Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by inflammation-driven chondrocyte senescence and extracellular-matrix degradation. However, the molecular mechanisms linking inflammatory stress to chondrocyte aging remain poorly understood. Here, we identify cinnamyl alcohol (CA) as a natural small-molecule compound that attenuates OA progression through polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR)-mediated signaling in vitro. CA reduced inflammatory cytokine production, suppressed senescence-associated secretory phenotype gene expression, and preserved cartilage homeostasis in lipopolysaccharide- or interleukin-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. In a destabilization-of-the-medial-meniscus mouse model, intra-articular CA administration markedly alleviated cartilage degeneration and matrix loss. Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking, and mass-spectrometry-based proteomic profiling, we identified PIGR as a convergent target of CA, validated by limited proteolysis (drug affinity responsive target stability) and loss-of-function assays. PIGR silencing abolished CA's antisenescent and cartilage-protective effects, confirming its essential role. Mechanistically, CA restored PIGR expression to modulate inflammatory signaling and maintain chondrocyte phenotype stability. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized CA-PIGR axis that couples inflammatory stress to cartilage aging and suggest CA as a promising natural therapeutic candidate for OA management.

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, necessitating the development of effective and safe lipid-lowering interventions. This study evaluated the antihypercholesterolemic effects of KGC11o, a red ginseng oil obtained via supercritical fluid extraction, using both HepG2 cells and a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rat model. KGC11o treatment significantly improved serum and hepatic lipid profiles, reduced markers of liver injury, and enhanced fecal cholesterol excretion. At the molecular level, KGC11o modulated the expression of key genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase), esterification (acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase), transport (CETP, LPL), and catabolism (LCAT, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase). Collectively, these findings suggest that KGC11o may serve as a safe, food-derived functional ingredient with potential benefits for the management of hypercholesterolemia and related metabolic disorders. Further studies are warranted to elucidate its molecular mechanisms and to confirm its clinical efficacy.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) inulin on anxiety symptoms in college students. Forty million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety. Previous studies have viewed gut microbiota and its potential link to anxiety in both humans and mice. However, no previous studies focused on the effect of FOS inulin on college students. Fourteen subjects received 4.9 g per day of FOS inulin as the treatment (TX) or no supplement as the control (CON) for 28 days. Both the TX and CON groups were given the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7) on days 1 and 28. Both groups were also given a 3-day food log at the beginning of the experiment and otherwise maintained their regular diet. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in median GAD-7 scores in both groups (P = .017, r = .637 and P = .042, r = .587 for the TX and CON groups, respectively). However, when comparing the GAD-7 scores between groups, no statistically significant results were found. FOS inulin supplementation did not alleviate anxiety symptoms in college students participating in this study.

This study examined the effects of coffee berry pulp (CBP) extract on hepatic lipid accumulation and blood lipid levels in mice fed on a high-fat, high-fructose (HFHF) diet. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into the following four groups and fed their respective diets for 15 weeks: normal diet, HFHF diet, and HFHF diet supplemented with 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight CBP extract. CBP inhibited weight gain and normalized blood glucose and insulin levels. CBP supplementation also inhibited lipid and lipoprotein accumulation in the liver, thereby effectively regulating triglyceride (TG) levels in both the blood and liver. Analysis of liver lipid metabolism revealed that CBP suppressed the increased messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1C induced by HFHF and downregulated both mRNA and protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. Liver X receptor regulation occurred at the mRNA level, and the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/phosphorylated AMPK ratio was modulated at the protein level. Among the lipid catabolic enzymes, adipose TG lipase expression was specifically modulated by CBP treatment. These findings suggest that CBP supplementation modulates key hepatic lipid regulators and reduces blood and liver TG accumulation. Although CBP shows promise in regulating TG synthesis and storage in a mouse model, further studies, including clinical validation, are required to confirm its potential as a treatment for human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential applications of low-molecular-weight collagen peptides (LMWCPs), produced through enzymatic hydrolysis of fish skin-derived gelatin using a specific protease. LMWCP is enriched in Gly-X-Y tripeptide sequences, particularly Gly-Pro-Hyp (GPH). Preliminary human pharmacokinetic data showed that oral LMWCP markedly increased systemic exposure to GPH, yielding an approximately 54-fold higher area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 2 h (3388 ± 1084 ng·h/mL) than general collagen. In a subsequent randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 114 women aged 20-50 years with thigh cellulite and self-reported hair thinning received either LMWCP (1000 mg/day) or placebo for 24 weeks. Efficacy endpoints included cellulite severity, dermal-subcutaneous border length, skin roughness, skin elasticity, and hair diameter. The LMWCP group demonstrated significant improvements in cellulite severity, dermal-subcutaneous border length, skin roughness, and skin elasticity at weeks 12 and 24 compared to the placebo group. Hair diameter also increased significantly at week 24, with a larger proportion of participants in the LMWCP group exhibiting measurable hair thickening. These findings indicate that LMWCP, characterized by high GPH content and enhanced systemic exposure resulting from targeted enzymatic hydrolysis, exerts beneficial effects on both skin and hair parameters. Daily intake of LMWCP for 24 weeks effectively reduces thigh cellulite and promotes hair thickness, supporting its potential as an orally administered functional ingredient for skin and hair health.

As the global population ages, frailty and sarcopenia have emerged as pressing public health challenges due to their impact on functional decline and increased health care burden. This study assessed the efficacy of lactic acid bacteria-fermented whey protein (LAB-FWP) supplementation for improving physical function and nutritional markers in community-dwelling older Korean adults. A total of 45 individuals aged 65 years and older (body mass index 18.5-30) who had not used protein supplements in the prior 6 months were enrolled in a 10-week, randomized, blinded trial. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 22), which received 38 g/day of LAB-FWP, or the control group (n = 23), which received a taste- and texture-matched dextrin placebo. The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in physical performance, including an increase in electronic Short Physical Performance Battery (eSPPB) scores (P = .034) and hand grip strength (P = .043). Nutritional biomarkers also improved markedly: dietary vitamin D intake increased from 2.2 to 11.6 µg, calcium intake from 280.9 to 566.7 mg, and magnesium intake from 135.5 to 316.3 mg (all P < .001). Compared with controls, the intervention group showed greater gains in skeletal muscle mass index (Δ = 1.5, P = .004) and eSPPB scores (Δ = 1.4, P = .017). Regression analysis revealed that physical function was positively associated with improvements in nutrition. Daily supplementation with LAB-FWP led to clinically meaningful enhancements in both functional capacity and nutritional status, suggesting its potential as a practical strategy to mitigate age-related frailty and sarcopenia.

Skin photoaging, characterized by wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dryness, and pigmentation, is primarily driven by UV-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins. Polyphenol-rich botanicals, particularly anthocyanin-containing Rosa chinensis Jacq. petals, have shown promising antioxidant and collagen-supportive properties in preclinical studies, yet clinical evidence has been lacking. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of a standardized Rosa chinensis petal extract (RPE; NOVAROSE®) in 100 healthy men and women aged 25-65 years over 12 weeks. Participants received one tablet per day containing 300 mg of RPE or placebo. Skin parameters were assessed at baseline, week 6, and week 12 using validated instruments. RPE supplementation significantly improved wrinkle indices, skin roughness, elasticity, dermal density, and sagging compared with placebo. Additionally, RPE increased hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, and decreased stratum corneum desquamation, reflecting enhanced barrier and renewal functions. Additionally, RPE significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function, as evidenced by increased hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased stratum corneum desquamation, and enhanced skin brightness (L*). Compliance exceeded 95%, and no serious adverse events were reported. These findings provide the first clinical evidence that anthocyanin-containing RPE supplementation yields meaningful improvements in both structural and functional markers of skin health. RPE is a safe, plant-based nutraceutical with potential as a systemic oral strategy for managing photoaging.

Age-related cognitive impairment is often linked to cholinergic dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. This study explored the neuroprotective potential of lutein-zeaxanthin extract (XanMax® 2002; LZ) through both in vitro and invivo approaches. In vitro, Neuro-2a cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were treated with LZ (5-20 μg/mL), leading to decreased expression of apoptosis-related proteins. In vivo, memory impairment was induced by scopolamine in C57BL/6N mice, followed by oral administration of LZ (4 or 8 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Behavioral assessments-including the Morris water maze, Y-maze, and passive avoidance tests-demonstrated significant improvements in spatial learning, working memory, and memory retention in LZ-treated groups, particularly at the higher dose. Biochemical analysis revealed increased acetylcholine levels, reduced acetylcholinesterase activity, and downregulation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory markers in brain tissue. Moreover, LZ supplementation upregulated genes associated with synaptic function and memory. The cognitive-enhancing effects of LZ were comparable with those of donepezil. These findings suggest that LZ may exert neuroprotective effects through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms and are a potential dietary intervention for cognitive decline.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver condition with a rising global incidence, closely linked to metabolic risk factors such as dyslipidemia. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice fed a Paigen diet are an established model for MASLD and atherosclerosis research. This study investigated the effects of ellagic acid (EA) on MASLD progression in ApoE-/- mice fed a Paigen diet. Wild-type (WT) and ApoE-/- mice were fed a Paigen diet for 10 weeks to induce metabolic dysregulation. ApoE-/- mice were concurrently administered either EA (10 mg/kg/day orally) or no treatment. After 10 weeks, ApoE-/- mice exhibited significant hepatic lipid accumulation, confirmed by increased Oil Red O staining. EA treatment significantly reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, EA administration decreased hepatic expression of lipogenic proteins, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, fatty acid synthase, and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha. The hepatic fibrogenic marker, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), was significantly elevated in ApoE-/- mice compared with WT, and was significantly reduced by EA. In addition, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) protein levels and downstream SMAD signaling components, including phosphorylated SMAD2 and total SMAD2, SMAD3, and SMAD4, were significantly attenuated by EA treatment. In conclusion, EA effectively ameliorated MASLD and hypercholesterolemia in ApoE-/- mice fed a Paigen diet. The beneficial effects of EA may be mediated through downregulating lipogenic pathways and suppressing TGF-β/SMAD signaling.