BACKGROUND: Salt is an important factor that affects crop productivity. Plant hexokinases (HXKs) are key enzymes in the glycolytic pathway and sugar signaling transduction pathways of plants. In previous studies, we identified and confirmed the roles of GmHXK2 in salt tolerance.
RESULTS: In this study, we analyzed the tissue-specific expression of GmHXK2 at different growth stages throughout the plant\'s life cycle. The results showed that GmHXK2 was expressed significantly in all tissues at vegetative stages, including germination and seedling. However, no expression was detected in the pods, and there was little expression in flowers during the later mature period. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing the GmHXK2 (OE) had more lateral roots. The OE seedlings also produced higher levels of auxin and ascorbic acid (AsA). Additionally, the expression levels of genes PMM, YUC4/YUC6/YUC8, and PIN/LAX1,LAX3, which are involved respectively in the synthesis of AsA and auxin, as well as polar auxin transport, were upregulated in OE plants. This upregulation occurred specifically under exogenous glucose treatment. AtHKT1, AtSOS1, and AtNHX1 were up-regulated in OE plants under salt stress, suggesting that GmHXK2 may modulate salt tolerance by maintaining ion balance within the cells and alleviating damage caused by salt stress. Additionally, we further confirmed the interaction between GmHXK2 and the protein GmPMM through yeast two-hybridization and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The expression of GmHXK2 gene in plants is organ-specific and developmental stage specific. GmHXK2 not only regulates the synthesis of AsA and the synthesis and distribution of auxin, but also promotes root elongation and induces lateral root formation, potentially enhancing soil water absorption. This study reveals the crosstalk between sugar signaling and hormone signaling in plants, where GmHXK2 acts as a glucose sensor through its interaction with GmPMM, and sheds light on the molecular mechanism by which GmHXK2 gene is involved in salt tolerance in plants.

Iodine deficiency in the diet globally continues to be a cause of many diseases and disabilities. Kale is a vegetable that has health-promoting potential because of many nutrients and bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, glucosinolates and phenolic compounds). Brassica vegetables, including kale, have been strongly recommended as dietary adjuvants for improving health. The nutrient and health-promoting compounds in kale are significantly affected by thermal treatments. Changes in phytochemicals upon such activities may result from two contrary phenomena: breakdown of nutrients and bioactive compounds and a matrix softening effect, which increases the extractability of phytochemicals, which may be especially significant in the case of iodine-fortified kale. This study investigated changes of basic composition, iodine, vitamin C, total carotenoids and polyphenols contents as well as antioxidant activity caused by steaming, blanching and boiling processes in the levels of two cultivars of kale (green and red) non-biofortified and biofortified via the application to nutrient solutions in hydroponic of two iodoquinolines [8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid (8-OH-7-I-5QSA) and 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-quinoline (5-Cl-7-I-8-Q)] and KIO3. Thermal processes generally significantly reduced the content of the components in question and the antioxidant activity of kale, regardless of cultivar and enrichment. It was observed that the red cultivar of kale had a greater ability to accumulate and reduce iodine losses during the culinary processes. 8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid showed a protective effect against the treatments used, compared to other enrichments, thus contributing to the preservation of high iodine content.

Background: Strawberry is a fruit with a high antioxidant capacity due to its richness in phenolic compounds that suffer a rapid post-harvest deterioration. Spray drying is an alternative to reduce losses; however, these powders present problems of instantanisation, making it necessary to implement agglomeration processes. During storage, powdered food products can undergo a series of changes in their amorphous state from a product initially in a vitreous state to a gummy state, where all properties are substantially modified due to the increased mobility of water in the matrix. Methods: The research objective was to evaluate the storage stability (6 months) of a fluidized bed agglomerated strawberry powder mixture at three temperatures (15, 25 and 25°C), a controlled environment at 65% relative moisture, and PET foil laminated film bags as packaging. Moisture, water activity, bulk and compacted density, Carr and Hausner indices, solubility, hygroscopicity, wettability, angle of repose, antioxidant capacities, total phenols, anthocyanins, vitamin C, color (CIE-Lab) and particle size were monitored. Results: ANOVA showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) for all dependent variables concerning storage time; storage temperature had no significant effect on S, ABTS, DPPH and Hu. The time-temperature interaction during storage had no significant effect (p>0.05) on S, ABTS, DPPH, Hu and L. The agglomerate showed moisture and aw values that confer excellent stability against deterioration reactions; it retained good fluidity, low cohesiveness, and retentions above 50% for antioxidant capacity, 76% for total phenols, 39% for anthocyanins, and 40% for vitamin C; particle size was retained during the evaluation. The color was only affected in the 35°C treatment from the fifth month onwards. Conclusions: The study will serve as a tool for the determination of the shelf life of the chipboard once the critical values of the attributes selected as predictors of shelf life are defined.

Collagen dietary supplements are becoming increasingly popular as a means to reduce signs of skin ageing. The objective of this three-way, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was to examine and contrast the effects of dietary supplementation with a daily dose of 5 g hydrolysed collagen with 80 mg of vitamin C (CP product) and their combination with 30 mg of hyaluronic acid (CPHA product) over 16 weeks. Validated methods were utilised for the objective evaluation of skin parameters. In total, 87 subjects (women, 40-65 years) completed the entire trial, distributed across the groups as follows: placebo group (n = 29), CPHA group (n = 28), and CP group (n = 30). The results showed beneficial effects of both test products, with notable enhancements in dermis density, skin texture, and a reduction in the severity of wrinkles. In contrast, the administration of either of the products did not yield any significant impacts on skin elasticity or hydration. Observation of the investigated skin parameters did not show superior effects of the addition of hyaluronic acid (HA) to collagen. Therefore, the ability of supplementation with HA to improve the effects on investigated skin parameters beyond the supplementation of collagen alone cannot be confirmed.

Depression is a major global health concern expected to worsen by 2030. In 2019, 28 million individuals were affected by depressive disorders. Dietary and supplemental vitamins show overall favorable preventative and therapeutic effects on depression. B vitamins are crucial for neurological function and mood regulation. Deficiencies in these vitamins are linked to depression. Studies on individual B vitamins show promise in improving depressive symptoms, particularly thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. Vitamin C deficiency may heighten depressive symptoms, but its exact role is not fully understood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is associated with insufficient sunlight exposure and vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D supplementation for SAD shows inconsistent results due to methodological variations. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms of vitamins in depression treatment. Moreover, more research on SAD and light therapy\'s efficacy and underlying mechanisms involving photoreceptors, enzymes, and immune markers is needed. Although dietary and supplemental vitamins show overall favorable preventative and therapeutic effects on depression, dietitians treating psychiatric disorders face challenges due to diverse study designs, making direct comparisons difficult. Therefore, this article reviews the current literature to assess the role of dietary and supplemental vitamins in the prevention and treatment of depression. This review found that, although evidence supports the role of B vitamins and vitamins C and D in preventing and treating depression, further research is needed to clarify their mechanisms of action and determine the most effective intervention strategies.

In this study, processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) \'Ligeer 87-5\' was hydroponically cultivated under 100 mM NaCl to simulate salt stress. To investigate the impacts on ion homeostasis, osmotic regulation, and redox status in tomato seedlings, different endogenous levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) were established through the foliar application of 0.5 mM AsA (NA treatment), 0.25 mM lycorine (LYC, an inhibitor of AsA synthesis; NL treatment), and a combination of LYC and AsA (NLA treatment). The results demonstrated that exogenous AsA significantly increased the activities and gene expressions of key enzymes (L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) and L-galactose dehydrogenase (GalDH)) involved in AsA synthesis in tomato seedling leaves under NaCl stress and NL treatment, thereby increasing cellular AsA content to maintain its redox status in a reduced state. Additionally, exogenous AsA regulated multiple ion transporters via the SOS pathway and increased the selective absorption of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in the aerial parts, reconstructing ion homeostasis in cells, thereby alleviating ion imbalance caused by salt stress. Exogenous AsA also increased proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) activity and gene expression, while inhibiting the activity and transcription levels of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (OAT), thereby reducing excessive proline content in the leaves and alleviating osmotic stress. LYC exacerbated ion imbalance and osmotic stress caused by salt stress, which could be significantly reversed by AsA application. Therefore, exogenous AsA application increased endogenous AsA levels, reestablished ion homeostasis, maintained osmotic balance, effectively alleviated the inhibitory effect of salt stress on tomato seedling growth, and enhanced their salt tolerance.

Nitroxides are stable radicals consisting of a nitroxyl group, >N-O•, which carries an unpaired electron. This group is responsible for the paramagnetic and antioxidant properties of these compounds. A recent study evaluated the effects of pyrrolidine and pyrroline derivatives of nitroxides on the antioxidant system of human red blood cells (RBCs). It showed that nitroxides caused an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of methemoglobin (MetHb) in cells (in pyrroline derivatives) but had no effect on the activity of catalase and lactate dehydrogenase. Nitroxides also reduced the concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) in cells but did not cause any oxidation of proteins or lipids. Interestingly, nitroxides initiated an increase in thiols in the plasma membranes and hemolysate. However, the study also revealed that nitroxides may have pro-oxidant properties. The drop in the AA concentration and the increase in the MetHb level and in SOD activity may indicate the pro-oxidant properties of nitroxides in red blood cells.

Two-dimensional MXenes have become an important material for electrochemical sensing of biomolecules due to their excellent electric properties, large surface area and hydrophilicity. However, the simultaneous detection of multiple biomolecules using MXene-based electrodes is still a challenge. Here, a simple solvothermal process was used to synthesis the Ti3C2Tx coated with TiO2 nanosheets (Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs). The surface modification of TiO2 NSs on Ti3C2Tx can effectively reduce the self-accumulation of Ti3C2Tx and improve stability. Glassy carbon electrode was modified by Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs (Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs/GCE) and was able simultaneously to detect dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). Under concentrations ranging from 200 to 1000 μM, 40 to 300 μM and 50 to 400 μM, the limit of detection (LOD) is 2.91 μM, 0.19 μM and 0.25 μM for AA, DA and UA, respectively. Furthermore, Ti3C2Tx@TiO2 NSs/GCE demonstrated remarkable stability and reliable reproducibility for the detection of AA/DA/UA.

The current study focused on the design of an extremely sensitive electrochemical sensor of ascorbic acid based on a mixture of NiAl2O4-NiO nanoparticles that, produced in a single step using the sol-gel method, on an ITO electrode. This new sensing platform is useful for the detection of ascorbic acid with a wide range of concentrations extending from the attomolar to the molar. SEM micrographs show the porous structure of the NiAl2O4-NiO sample, with a high specific surface area, which is beneficial for the catalytic performance of the nanocomposite. An XRD diffractogram confirmed the existence of two phases, NiAl2O4 and NiO, both corresponding to the face-centred cubic crystal structure. The performances of the modified electrode, as a biomolecule, in the detection of ascorbic acid was evaluated electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The sensor exhibited a sensitive electrocatalytic response at a working potential of E = +0.3 V vs. Ag/Ag Cl, reaching a steady-state current within 30 s after each addition of ascorbic acid solution with a wide dynamic range of concentrations extending from attolevels (10-18 M) to molar (10 mM) and limits of detection and quantification of 1.2 × 10-18 M and 3.96 × 10-18 M, respectively. This detection device was tested for the quantification of ascorbic acid in a 500 mg vitamin C commercialized tablet that was not pre-treated.

Cancer cells show altered antioxidant defense systems, dysregulated redox signaling, and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Targeting cancer cells through ROS-mediated mechanisms has emerged as a significant therapeutic strategy due to its implications in cancer progression, survival, and resistance. Extensive research has focused on selective generation of H2O2 in cancer cells for selective cancer cell killing by employing various strategies such as metal-based prodrugs, photodynamic therapy, enzyme-based systems, nano-particle mediated approaches, chemical modulators, and combination therapies. Many of these H2O2-amplifying approaches have demonstrated promising anticancer effects and selectivity in preclinical investigations. They selectively induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells while sparing normal cells, sensitize resistant cells, and modulate the tumor microenvironment. However, challenges remain in achieving selectivity, addressing tumor heterogeneity, ensuring efficient delivery, and managing safety and toxicity. To address those issues, H2O2-generating agents have been combined with other treatments leading to optimized combination therapies. This review focuses on various chemical agents/approaches that kill cancer cells via H2O2-mediated mechanisms. Different categories of compounds that selectively generate H2O2 in cancer cells are summarized, their underlying mechanisms and function are elucidated, preclinical and clinical studies as well as recent advancements are discussed, and their prospects as targeted therapeutic agents and their therapeutic utility in combination with other treatments are explored. By understanding the potential of these compounds, researchers can pave the way for the development of effective and personalized cancer treatments.