Coix seed seedlings-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (CSSELNs) have demonstrated significant potential in alleviating ionizing radiation (IR)-induced damage. However, the role of bioactive substances, particularly whether microRNAs (miRNAs) significantly contribute to their radioprotective effects, remains unclear. In this study, we identified miRNAs enriched in CSSELNs by small RNA sequencing, followed by validation of the key miRNAs. It was found that sbi-miR5564a confers protection against IR-induced oxidative stress in THLE-2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis together with cell-based and animal experiments were conducted to explore their potential mechanism. The results indicated that sbi-miR5564a, when delivered through CSSELNs, targeted and downregulated EP300, thereby modulating the JNK/FOXO3a signaling pathway, leading to the restoration of reactive oxygen species to normal levels and protection against IR-induced damage. Notably, a single oral dose of sbi-miR5564a@CSSELNs, which were highly enriched with sbi-miR5564a, exerted highly effective protective effects in vivo, comparable to that achieved by 30-day oral gavage of CSSELNs alone. This study not only clarified the radioprotective effect of sbi-miR5564a but also established CSSELNs as a natural miRNA delivery platform. This advancement promotes the application of plant-derived nanovesicles in radioprotective effects and the development of functional foods.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles play an important role in regulating the biological functions of organisms. To excavate natural and stable radioprotective nano-agent from coix seed seedlings, the coix seed seedlings-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (CSSELNs) were successfully obtained. CSSELNs with a particle size of 85.85 - 135.7 nm and a surface charge of (-17.1 ± 1.35) mV, were enriched with various functional components including RNAs, proteins and lipids. In addition, CSSELNs demonstrated excellent stability, high cellular uptake efficiency. Cellular experiments demonstrated that CSSELNs effectively alleviated ionizing radiation-induced damage in hepatocytes in vitro. Further in vivo experiments also demonstrated that CSSELNs could exhibit superior radioprotective effects and good safety in mice. Based on these excellent characteristics, CSSELNs have the potential to be developed as a natural and stable radioprotective nano-agent.

Malignant tumor seriously endangers human life and health. Radiotherapy is currently one of the most common treatments for malignant tumor. However, ionizing radiation (IR) can cause radiation resistance of tumor cells and damage normal tissue cells, thereby limiting the clinical application of radiotherapy. Natural polyphenols not only can improve the radiosensitivity of tumor cells, but also can alleviate the negative effects of IR on the body, thus playing an important role in tumor treatment. Dysregulation of non-coding RNA plays an important role in the occurrence and development of many diseases. In recent years, studies have found that the anti-tumor and radiosensitization effects of polyphenols are associated with non-coding RNA regulation. In this context, this paper reviews the anti-tumor and radiosensitization effects of natural polyphenols and their mechanisms, especially from the perspective of non-coding RNA regulation, in order to provide new ideas for the intervention and treatment of tumors and other diseases, as well as the development of food products for special medical purposes.

Food intake is a major way for the body to obtain materials, energy, and information from the external environment. Food and medicine homology (FMH) substances as food not only contain abundant nutrients, but also carry various bioactive components to promote human health. The special functional factors derived from FMH substances under specific environmental conditions can significantly impact the body’s adaptability. Understanding the complex relationships among environment, FMH substances, and organisms, including the active components of FMH under different environments and their influence on the mechanisms of adaptation to extreme environments, is critical. In this review, the effects of environmental factors on the content and structure of the active components in FMH were comprehensively summarized and discussed, also the effects of FMH on the adaptation of the body to extreme environments. Furthermore, the insights into potential future research directions in the field of FMH and environmental adaptation were provided. This review summarizes the effects of FMH on the body from an environmental perspective and offers new references and insights for the development of FMH.

Russula vinosa Lindblad is a traditional food and medicine resource with potential application in the field of functional foods, which is rich in polyphenolic compounds. In this study, the R. vinosa Lindblad was mixed fermented with Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus lactis and the antioxidant activity, composition and application in functional bread of the ethanol extract of the mixed bacterial fermentation product (EMFP) were investigated. The results showed that after fermentation, 186 new compounds appeared in EMFP, including organic acids and phenolic acids. The addition of EMFP significantly enhanced the quality and antioxidant activity of the bread, including reduction of hardness and chewiness, enhancement of resilience, and improvement of free radical scavenging activity and total reducing power. Furthermore, the EMFP addition affected color, odor, and texture indicators of the bread, and negatively affected at higher additions. 0.5% EMFP addition might be appropriate to positively affect the quality, sensory evaluation, and antioxidant activity of the bread. This study investigated the positive effects of mixed fermentation on the active ingredients of the R. vinosa Lindblad, providing a reference for the practical application of EMFP in the field of functional foods.

Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita Thunb.), as one of the medicinal and edible homologous plants, is rich in various nutrients and functional factors. In this study, Chinese yam fermented by Saccharomyces boulardii was performed to investigate its bioactive components and metabolic profile. And then, the main bioactive components and biological activities of fermented Chinese yam ethanol extract (FCYE) were evaluated. Results showed that there were 49 up-regulated metabolites and 52 down-regulated metabolites in fermented Chinese yam compared to unfermented Chinese yam. Besides, corresponding metabolic pathways analysis initially revealed that the distribution of bioactive substances was concentrated on alcohol-soluble small molecular substances. Ulteriorly, the total polyphenol content and the total flavonoid content in FCYE were significantly increased, and the corresponding antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities in vitro were also significantly enhanced. Our study provided a new reference for the comprehensive utilization of Chinese yam and laid a theoretical foundation for the development and application of natural probiotic-fermented products.