The growing prevalence of metabolic disorders, including obesity, type-2 diabetes, and hypertension among adolescents, poses a significant global health challenge. While pharmacological treatments exist, their limitations necessitate safer, dietary-based strategies. The wheat aleurone layer, a component of the wheat kernel situated between the endosperm and bran, is densely packed with bioactive compounds such as arabinoxylan, β-glucans, minerals, and phenolic acids. This review synthesizes current evidence on its nutritional composition and physiological mechanisms relevant to metabolic health. Studies indicate that aleurone-derived arabinoxylan effectively modulates gut microbiota, enhances short-chain fatty acid production, and mitigates postprandial glycemic spikes without causing severe gastrointestinal distress common with other fibers. Furthermore, its high antioxidant capacity and mineral profile contribute to improved lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity, as demonstrated in animal models and adult human trials. Although clinical data specific to adolescent populations remain scarce, the physicochemical properties of aleurone layer suggest it is a promising functional ingredient. Future research should focus on developing palatable, low-glycemic index food products tailored for younger demographics to address the early onset of metabolic diseases.

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Objective: To systematically analyze the potential therapeutic mechanism of licochalcone A against Alzheimer's disease by network pharmacology. Methods: The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and GeneCards database were screened, and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on the overlapping genes of Alzheimer's disease and licochalcone A, followed by Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis and visualization. Results: A total of 64 potential overlapping targets between licochalcone A and Alzheimer's disease were identified, among which CASP3, AKT1 and BCL2 were core targets with high degree values. The annotated genes were enriched in signal transduction, metabolism and immune system. Conclusion: Licochalcone A may exert anti-Alzheimer's disease effects by targeting and regulating inflammatory response, participating in biological processes such as signal transduction and energy metabolism, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of multi-target drugs for Alzheimer's disease.

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In the research area, chili pepper is not only a very popular food ingredient but also a critical cash crop. Observations indicate that many people in the local community grow peppers for their livelihood. However, a persistent challenge has been identified: peppers are often infected by severe pests and diseases, so the yield is frequently very low, causing significant financial loss to farmers. After learning about these issues, research interest in pepper cultivation has been aroused. At the same time, the huge advantages of microbial control in agriculture have been recognized; therefore, a topic related to chili peppers and microbial control was selected. The purpose of conducting this research is to understand to what extent microbial control can improve the cultivation of chili peppers, evaluate the assistance of different microorganisms in chili pepper cultivation compared to traditional methods, and assess whether these biological methods are economically and practically viable for ordinary farmers. This research synthesizes data from global studies to determine if microorganisms are a "silver bullet" or a supportive tool in modern agriculture. The author has read relevant literature and learned that the diseases and pests of peppers can be caused by multiple factors, ranging from fungal infections to insect infestations. Meanwhile, many microorganisms can also affect the growth of peppers to varying degrees, offering a sustainable alternative that does not damage the surrounding environment. At present, microbial control has been widely applied in agriculture, but there are still many people who do not understand this technology. They prefer traditional chemical prevention and control methods, instead of microbial control, due to habit and cost concerns. This research aims to compare conflicting views and make more people know the advantages and limitations of microbial control.

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