Penicillium italicum, the cause of citrus blue mold, is a pathogenic fungus that seriously affects the postharvest quality of citrus fruit and causes serious economic loss. In this study, a eugenol nanoemulsion containing limonin, an antimicrobial component from citrus seeds, was prepared using a high-pressure microfluidizer and the antifungal activity of the nanoemulsions againstP. italicumwas evaluated based on the conidial germination rate, mycelial growth, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration and the inhibition rate of limonin-loaded eugenol nanoemulsion was 160 μg/mL and 59.21%, respectively, which was more potent than that of the limonin-free eugenol emulsion. After treatment with the nanoemulsions, the integrity of theP. italicumcell membrane was disrupted, the cell morphology was abnormal, and the leakage of nucleic acid and protein was observed. In addition, the challenge test on citrus fruits revealed that the limonin-loaded eugenol emulsion inhibited citrus infection for longer periods, with an infection rate of 29.2% after 5 days. The current research shows that nanoemulsions containing limonin and eugenol have effective antifungal activity againstP. italicum, and may be used as a substitute for inhibiting blue mold in citrus fruits.Keywords:eugenol nanoemulsion;citrus blue mold;limonin;Penicillium Italicum;antifungal activity
Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the most sinister diseases and the second leading cause of death in the world. Eugenol (EUG) is a natural and biologically active component that can be extracted from various plants. Studies have found that EUG can alleviate middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) injury in mice, but the specific mechanism remains vague. Tripartite motif protein 59 (TRIM59) is a member of TRIM protein family, a group of E3 ubiquitin ligases. In this article, we conducted both in vivo and in vitro experiments to determine the effect of EUG on ischemia–reperfusion injury and to explore the underlying mechanisms by manipulating the expression of TRIM59. Results showed that EUG alleviates acute injury and promotes functional repair of mouse IS by enhancing the phagocytosis of microglia through up-regulating the TRIM59, activating the STAT3 pathway and promoting the expression of CD11b.
With an increasing emphasis on environmental protection and sustainability, natural polymers like proteins and polysaccharides are being utilized more frequently in the development of biodegradable food packaging. However, the limited properties of these biopolymers have restricted their widespread applicability within the food industry. To address this issue, eugenol-loaded zein nanoparticles (ZE NPs) were incorporated into pea starch/soy protein-based films, and their effect on the physicochemical properties of these films were investigated. The ZE NPs exhibited high compatibility with the pea starch-soy protein isolate (PES/SPI) matrix, enhancing the structural properties of the films by forming hydrogen bonds between the nanoparticles and the biopolymer network. Incorporating the nanoparticles enhanced the mechanical properties, thermal stability, ultraviolet shielding, surface hydrophobicity, and moisture barrier performance of the films. Furthermore, the films containing ZE NPs exhibited significant antioxidant and antibacterial activity, suggesting their potential application as preservatives in active food packaging materials. In conclusion, the incorporation of ZE NPs significantly enhanced the performance of PES/SPI-based films, which should expand their application as food packaging materials.