactose side chains (DM: 53.41 %, MW: 1098 kDa, (Ara...

Iron single atom catalysts (FeN4) hosted in the micropores of N‐doped carbons offer excellent performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Achieving a high density of FeN4 sites accessible for ORR has proved challenging to date. Herein, a simple surface NaCl‐assisted method towards microporous N‐doped carbon electrocatalysts with an abundan...

Cadmium (Cd), as an environmental pollutant, can lead to nephrotoxicity. However, its nephrotoxicological mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, Cd (1.5 mg/kg body weight, gavaged for 4 weeks) was found to induce the renal damage in mice, based on indicators including Cd concentration, kidney index, serum creatinine and blood ure...

In this study, whey protein isolate (WPI) and polydextrose (PDX) were used to produce WPI‐PDX covalent conjugates via dry‐heating Maillard reaction, and their characteristics and functional properties including abilities to emulsify and stabilize the corn germ oil/water emulsions were measured. Compared with WPI alone, the WPI‐PDX conjugates had hi...