Bioactive Polyphenols Research Articles

Formulation of pH-responsive double-network hydrocolloid-based hydrogel matrix for encapsulation of bioactive polyphenols obtained from fruit juice industry byproducts

The peel of Citrus limon is a colossal organic byproduct of the juice industry containing a significant quantity of bioactive polyphenols with diverse therapeutic potentials. As they are often underutilized the present investigation aims to valorize and promote the utilization of these polyphenols through encapsulation in a hydrocolloid-based hydrogel matrix for prolonged shelf-life and sustainable delivery. The hydrogels were prepared by blending sodium alginate and pectin through ionotropic gelation which achieved ∼86.72 % polyphenol encapsulation efficiency. The polyphenol-encapsulated hydrogels had maintained the shelf life and effectively preserved >95 % of polyphenols at 30 °C with no discernible variation for >30 days. Multiple physicochemical investigations were performed on the prepared formulation. Additionally, the release kinetics of polyphenols from beads were examined in a simulated gastrointestinal environment. The result showed that ∼87.54 % of entrapped polyphenol was released after 9 h and the pattern was found controlled release type and pH-responsive. The degree of fluctuation of a few specific polyphenolic compounds was noted and evaluated using principal component analysis. Furthermore, the encapsulating procedure protected a considerable amount of antioxidant activity (>60 %) while demonstrating good hemocompatibility. Therefore, the produced formulation may be used by the juice industries to create a valorization step using the byproduct.

Shipworm as Functional Food: Nutritional Benefits and Bioactive Compounds for Human Health

Shipworms, a type of marine bivalve known for their wood-boring behavior, have garnered increasing attention as a potential source of functional food due to their rich nutritional profile and bioactive compounds. This qualitative study aims to explore the nutritional benefits and bioactive components of shipworms, emphasizing their potential health impacts when incorporated into the human diet. Data were gathered through an extensive review of scientific literature, focusing on the biochemical composition of shipworms and their health-related properties. The findings reveal that shipworms are an excellent source of high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, and beneficial fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, zinc, and iron, which are crucial for maintaining human health. In addition to their nutritional value, shipworms contain various bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory agents. These compounds have been linked to numerous health benefits, including enhanced immune function, reduced risk of chronic diseases, and improved gut health. Moreover, the study highlights the unique polysaccharides found in shipworms, which exhibit prebiotic properties that may contribute to a healthy gut microbiome. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of these organisms further suggest potential roles in mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation, common underlying factors in many chronic conditions. This research underscores the promise of shipworms as a functional food with the potential to contribute significantly to human nutrition and health. In conclusion, the incorporation of shipworms into the diet could provide diverse nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Future research should focus on the bioavailability of these nutrients and the long-term health effects of regular shipworm consumption. The study advocates for further exploration into the practical applications and acceptance of shipworms as a sustainable and nutritious food source.

Evaluating the Impact of Oleocanthal and Oleacein on Skin Aging: Results of a Randomized Clinical Study.

The prevalence of skin aging and the request for effective treatments have driven dermatological research towards natural solutions. This study investigates the anti-aging efficacy of two bioactive natural polyphenols, Oleocanthal and Oleacein, in a skincare formulation. A single-blind, randomized clinical trial involved 70 participants, using a comprehensive exclusion criterion to ensure participant safety and study integrity. Participants applied the Oleocanthal and Oleacein 1% serum formulation twice daily for 30 days. The efficacy was objectively assessed using the VISIA® Skin Analysis System at baseline, after 15 days, and after 30 days. Results indicated significant wrinkle reduction in most groups. For women aged 45-79 years, the mean change was -33.91% (95% CI: -46.75% to -21.07%). For men aged 20-44 years, it was -51.93% (95% CI: -76.54% to -27.33%), and for men aged 45-79 years, it was -46.56% (95% CI: -58.32% to -34.81%). For women aged 20-44 years, the change was -25.68% (95% CI: -63.91% to 12.54%), not statistically significant. These findings highlight the potential of EVOO-derived polyphenols in anti-aging skincare, particularly for older adults. This research paves the way for further exploration into natural compounds in dermatology, particularly for aging skin management.

Therapeutic Applications of Nanoformulated Resveratrol and Quercetin Phytochemicals in Colorectal Cancer-An Updated Review.

Natural compounds such as polyphenols play several positive roles in maintaining the oxidative and inflammatory capacity of cells, which leads to their potential use as anticancer therapeutics. There is promising evidence for the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of many polyphenols, including resveratrol and quercetin, specifically in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). There is a clear association between resveratrol and quercetin in interfering with the mechanistic pathways involved in CRC, such as Wnt, P13K/AKT, caspase-3, MAPK, NF-κB, etc. These molecular pathways establish the role of resveratrol and quercetin in controlling cancer cell growth, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting metastasis. The major bottleneck in the progression of the use of resveratrol and quercetin as anticancer therapeutics is their reduced bioavailability in vivo because of their rapid metabolism in humans. Recent advancements in various nanotechnological formulations are promising for overcoming these bioavailability issues. Various nanoformulations of resveratrol and quercetin have shown an optimistic impact on reducing the solubility and improving the stability of resveratrol and quercetin in vivo. A combinatorial approach using nanoformulations of resveratrol with quercetin could potentially increase the impact of resveratrol in controlling CRC cell proliferation. This review discusses the mechanism of resveratrol and quercetin, the two bioactive polyphenolics, in colon cancer, with an emphasis on various types of nanoformulations of the two molecules targeting colon cancer. It also explores the synergistic effect of combining resveratrol and quercetin in various nanoformulations, targeting colon cancer. This research delves into the enhanced pharmacokinetics and potential chemotherapeutic benefits of these bioactive polyphenolics when used together in innovative ways.

Improvement of Bioactive Polyphenol Accumulation in Callus of Salvia atropatana Bunge.

Callus cultures of the Iranian medicinal plant Salvia atropatana were initiated from three-week-old seedlings on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and various cytokinins. Although all tested hormonal variants of the medium and explant enabled callus induction, the most promising growth was noted for N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea (CPPU)-induced calli. Three lines obtained on this medium (cotyledon line-CL, hypocotyl line-HL, and root line-RL) were preselected for further studies. Phenolic compounds in the callus tissues were identified using UPLC-MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) and quantified with HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography). All lines exhibited intensive growth and contained twelve phenolic acid derivatives, with rosmarinic acid predominating. The cotyledon-derived callus line displayed the highest growth index values and polyphenol content; this was exposed to different light-emitting diodes (LED) for improving biomass accumulation and secondary metabolite yield. Under LED treatments, all callus lines exhibited enhanced RA and total phenolic content compared to fluorescent light, with the highest levels observed for white (48.5-50.2 mg/g dry weight) and blue (51.4-53.9 mg/g dry weight) LEDs. The selected callus demonstrated strong antioxidant potential in vitro based on the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests. Our findings confirm that the S. atropatana callus system is suitable for enhanced rosmarinic acid production; the selected optimized culture provide high-quality plant-derived products.

Intensification of grape marc (Vitis vinifera) exploitation by subcritical water-ethanol extraction: Effect on polyphenol bioactivities and kinetic modelling

Subcritical solvent extraction (SSE) is an efficient and versatile technology for the recovery of bioactive compounds from food by-products. The present work aims to study the SSE efficiency and kinetics for the extraction of grape marc polyphenols. Water, ethanol, and a 50% water-ethanol mixture (EtOH 50%) were used as green solvents. The higher polyphenol content (4.05 ± 0.23 gGAE/100 gd. m.) and antioxidant activity (42.30 ± 0.68 mg α-toc/mL) were obtained with subcritical EtOH 50% at 120 °C and 10.3 MPa, respectively, 1.5- and 3-fold higher than the conventional extraction. According to kinetic modeling, SSE was four-fold faster and a degradation phenomenon of polyphenols was highlighted for times longer than 10 min. The two-site kinetic model and a second order exponential decay function suitably described the extraction kinetics and degradation phase, respectively (R2 > 0.97). A remarkable effect was highlighted on the polymerization degree and galloylation percentage of proanthocyanidins by SSE, and an increase in their antioxidant activity was observed.

Whey Protein Sodium-Caseinate as a Deliverable Vector for EGCG: In Vitro Optimization of Its Bioaccessibility, Bioavailability, and Bioactivity Mode of Actions.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the principal catechin in green tea, exhibits diverse therapeutic properties. However, its clinical efficacy is hindered by poor stability and low bioavailability. This study investigated solid particle-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate (WPI) and sodium caseinate (NaCas) as carriers to enhance the bioavailability and intestinal absorption of EGCG. Molecular docking revealed binding interactions between EGCG and these macromolecules. The WPI- and NaCas-stabilized emulsions exhibited high encapsulation efficiencies (>80%) and significantly enhanced the bioaccessibility of EGCG by 64% compared to free EGCG after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Notably, the NaCas emulsion facilitated higher intestinal permeability of EGCG across Caco-2 monolayers, attributed to the strong intermolecular interactions between caseins and EGCG. Furthermore, the emulsions protected Caco-2 cells against oxidative stress by suppressing intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. These findings demonstrate the potential of WPI- and NaCas-stabilized emulsions as effective delivery systems to improve the bioavailability, stability, and bioactivity of polyphenols like EGCG, enabling their applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Salvianolic acid A inhibits ferroptosis and protects against intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common cerebral vascular disease with high incidence, disability, and mortality. Ferroptosis is a regulated type of iron-dependent, non-apoptotic programmed cell death. There is increasing evidence that ferroptosis may lead to neuronal damage mediated by hemorrhagic stroke mediated neuronal damage. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is a natural bioactive polyphenol compound extracted from salvia miltiorrhiza, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrosis activities. SAA is reported to be an iron chelator that inhibits lipid peroxidation and provides neuroprotective effects. However, whether SAA improves neuronal ferroptosis mediated by hemorrhagic stroke remains unclear. The study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SAA on Ferroptosis mediated by Intracerebral hemorrhage and explore its potential mechanisms. We constructed in vivo and in vitro models of intracerebral hemorrhage in rats. Multiple methods were used to analyze the inhibitory effect of SAA on ferroptosis in both in vivo and in vitro models of intracerebral hemorrhage in rats. Then, network pharmacology is used to identify potential targets and mechanisms for SAA treatment of ICH. The SAA target ICH network combines SAA and ICH targets with protein–protein interactions (PPIs). Find the specific mechanism of SAA acting on ferroptosis through molecular docking and functional enrichment analysis. In rats, SAA (10 mg/kg in vivo and 50 μM in vitro, p < 0.05) alleviated dyskinesia and brain injury in the ICH model by inhibiting ferroptosis (p < 0.05). The molecular docking results and functional enrichment analyses suggested that AKT (V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog) could mediate the effect of SAA. NRF2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) was a potential target of SAA. Our further experiments showed that salvianolic acid A enhanced the Akt /GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway activation in vivo and in vitro. At the same time, SAA significantly expanded the expression of GPX4, XCT proteins, and the nuclear expression of Nrf2, while the AKT inhibitor SH-6 and the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 could reduce them to some extent. Therefore, SAA effectively ameliorated ICH-mediated neuronal ferroptosis. Meanwhile, one of the critical mechanisms of SAA inhibiting ferroptosis was activating the Akt/GSK-3β/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Antibacterial, anticancer and antioxidant effects of sulfated galactan from Halymenia dilatata: In vitro and in vivo analysis

Seaweed has raised great interest as an excellent source of bioactive components, including vitamins, minerals, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and unique secondary metabolites which reveal broad-spectrum biological activities. In particular, the complex polysaccharides from brown, red and green seaweed possess numerous therapeutic properties. The galactan is routinely used in biomedical research. This study investigates the bioactive properties of sulfated galactan (Hd-SG) derived from the red macroalgae Halymenia dilatata, including its anticancer, antibacterial, anti-biofilm and antioxidant activity. The isolated Hd-SG exhibited potent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells with a half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 75 μg/ml. It was found that Hd-SG had antibacterial activity against Vibrio alginolyticus, a coastal aquaculture pathogen, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 300 μg/ml. Toxicology analysis revealed that the isolated Hd-SG was not toxic to zebrafish embryos, even at higher concentrations (100 μg/ml). Moreover, zebrafish embryos treated with Hd-SG at a concentration of 100 μg/ml exhibited a 118.8% reduction in oxidative damage caused by H2O2-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared to the H2O2 alone treated embryos (562%). In summary, this study demonstrated that the sulfated galactan of H. dilatata has a wide range of therapeutic properties, making it a viable option for biomedical and aquaculture preventive medicine.

Antimicrobial Activities of Natural Bioactive Polyphenols.

Secondary metabolites, polyphenols, are widespread in the entire kingdom of plants. They contain one or more hydroxyl groups that have a variety of biological functions in the natural environment. These uses include polyphenols in food, beauty products, dietary supplements, and medicinal products and have grown rapidly during the past 20 years. Antimicrobial polyphenols are described together with their sources, classes, and subclasses. Polyphenols are found in different sources, such as dark chocolate, olive oil, red wine, almonds, cashews, walnuts, berries, green tea, apples, artichokes, mushrooms, etc. Examples of benefits are antiallergic, antioxidant, anticancer agents, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antimicrobe properties. From these sources, different classes of polyphenols are helpful for the growth of internal functional systems of the human body, providing healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, improving brain health, and rebooting our cellular microbiome health by mitochondrial uncoupling. Among the various health benefits of polyphenols (curcumin, naringenin, quercetin, catechin, etc.) primarily different antimicrobial activities are discussed along with possible future applications. For polyphenols and antimicrobial agents to be proven safe, adverse health impacts must be substantiated by reliable scientific research as well as in vitro and in vivo clinical data. Future research may be influenced by this evaluation.

Eliciting Polyphenols in Strawberry Leaves: Preliminary Experiments in Fragaria × ananassa cv. Festival.

Polyphenols are plant secondary metabolites that function mostly as a general stress-induced protective mechanism. Polyphenols have also gained interest due to their beneficial properties for human health. Strawberry leaves represent an agro-industrial waste material with relevant bioactive polyphenol content, which could be incorporated into circular economy strategies. However, due to the low quantities of polyphenols in plants, their production needs to be improved for cost-effective applications. The objective of this research was to compare polyphenol production in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Festival) leaves in plants grown in greenhouse conditions and plants grown in vitro, using three possible elicitor treatments (UV irradiation, cold exposure, and cysteine). General vegetative effects were morphologically evaluated, and specific polyphenolic compounds were quantified by UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS. Gallic acid was the most abundant polyphenol found in the leaves, both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed higher amounts and faster accumulation of polyphenols in the in vitro regenerated plants, highlighting the relevance of in vitro tissue culture strategies for producing compounds such as polyphenols in this species and cultivar.

Green Extraction of Polyphenols from Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents and Evaluation of Bioactivity.

In the study, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were used as alternatives to traditional chemical solvents for the extraction of polyphenols from Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Nine NADESs were tested for the first time and compared with ethanol and water (traditional solvents) regarding the extraction of phenolic compounds from E. angustifolia L. These solvents were particularly effective at extracting polyphenols, whose low water solubility usually requires high amounts of organic solvents. The solvent based on choline chloride and malonic acid provided optimal results and was selected for further optimization. The effects of material-to-liquid ratio, ultrasound time, and ultrasound temperature on the extraction efficiency were studied through single-factor experiments. These parameters were optimized by Box-Behnken design using response surface methodology. The optimal conditions identified were 49.86 g/mL of material-to-liquid ratio, 31.10 min of ultrasound time, and 62.35 °C of ultrasound temperature, resulting in a high yield of 140.30 ± 0.19 mg/g. The results indicated that the NADES extraction technique provided a higher yield than the conventional extraction process. The antioxidant activity of the extract of polyphenols from E. angustifolia L. was determined, and UPLC-IMS-QTOF-MS was used to analyze the phenolic compounds in it. The results revealed that the scavenging ability of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) extracted by NADES was higher than that of polyphenols extracted by water and ethanol. Furthermore, a total of 24 phenolic compounds were identified in the extract. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in which a green and efficient NADES extraction method has been used to extract bioactive polyphenols from E. angustifolia L., which could provide potential value in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food additives.

Pretreatments and Particle Size on the Glycemic Index and Rheological and Functional Food Properties of Bean Flours.

The beans' protein and slow-digesting carbohydrate content make it an appealing choice for healthy food development. However, its properties are influenced by the flour extraction processes. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of particle size and three pretreatments-drying (D), soaking + cooking + dehydrating 3 h (SCD3), and soaking + cooking + dehydrating 24 h (SCD24)-on the estimated glycemic index (eGI) compared with raw bean flour (R). The methodology covered water absorption (WAI), water solubility (WSI), amylose content, starch digestibility, eGI, phenolic quantification, and rheology. The results showed that WAI correlated negatively with WSI and amylose, varying among pretreatments and sizes. WAI increased as D < SCD24 < SCD3 < R. Glucose release (HI) differed between fine (125 μm) and coarse fractions (242 μm), with SCD24 and R showing the lowest eGI (22.8-24.2). SCD3 had the highest flavonoid concentration, while R and D had more quercetin-3-glucoside. SCD24 displayed higher elastic/viscous moduli than R. Bean flours from all treatments had low GI and contained bioactive polyphenols (catechin, epicatechin, ferulic acid, quercetin). The optimal treatment was SCD24, particularly in the coarse fraction, showing potential for functional food development and novel applications such as precision nutrition.

Polyphenolic Nanoparticle-Modified Probiotics for Microenvironment Remodeling and Targeted Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) refer to multifaceted disorders in the intestinal microenvironment and microbiota homeostasis. In view of the broad bioactivity and high compatibility of polyphenols, there is considerable interest in developing a polyphenol-based collaborative platform to remodel the IBD microenvironment and regulate microbiota. Here, we demonstrated the coordination assembly of nanostructured polyphenols to modify probiotics and simultaneously deliver drugs for IBD treatment. Inspired by the distinctive structure of tannic acid (TA), we fabricated nanostructured pBDT-TA by using a self-polymerizable aromatic dithiol (BDT) and TA, which exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capability in vitro. We thus coated pBDT-TA and sodium alginate (SA) to the surface of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 layer by layer to construct the collaborative platform EcN@SA-pBDT-TA. The modified probiotics showed improved resistance to oxidative and inflammatory stress, which resulted in superior colon accumulation and retention in IBD model mice. Further, EcN@SA-pBDT-TA could alleviate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis by controlling the inflammatory response, repairing intestinal barriers, and modulating gut microbiota. Importantly, EcN@SA-pBDT-TA-mediated IBD drug delivery could achieve an improved therapeutic effect in DSS model mice. Given the availability and functionality of polyphenol and prebiotics, we expected that nanostructured polyphenol-modified probiotics provided a solution to develop a collaborative platform for IBD treatment.

Metabolic effects of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus might be mitigated by grape pomace flour

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifaceted metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to varying metabolic insults. Grape pomace, a byproduct of the winemaking industry, is under investigation as a potential therapy for T2DM due to its abundant content of bioactive polyphenols and dietary fiber. Within the current backdrop of environmental concerns, the conversion of grape pomace into a safe and applicable form, with the aim of promoting sustainable management of environmental waste, acts as a catalyst for the emergence of viable alternatives. Grape pomace flour (GPF) represents an economical and feasible solution. We hypothesized that dietary supplementation of GPF would improve the glycemic control and the associated risk factors in T2DM-induced animals. In this sense, the present study, approved by CEUA UFPel No 033578/2022-14, aimed to evaluate the effect of the GPF from ‘Arinto’ and ‘Touriga Nacional’ grape varieties on biochemical and histopathological parameters in an animal model of T2DM. To induce T2DM, rats were given a high-fat diet and a Streptozotocin (STZ) injection (35 mg/kg). The rats were divided into five groups: Control (CT), T2DM, T2DM+Metformin (Met) (250 mg/kg), T2DM+'Arinto' GPF 10% (WGPF), and T2DM+'Touriga Nacional' GPF 10% (RGPF). Results showed that Met, WGPF, and RGPF groups had significantly lower blood glucose ( p&lt;0.05, P&lt;0.001, and p&lt;0.01, respectively) and triglyceride levels ( p&lt;0.001) compared to the T2DM group. Also, we observed a significant increase in serum cholesterol levels in the T2DM when compared to the CT ( p&lt;0.01), that was reversed in the treated groups. Additionally, the T2DM+RGPF group had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared to the control group ( p&lt;0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed structural changes in the pancreas in the T2DM animals, while tissue damage was not observed in the Met and GPF supplementation groups. In conclusion, both 'Arinto' and 'Touriga Nacional' GPF demonstrated protective effects against increased blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels in a T2DM animal model. 'Touriga Nacional' GPF also increased HDL levels and showed protective effects on pancreatic cell structure. This suggests that GPF could be a promising dietary option for T2DM and its complications. FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology (UIDB/04567/2020 CBIOS, and UIDP/04567/2020 CBIOS), Pelotas Federal University (UFPel), and Brazil's Federal Government (CNPq). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

The Powdered Red Macroalgae (Eucheuma spinosum) Supplementation Potentially Enhanced Bone Structure in Osteoporotic Mice

BACKGROUND: Red macroalgae, such as Eucheuma spinosum, have been found to have potential benefits for bone health due to their unique bioactive compounds, including proteins, polyphenols, polysaccharides, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the benefits of powdered E. spinosum supplementation in osteoporosis-induced mice.METHODS: Thirty middle-aged mice were divided into 6 groups, namely: healthy control group (HC), negative control group (NC), positive control group (PC), and treatment groups supplemented with 1.25 mg/gBW (T1), 2.5 mg/gBW (T2), and 5 mg/gBW (T3) of E. spinosum powder for twenty days. Mice in NC, PC, T1, T2, and T3 groups were induced with 0.0029 mg/gBW of dexamethasone for 30 days to create osteoporosis mice models. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured by colorimetric methods before and after the intervention. Bone structures were evaluated using X-ray images and histological examination.RESULTS: After the intervention, PC, T1, T2, and T3 groups showed a significant decrease (p≤0.01) in serum ALP levels compared to the NC group, which experienced an increase in ALP levels. The X-ray images revealed that the PC, T1, T2, and T3 showed radiopaque bone density. For bone histology, PC, T2, and T3 showed an improvement with thickened and intact trabeculae, but T1 still had visible osteoporosis cavities.CONCLUSION: Supplementation of 2.5 and 5 mg/gBW of E. spinosum powder were able to improve bone density as well bone histology. Therefore, E. spinosum powder supplementation might potentially improve bone structure in osteoporosis.KEYWORDS: Eucheuma spinosum, red macroalgae, alkaline phosphatase, osteoporosis

Solid state fermentation of Diaphragma juglandis fructus with Aspergillus niger alleviates hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells via Nrf2 signaling pathway

Diaphragma juglandis fructus (DJF) is a traditional medicine, which is rich in bioactive polyphenols and has been proven to exhibit better antioxidant activity. However, the potential effects of fermentation of DJF on oxidative stress remains unclear. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the impact of solid-state fermentation (SSF) with Aspergillus niger (A. niger) on the polyphenol content and biological activity in DJF. Furthermore, compared with unfermented Diaphragma juglandis fructus (UF-DJF) extracts, ellagic acid (EA), sinapic acid (SA) and (+)-catechin (CA) displayed the highest increase in soluble phenolics (SPs) of fermented Diaphragma juglandis fructus (F-DJF) extracts. Thus, we explored the protective effect of EA, SA, CA and co-existing of EA, SA, CA against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Our results demonstrated that the insoluble-bound phenolics (IBPs) could be released, thereby increasing the SPs content and in vitro antioxidant activity after SSF. In addition, we also found that F-DJF extracts had the best inhibitory effect on three digestive enzymes among UF-DJF, before fermented Diaphragma juglandis fructus (BF-DJF) and F-DJF extracts. Moreover, our results revealed that pre-treatment with EA, SA, CA and co-present of EA, SA, CA could protect HepG2 cells from oxidative damage through activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and up-regulating the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone1 (NQO1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), cytoplasmic Cu-Zn-SOD (SOD1), mitochondrial Mn-SOD (SOD2) and catalase (CAT). Remarkably, the co-presence of EA, SA, CA showed the best protective effect. In conclusion, our research highlights SSF is an effective method for enhancing polyphenol content and biological activity in DJF. Moreover, these findings provide novel insights into the role of F-DJF extracts in prevention chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress and the possibility of their application in functional foods. In addition, fermentation may be a reliable strategy to enhance the medicinal value of DJF.

Profiling and optimized extraction of bioactive polyphenolic compounds from young, red-fleshed apple using eco-friendly deep eutectic solvents

Red-fleshed apple cultivars with an enhanced content of polyphenolic compounds have attracted increasing interest due to their promising health benefits. Here, we have analysed the polyphenolic content of young, red-fleshed apples (RFA) and optimised extraction conditions of phenolics by utilising natural deep eutectic solvents (NDES). We also compare the antioxidant, neuroprotective and antimicrobial activities of NDES- and methanol-extracted phenolics from young RFA. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) was used for phenolics identification and quantification. Besides young RFA, ripe red-fleshed, young and ripe white-fleshed apples were analysed, revealing that young RFA possess the highest phenolic content (2078.4 ± 4.0 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g), and that ripe white-fleshed apples contain the least amount of phenolics (545.0 ± 32.0 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g). The NDES choline chloride-glycerol containing 40 % w/w H2O gave similar yields at 40 °C as methanol. In addition, the polyphenolics profile, and bioactivities of the NDES extract from young RFA were comparable that of methanol extracts. Altogether, our data show that NDES extracts of young RFA are a promising source of bioactive polyphenolics with potential applications in diverse sectors, e.g., for functional food production, smart material engineering and natural therapies.

Berry beverages: From bioactives to antidiabetes properties and beverage processing technology

AbstractBeverages with nutritional functional properties constitute one of the fastest‐growing segments in the food industry. Beverages produced with berries as raw materials, owing to their richness in various beneficial substances (such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive phytochemicals), have emerged as integral components of nutritional functional beverages. In this review, we summarize the bioactive polyphenols present in berry beverages and discuss the potential properties of berries from an antidiabetic perspective. The application and impact of new technologies in the processing and production of berry beverages are also explored. Additionally, the review addresses the challenges and prospects faced by industrial development in berry beverage production. Our objective is to provide valuable information for food researchers and the berry beverage production industry, facilitating the production of highly nutritious drinks that appeal to consumers.

Influence of the fruit parts on bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, polyphenols, fatty acid and mineral contents of the pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.) fruits

SummaryIn the current work, the effect of pumpkin parts on the oil content, total phenol, flavonoid, carotenoid quantities, antioxidant capacity, phenolic components, fatty acid profiles and mineral profiles of pumpkin parts was investigated. Total carotenoid and phenolic amounts of pumpkin parts were recorded to be from 36.84 (seed) and 29.92 μg g−1 (pulp) to 28.75 (pulp) and 67.68 mgGAE/100 g (peel) respectively. Also, total flavonoid quantities of the parts of pumpkin were assigned between 21.07 mg/100 g (pulp) and 220.36 mg/100 g (seed), while antioxidant activities of pumpkin samples range from 0.04 mmol kg−1 (pulp) to 0.82 mmol kg−1 (seed). Catechin and caffeic acid amounts of pumpkin parts varied from 13.25 (seed) and 77.31 mg/100 g (peel) to 4.70 (seed) and 7.60 mg/100 g (peel) respectively. The amount of catechin detected in the pumpkin peel was approximately two and five times higher than the pulp part. Resveratrol content was lowest in the pulp part of the pumpkin. Oleic and linoleic acid values of the oils ranged from 19.23% (peel) to 29.16% (seed) and from 18.15% (peel) to 51.06% (seed) respectively. Stearic, oleic and linoleic acids of pumpkin pulp oil were higher than pumpkin peel oil. Pumpkin seed oils are rich in oleic and linoleic acids. P, K, Mg, S and Fe were the dominant biogenic minerals of pumpkin parts. The most of total carotenoids and total phenols were accumulated in the peel part of the pumpkin fruit. The total flavonoid quantity of pumpkin seeds was approximately three times higher than the pumpkin peel part and ten times higher than the pulp part.