Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Abstract Fungal diseases remain a major constraint on global crop production, driving the search for fungicides with broader efficacy and improved selectivity. Confronting the dual challenges of structural rigidity and declining antifungal performance in conventional succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs), this study developed novel syringic acid derivatives. Notably, W11 exhibited remarkable…

Abstract Ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury (AGMI) is intrinsically linked to oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and compromised mucosal defense. This study aimed to isolate bioactive peptides from yeast protein (YP) and elucidate these in vitro protective mechanisms against AGMI. Activity-guided multi-technique separation, nanoLC-MS/MS, and bioinformatic screening were used to identif…

Abstract In agriculture, propiconazole (PCZ) controls excessive growth in flowering Chinese cabbage but poses dietary safety risks due to residue accumulation. Therefore, identifying novel PCZ targets and breeding PCZ-free cultivars is critical for the safe production of flowering Chinese cabbage. Here, we identified three P4-ATPase flippase homologues aminophospholipid ATPase 3 (BraALA3a/b/c) in…

Abstract Four stereoisomers of 4-acetoxy-2-hexyltetrahydrofuran and their sulfur analogues were synthesized. Odor evaluation showed that configuration governs properties: in the acetoxy series, (2R,4S) had the lowest thresholds (89 μg/L in water, 9.1 μg/L in air) with a peach-like sweet odor, while (2S,4R) had the highest (3.3 × 103 μg/L, 7.7 × 102 μg/L) with earthy notes; only (2R)-configured is…

Abstract Twenty-three novel flavonol derivatives bearing a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) scaffold were designed and synthesized, and their antifungal activities against eight plant pathogenic fungi were evaluated. Several compounds exhibited 100% inhibition against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Phytophthora capsici (Pc). Among them, Q8 showed the most potent activity against Pc with an EC50 va…

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) contamination of agricultural soils threatens food safety by promoting Cd accumulation in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers. Low-Cd-accumulating cultivars offer a promising mitigation strategy, although their effectiveness is strongly influenced by genotype × environmental interactions. This review synthesizes current evidence indicating that stable low-Cd phenotypes aris…

Abstract Oxidative coupling of caffeic acid esters with primary amino compounds may cause the formation of colored compounds, but there is still uncertainty about the mechanisms and structures, especially when derived from α-amino acids. Therefore, methyl caffeate (MCA) or 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) was reacted with either α- or β-alanine, and the products were characterized using UHPLC-DAD-ES…

Abstract Rice bacterial blight (BLB) is a globally significant bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). The discovery of novel antibacterial agents against rice bacterial blight has become a hotspot in the field of antibacterial agent research. Thus, a systematic review is warranted. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the major anti-Xoo a active scaff…

Abstract The key pathology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the presence of Lewy bodies, which contain aggregated α-synuclein (α-Syn). Recent studies revealed that liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is critical for α-Syn aggregation. This study investigates the regulatory effects of three food-related natural polyphenols on α-Syn LLPS and amyloid transition. We discovered that, rather than epiga…

Abstract Cyclohexenyl chalcones represent prenylated natural products characterized by a cyclohexene ring fused to the chalcone. In this study, eight new cyclohexenyl chalcones, rotundatins A–H (1–8), were purified from the edible rhizome of Boesenbergia rotunda. Their chemical structures were established through analyses of 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESIMS, and DP4+ calculations. Notably, rotundatin A fe…

Abstract Chalaza (CLZ), a byproduct generated during egg processing, has shown potential to promote calcium absorption, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In a low-calcium growing rat model, coadministration of CLZ with CaCO3 dose-dependently increased apparent calcium absorption and retention, enhanced bone calcium deposition, and improved bone microarchitecture and mechanical propert…

Abstract Acylated flavonol glucosides like quercetin 3-O-(6″-O-malonylglucoside) are recognized as the major antioxidative flavonoid components in mulberry leaves. Here, we revealed that O-glycosylated and malonylated flavonols were specifically accumulated in younger leaves of Morus notabilis. A key acyltransferase, namely, MnMaT1, in the flavonol-associated module generated through weighted gen…

Abstract Pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture and agriculture remain a major challenge to food production and animal health, with substantial economic impacts worldwide. In this study, three previously undescribed naphthalene derivatives (1–3) and one naphthalenone (4), along with 12 known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Diospyros undulata. Naphthoquinones 5 and 7 exhibited potent antiba…

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a highly sophisticated disease associated with mitochondrial deterioration, which potentiates proteotoxic stress and accelerates neuronal decline. Vitamin B12 (B12), an essential cofactor in one-carbon metabolism and cellular homeostasis, plays a pivotal role in modulating neurodegenerative pathology. Here, we established a mitochondrial-associated AD model by…

Abstract An investigation of the seeds of Astragalus complanatus (SAC), a homologous food-medicine plant in China, yielded 29 compounds, including four new terpenoids, astranoids A–D (1, 2, 6, 23), and one new stigmastane steroid, astrasteroid (12). Structural elucidation was achieved using NMR, HRESIMS, quantum-chemical ECD, and NMR computations, and X-ray crystallography. Astranoid A (1) featur…

Abstract The use of herbicides represents one of the effective weed management strategies. To create high-efficiency, low-risk protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO)-targeted herbicides, a set of novel N-phenylphthalimides bearing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and acylhydrazide fragments was designed and synthesized. Bioassays revealed that most of the compounds possessed potent herbicidal activity against six c…

Abstract Pseudomonas syringae remains a globally devastating phytopathogen threatening over 500 species. This review delineates the biochemical coevolution between P. syringae and hosts, focusing on Type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors and phytotoxins (e.g., coronatine) that enzymatically reprogram plant hormone signaling. To circumvent the limitations of traditional bactericides, we propos…

Abstract Juniper (Juniperus communis L.) berries are widely used as a culinary spice and flavoring ingredient. While their volatile profile is well characterized, much less is known about the composition and biological activity of their nonvolatile constituents. Here, we show that a commercial carbonic extract prepared from juniper berry seasoning displays positive allosteric modulator (PAM)-like…

Abstract Soybean is an important global crop, but its production is often limited by root rot, which causes severe yield and quality losses. In this study, a potent antagonistic bacterium, Bacillus velezensis B05, was isolated from the rhizosphere of healthy soybean plants. Genome analysis identified eight biosynthetic gene clusters, including bacilysin and macrolide H, as well as 34 carbohydrate…

Abstract Biomass polysaccharides are explored as inexpensive raw materials for preparing value-added products, such as mannan oligosaccharides (MOS). However, the varied composition of MOS and the underlying mechanism have not been studied thoroughly yet. Here a β-mannanase from Paenibacillus sp. was engineered for hydrolyzing biomass polysaccharides and producing prebiotic MOS. Structural analys…