In this research, the differences in protein and fatty acid composition among camel, cow and goat milks were analyzed by gel electrophoresis (GE) and gas chromatography (GC). The GE results showed that there were differences in the proportion of proteins in camel milk from different regions, and the production process had a significant effect on both camel milk protein and milk fat globule membrane protein composition. There were significant differences in protein composition among camel, cow and goat milks, and camel milk did not contain β-lacglobulin or α_s1-casein, while cow and goat milks did not contain immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) or IgG3. Therefore, GE could be used for the identification of camel milk mixed with cow or goat milk. The GC results showed that 31 fatty acids were detected in both camel and goat milks, and 29 fatty acids in cow milk. Camel milk contained fewer short-chain fatty acids than cow and goat milks, while the contents of most long-chain fatty acids were significantly higher than those in cow and goat milks. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the fatty acid composition data showed a clear separation of milks from different species and a clear discrimination between pure and adulterated camel milk. PCA can be used for the identification and analysis of fatty acids in camel milk mixed with cow milk and goat milk.

Increasing the osteogenic differentiation ability and decreasing the adipogenic differentiation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is a potential strategy for the treatment of osteoporosis (OP). Naturally derived oligosaccharides have shown significant anti-osteoporotic effects. Nystose (NST), an oligosaccharide, was isolated from the roots of Morinda officinalis How. (MO). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of NST on bone loss in ovariectomized mice, and explore the underlying mechanism of NST in promoting differentiation of BMSCs to osteoblasts. Administration of NST (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg) and the positive control of estradiol valerate (0.2 mg/kg) for 8 weeks significantly prevented bone loss induced by ovariectomy (OVX), increased the bone mass density (BMD), improved the bone microarchitecture and reduced urine calcium and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) in ovariectomized mice, while inhibited the increase of body weight without significantly affecting the uterus weight. Furthermore, we found that NST increased osteogenic differentiation, inhibited adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs in vitro, and upregulated the expression of the key proteins of BMP and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. In addition, Noggin and Dickkopf-related protein-1 (DKK-1) reversed the effect of NST on osteogenic differentiation and expression of the key proteins in BMP and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The luciferase activities and the molecular docking analysis further supported the mechanism of NST. In conclusion, these results indicating that NST can be clinically used as a potential alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.