Natural-based Products Research Articles

Changes of wood surfaces treated with natural-based products – Structural and properties investigation

Preservative systems based on vegetable seed oils and natural waxes from renewable sources may confer protection to wood under exposure to various environmental conditions. These, as non-toxic substances, can form an environmentally friendly and efficient protective layer on the wood surfaces, with beneficial effects on their water resistance and dimensional stability. Thus, these natural coatings may hinder biodegradation of wood products to a certain degree. In present paper, softwood samples (from Abies alba fir tree species), prepared as dried discs (25 to 30 mm diameter, 8 to 10 mm thickness), were surface impregnated by dipping using vegetable oils, namely Asclepias syriaca seed oil, and soybean oil, respectively. Beeswax treatment was also applied for comparison purposes. Surface chemistry and morphology, biodegradation process under controlled and simulated natural conditions, and water sorption behavior of wood samples were investigated. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy methods were used for investigation of surface changes in wood samples before and after impregnation with natural based products, as well as under biodegradation conditions in soil burial tests.

Use of natural-based commercial products as an alternative for providing bioprotection against verticillium wilt of olive.

As a result of the ineffectiveness of existing control methods against Verticillium dahliae, the causal agent of verticillium wilt of olive (Olea europaea; VWO), it is necessary to search for sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives, such as bioprotection by products based on plant extracts and other naturally synthesized compounds. Therefore, present study aimed to evaluate the effects of seven natural-based commercial products on the inhibition of mycelial growth, the germination of V. dahliae conidia and microsclerotia, and disease progression in olive plants (cv. Picual). Aluminium lignosulfonate and a copper phosphonate salt (copper phosphite) were included for comparative purposes. The seaweed and willow extracts and copper phosphite inhibited V. dahliae mycelial growth by more than 50% at the high doses tested. Most of the products inhibited conidial germination by up to 90% compared to the control at the high doses tested. However, none of the products showed efficacy above 50% in inhibiting microsclerotia germination. The willow extract was the most effective at reducing disease severity and progression in olive plants, with no significant differences compared to the non-inoculated negative control. The results of the present study suggest that the use of natural-based products (i.e. seaweed and willow extracts) is a potential sustainable alternative in an integrated VWO control strategy. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Eco-Friendly Extraction of Green Coffee Oil for Industrial Applications: Its Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Clonogenic, and Wound Healing Properties

The development of natural oil-based cosmetic and pharmaceutical products presents great scientific and commercial interest. Herein, we aimed to extract green coffee oil from Arabic coffee by a sustainable cold-pressing method. Furthermore, this work aimed to characterize the obtained green coffee oil by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT–IR) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopies (UV–Vis), peroxide analysis, and fatty acids profile by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Moreover, the functional and biological properties of the obtained green coffee oil and a green-coffee oil-based commercial product (Energy up®, Dermociencia) were investigated. The green coffee oil presented linoleic and palmitic acids as the major fatty acids showing 44.8% and 35.4%, respectively. Moreover, this green coffee oil presented an antioxidant activity (EC50 7.64 mg/mL) and an absence of cytotoxic effects in keratinocyte cultures treated with up to 20 mg/mL. The obtained green coffee oil showed wound healing properties as well as clonogenic efficiency, a biological potential to induce the proliferative and migratory capacity of cells of human skin keratinocytes at 2.5 mg/mL. The samples presented high antioxidant activity and the absence of a cytotoxic effect, suggesting that green coffee oil is a promising natural product for cosmetic applications with wound healing properties. These results open new ways for the use of green coffee oil for the development of cosmetic and pharmaceutics natural-based products.

Preliminary Study on the Antioxidant Effect of Natural Based Products with Potential Application in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a complex condition characterized by chronic pain and various sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms. It involves a complex interplay of mechanisms in the nervous system, including neuroinflammation, sensitization of pain pathways, and dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. Antioxidants may play a role in CRPS by helping to counteract oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's antioxidant defences. CRPS involves inflammation and tissue damage, which can lead to increased ROS production and oxidative stress. Our paper represents a preliminary study on various commercially available natural-based products regarding their antioxidant effect. Several natural products with antioxidant properties, such as vitamins C and E, polyphenols, flavonoids, and botanical extracts, have shown promise in preclinical studies for their potential to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation associated with CRPS. The potential use of natural-based products with antioxidant effects for mitigating CRPS symptoms is still an area of ongoing research and investigation, but nonetheless it holds promise.

On Hair Care Physicochemistry: From Structure and Degradation to Novel Biobased Conditioning Agents.

Hair is constantly exposed to various adverse external stimuli, such as mechanical or thermal factors, that may cause damage or cause it to lose its shine and smooth appearance. These undesirable effects can be minimized by using hair conditioners, which repair the hair and restore the smooth effect desired by the consumer. Some of the currently used conditioning agents present low biodegradability and high toxicity to aquatic organisms. Consumers are also becoming more aware of environmental issues and shifting their preferences toward natural-based products. Therefore, developing novel, sustainable, natural-based derivatives that can act as conditioning agents in hair care products and thus compete with the traditional systems obtained from non-renewable sources is highly appealing. This paper presents the key physicochemical aspects of the hair conditioning process, including hair structure and degradation, and reviews some of the new alternative conditioning agents obtained from natural resources.

Food tourism challenges in the pandemic period: getting back to traditional and natural-based products

ABSTRACT Searching for rural, intact areas out of cities during the COVID-19 crisis, tourists brought renewed interest in consuming traditional food based on wild edible herbs/natural products. Increased interest in local herbal potentials could be a driving force in modelling rural destinations to enrich food tourism offers and provide a new experience. This study aimed to assess the relevance of ethnobotany and traditional knowledge on wild herbs utilization with a focus on increased demand for natural products as a basis for future food tourism offer creation in rural areas. By applying free-listed observations and semi-structured ethnobotanical interview approach data were obtained (n = 169) and quantitatively analyzed using indices of Relative Frequency Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV) and Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC). The final results were visualized using the Venn diagram and DIVA-GIS. The results indicate subtle transformation in food tourism demands and new trends in nutrition based on 34 species divided into 7 functional groups along the geographic gradient. Traditional food systems through reviving ethnobotanical knowledge and practices should be a matter of future food tourism management.

Breast cancer prevention and treatment misinformation on Twitter: An analysis of two languages.

To determine the prevalence and types of misinformation on Twitter related to breast cancer prevention and treatment; and compare the differences between the misinformation in English and Malay tweets. A total of 6221 tweets related to breast cancer posted between 2018 and 2022 were collected. An oncologist and two pharmacists coded the tweets to differentiate between true information and misinformation, and to analyse the misinformation content. Binary logistic regression was conducted to identify determinants of misinformation. There were 780 tweets related to breast cancer prevention and treatment, and 456 (58.5%) contain misinformation, with significantly more misinformation in Malay compared to English tweets (OR = 6.18, 95% CI: 3.45-11.07, p < 0.001). Other determinants of misinformation were tweets posted by product sellers and posted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Less misinformation was associated with tweets utilising official/peer-reviewed sources of information compared to tweets without external sources and those that utilised less reliable information sources. The top three most common content of misinformation were food and lifestyle, alternative medicine and supplements, comprising exaggerated claims of anti-cancer properties of traditional and natural-based products. Misinformation on breast cancer prevention and treatment is prevalent on social media, with significantly more misinformation in Malay compared to English tweets. Our results highlighted that patients need to be educated on digital health literacy, with emphasis on utilising reliable sources of information and being cautious of any promotional materials that may contain misleading information. More studies need to be conducted in other languages to address the disparity in misinformation.

Cellulose-based films with internal plasticization with epoxidized soybean oil

A process was developed combining two natural-based products to obtain bio-based films. Industrial cellulose pulp was dissolved and mixed with epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO), which acts as an internal plasticizer. A distillable and recyclable ionic liquid-based solvent was used to dissolve the cellulose. Appropriate distribution of the cellulose/ESBO solution on glass surfaces and careful regeneration of the cellulose enabled the development of solvent-free and flexible cellulose films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of the triglyceride structure and the absence of the epoxide ring in the films, confirming the chemical reaction between the hydroxyl and epoxide groups of cellulose. The resulting films were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and mechanical tensile tests. The films were also evaluated by contact angle measurement, swelling ability, in vitro degradability and cytotoxicity. The results showed that the presence of ESBO can adjust both the flexibility and hydrophilicity of the cellulose films, resulting in materials suitable for a variety of applications.

Ginger Loaded Polyethylene Oxide Electrospun Nanomembrane: Rheological and Antimicrobial Attributes.

Synthetic antibiotics have captured the market in recent years, but the side effects of these products are life-threatening. In recent times, researchers have focused their research on natural-based products such as natural herbal oils, which are eco-friendly, biocompatible, biodegradable, and antibacterial. In this study, polyethylene oxide (PEO) and aqueous ginger extract (GE) were electrospun to produce novel antibacterial nanomembrane sheets as a function of PEO and GE concentrations. A GE average particle size of 91.16 nm was achieved with an extensive filtration process, inferring their incorporation in the PEO nanofibres. The presence of the GE was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) through peaks of phenol and aromatic groups. The viscoelastic properties of PEO/GE solutions were analysed in terms of PEO and GE concentrations. Increasing PEO and GE concentrations increased the solution's viscosity. The dynamic viscosity of 3% was not changed with increasing shear rate, indicating Newtonian fluid behaviour. The dynamic viscosity of 4 and 5 wt% PEO/GE solutions containing 10% GE increased exponentially compared to 3 wt%. In addition, the shear thinning behaviour was observed over a frequency range of 0.05 to 100 rad/s. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis also specified an increase in the nanofibre's diameter with increasing PEO concentration, while SEM images displayed smooth morphology with beadless nanofibres at different PEO/GE concentrations. In addition, PEO/GE nanomembranes inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, as presented by qualitative antibacterial results. The extent of PEO/GE nanomembrane's antibacterial activity was further investigated by the agar dilution method, which inhibited the 98.79% Staphylococcus aureus population at 30% GE concentration.

NATURAL PRODUCT-BASED AMYLOID PROTEIN INHIBITORS

Neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s are associated by plague formation of protein aggregates called amyloid proteins. Many natural-based products such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, iso-flavones, and polyunsaturated fatty acids play major role in therapeutic ability to degrade, slow down, and recondition the amyloid protein (amyloid protein inhibitors). These compounds extracted from plants have shown consequential potential in in vitro studies as well as in vivo studies. For requisite for brain nutritive growth, omega 3 fatty acids are important, whereas ß-carotene plays indispensable role in cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in the brain. It is described that omega 3 fatty acids are extracted from the source (flaxseed) by oil press method and ß-carotene is synthesized by physiochemical process from carrot. The main objective of this particular research topic is to provide more effectiveness in detaining the growth of amyloid protein inhibitors in brain. It is observed that the product with omega 3 and ß-carotene slow down the protein aggregation more efficiently than omega 3 capsules alone and intra-cerebroventricular injected streptozotocin. This can be determined by in silico activity of acetylcholinesterase. The analyses show extensive reciprocity between inhibitors and amyloid proteins. The administration of omega 3 with ß-carotene depreciates the amyloid protein aggregates more efficiently. Hence, it is suggested that the product can be used as treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Cherries and Blueberries-Based Beverages: Functional Foods with Antidiabetic and Immune Booster Properties.

Nowadays, it is largely accepted that the daily intake of fruits, vegetables, herbal products and derivatives is an added value in promoting human health, given their capacity to counteract oxidative stress markers and suppress uncontrolled pro-inflammatory responses. Given that, natural-based products seem to be a promising strategy to attenuate, or even mitigate, the development of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and to boost the immune system. Among fruits, cherries and blueberries are nutrient-dense fruits that have been a target of many studies and interest given their richness in phenolic compounds and notable biological potential. In fact, research has already demonstrated that these fruits can be considered functional foods, and hence, their use in functional beverages, whose popularity is increasing worldwide, is not surprising and seem to be a promising and useful strategy. Therefore, the present review reinforces the idea that cherries and blueberries can be incorporated into new pharmaceutical products, smart foods, functional beverages, and nutraceuticals and be effective in preventing and/or treating diseases mediated by inflammatory mediators, reactive species, and free radicals.

Evaluation of phenolic composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of aronia melanocarpa leaf extracts.

The objective of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of aronia leaf crude phenolic-extract (ACE) and purified phenolic-rich extract (APE) on human intestinal cells (CCD 841 CoN) and colon cancer cells (SW-480 and HT-29). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis confirmed that aronia leaves are rich in structurally diverse polyphenols (25 and 42 compounds for ACE and APE, respectively). Chlorogenic acid and quercetin-3-rutinoside were most abundant in both aronia extracts. The sum of detected polyphenols varied significantly between extracts ranging from 32.8 mg/g (ACE) to 436.3 mg/g (APE). The biological potential of aronia extracts was confirmed by applying in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic assays. The results of antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP) indicate that APE showed 2-fold stronger antioxidant properties compared to ACE. APE revealed a stronger cytotoxic effect on SW-480 and HT-29 cells than ACE (MTT test). After 48 -hours of incubation, APE was found to inhibit SW-480 cell growth by 50% vs. control at 194.35 μg/mL, while for HT-29 cells it was observed at 552.02 μg/mL. In the case of ACE, IC50 has not been reached for SW-480 cells after 48 -hours of treatment, but for HT-29 it was 794.84 μg/mL. Moreover, the viability was significantly decreased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner for both cancer cell lines. Examined extracts showed selective inhibitory potential against colon cancer cells. However, after 72 h incubation with CCD 841 CoN cells, the obtained IC50 values for APE and ACE were 594 μg/mL and 709 μg/mL respectively. This suggests that aronia leaves are valuable natural-based products that may support the treatment as chemopreventive agents in colorectal cancer.

New Discovery of Covid-19 Natural-Based Potential Antivirus Herbal Supplement Products from Pinang Yaki (Areca vestiaria) Extract: A Preliminary Study by Untargeted Metabolomic Profiling

Background: Pinang yaki has bioactive compounds that have potential as a new herbal supplement. A better understanding of the bioactive compounds of pinang yaki using untargeted metabolomic profiling studies will provide clearer insight into the health benefits of pinang yaki and in particular its potential for the therapy and prevention of Covid-19. Methods: Fresh samples of pinang yaki (Areca vestiaria) are obtained from forests in North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Samples were used for untargeted metabolomics analysis by UPLC-MS. Results: Based on an untargeted metabolomic profiling study of pinang yaki, 2504 compounds in ESI- and 2645 compounds in ESI+ were successfully obtained. After the analysis, 356 compounds in ESI- and 543 compounds in ESI+ were identified successfully. Major compounds Alpha-Chlorohydrin (PubChem ID: 7290) and Tagatose (PubChem ID: 439312) were found in ESI+ and ESI-. Discussion: The Top 10 metabolites from pinang yaki extract (ESI+) juga have been indicated in preventing SARS Cov2 infection and have exhibited good neuroprotective immunity. Benzothiazole (PubChem ID: 7222), L-isoleucine (PubChem ID: 6306), D-glucono-delta-lactone (PubChem ID: 736), Diethylpyrocarbonate (PubChem ID: 3051), Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) amine (PubChem ID: 7791), Cinnamic acid (PubChem ID: 444539), and Trigonelline (PubChem ID: 5570) also had potential effects as an antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-Covid19. Conclusion: Untargeted metabolomic profiling showed many bioactive compounds contained in pinang yaki (Areca vestiaria) extract. The top 10 compounds have been identified and explored for their potential benefits as anti-Covid19 supplement products. This is a preliminary study which still needs further research such as preclinical and clinical trials.

In Vitro Efficacy of Carica papaya, Chromolaena odorata and Piper betle Leaves Extracts against Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis

Increasing concern on the efficacy of antimicrobials has spurred a demand for research on natural-based alternatives. This study assessed the efficacy of Carica papaya, Chromolaena odorata and Piper betle leaves extracts against mites (Sarcoptes scabiei var. canis). Efficacy was defined as the percent reduction in the number of live mites after 6 h of exposure to the treatments. The study utilized 100% fresh crude extract (FCE), 50% fresh crude extract in water (FCW), 50% ethanolic extract reconstituted in 60% ethanol (EEE) and 50% ethanolic extract reconstituted in distilled water (EEW) of the plants for the in vitro assay against S. scabiei var. canis. All plants exhibited varying acaricidal efficacy at different extraction procedures. Their FCW, EEE and EEW showed excellent acaricidal efficacy with P. betle showing maximum efficacy within 30 min of exposure. Thus, the three plants are potential sources of natural-based products for the treatment of canine sarcoptic mange. Further pharmacological and in vivo studies are recommended to validate their acaricidal efficacy.

Chemical profile and eco-safety evaluation of essential oils and hydrolates from Cistus ladanifer, Helichrysum italicum, Ocimum basilicum and Thymbra capitata

The demand for natural-based products for industrial applications is increasing sharply and therefore the search for new alternatives to the plants traditionally used is growing. These alternative plants can be an important source of bioactive compounds under a circular economy approach. Considering the potential future use of new plant products by the industry, it is necessary to assess the risk associated with their introduction into the ecosystem. This work aims to provide an insight into the volatile profiles and evaluate the potential (eco)toxic effects of essential oils (EO’s) and hydrolates of four plant species, namely rockrose (Cistus ladanifer), curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), conehead thyme (Thymbra capitata) and basil (Ocimum basilicum). Chemical analysis were performed by GC-MS and acute toxicity tests were performed using the model organism Daphnia magna. The essential oil and the hydrolate from H. italicum, as well as all the other hydrolates caused no immobilization up to the highest concentrations tested, suggesting that all hydrolates present low to no risk towards D. magna. Similarly, the essential oil of H. italicum, presented negligible risk towards D. magna. For C. ladanifer and T. capitata essential oils, the EC50 (the concentration estimated to immobilize 50 per cent of the Daphnia) at 48 h varied between 199.7 mg/L and 12.1 mg/L, respectively. The essential oil from C. ladanifer was mainly characterised by monoterpene hydrocarbons, while the H. italicum was richer in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Both essential oil and hydrolate from T. capitata contained exclusively monoterpene hydrocarbons with a particularly high content of carvacrol. The higher acute toxicity of T. capitata essential oil can be attributed to the high amount of carvacrol present in the distillate. Overall, of the essential oils and hydrolates tested, all can be classified as practically non-toxic, except for T. capitata essential oil that, according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) of the United Nations, can be classified as moderately toxic.

Effect of Alltech® Crop Science products on root-knot nematode attraction and infestation in tomato plants

ABSTRACT Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are highly damaging pests with broad host range causing crop yield loss of about 30% in susceptible crop varieties annually. Natural-based products for RKN management have gained a lot of interest due to the harmful effects of conventional chemical nematicides. Two Alltech Crop Science products, (ACS5075 and ACS3048), were evaluated against the RKN Meloidogyne javanica. Attraction assays were performed by adding either product to 20% (w/v) Pluronic F-127 gel to study the behaviour of RKN second-stage juveniles (J2) towards host roots. ACS5075 completely inhibited attraction of RKN juveniles towards roots when compared to ACS3048 (7 ± 1 juveniles) or the control (8 ± 0.5 juveniles). Pot trials were also conducted for 2 months, where several combinations of products were assessed to determine their impact on egg masses and plant development. The ACS5075 treatment caused a significant reduction in egg masses (2.04 and 1.4 fold) when applied at 1% and 3% (p ≤ 0.05), respectively, compared to inoculated control. Correlation studies (r = −0.414) clearly depicted positive contribution of the product towards plant growth while reducing egg mass formation. A combination of 3% ACS5075 and 3 g ACS3048 behaved similarly. It is concluded that these products could potentially provide promising alternatives for sustainable RKN management.

Alternative Control of Phragmidium rubi-idaei Infecting Two Rubus Species.

Organic berry plantations have been gaining popularity among farmers during recent years. Even so, farmers experience serious challenges in disease control management, which is a concern in organic farming. Phragmidium rubi-idaei (DC) P. Karst is the pathogen responsible for blackberry and raspberry rust disease, one of the most present and active diseases in plantations. The antifungal certified products found on the organic farming market offer the opportunity for an efficient control strategy over plant pathogens in fruit shrub plantations. In this study, 5 natural based products—namely Altosan, Mimox, Canelys, Zitron, and Zeolite—were tested for their fungistatic effect over P. rubi-idaei. The experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions, performing observations over the impact of organic products, used at different concentration levels, on rust conidia germination. Moreover, field experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of different treatments for rust control on raspberry (‘Polka’, ‘Veten’ and ‘Heritage’) and blackberry (‘Thorn Free’, ‘Chester’ and ‘Loch Ness’) varieties. Data analysis based on ANOVA tests showed significant differences between the tested variants and the control sample at p < 0.001. Furthermore, LSD test confirmed differences between all substances tested (p < 0.005). The natural products Canelys (formulated with cinnamon) and Zytron (based on citrus extract) have proven the highest inhibitory capacity for conidia germination during in vitro tests registering values of 80.42% and 78.34%, respectively. The same high inhibitory rates against rust pathogen were kept also in the field tests using the same two natural-based products mentioned earlier. In addition, outcomes from this study demonstrated that Zeolite is not recommended for raspberry or blackberry rust control.

Tunable naturally-derived oligomeric ionic liquids: phase behavior and liquid crystal profile

Ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) derived from functional compounds obtained from natural sources, such as fatty acids (FAs), are promising compounds due to their sustainable appeal, low cost, and nutritional value. To expand the application of naturally-derived ILCs, this work discloses the use of the oligomeric approach to tune the LC and melting profiles of ILCs derived from FAs (stearic and oleic acids) and choline by mixing them to their parent FA. The oligomeric systems were investigated through the characterization of the solid-[liquid crystal]-liquid (S-LC-L) thermodynamic equilibrium. S-LC transitions were modelled using Margules and Margules-UNIFAC approaches, with the former presenting better results. The systems presented melting profiles similar to eutectic mixtures with a nonideal behavior and formation of solid solutions. The reduction of the melting point and the LC temperature window was related to the concentration and presence of unsaturation in the molecular structure of the components. The LC mesophases were formed at a wide temperature and FA concentration range. Oleic acid-based system presented lower melting points and a broader LC temperature domain with possibly two types of mesophases (lamellar and inverted hexagonal). Therefore, the oligomeric approach promoted the tunability of the LC and melting profiles of naturally-derived ILCs, which might expand their industrial applicability as lubricants, solvents and reaction media for low or high temperature processes, or as structuring agents (e.g. melting profile modifier) for the design of natural-based products.

Astaxanthin Extraction from Paracoccus Carotinifaciens Employing Fatty Acid Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents

Astaxanthin is a red-orange pigment widely used as a natural dye, additive in animal feed (salmonids) and for human consumption as dietary supplements. Recently, the consumers’ demand for natural-based products has encouraged to exploit the high added value bioactive compounds obtained by biomass, for applications in food industry, was explored. Researchers made an effort to develop sustainable extraction processes to guarantee the biocompatibility and safety of the products.In the present work, the possibility of employing fatty acids based NaDES (Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents) as a non-toxic alternative to traditional hydroalcoholic solvents for the extraction of astaxanthin from Paracoccus Carotinifaciens was evaluated. Furthermore, the extraction kinetic was studied by using mass transfer and reaction kinetic models. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated at each extraction time by ABTS assay. Experimental results show that the extraction yield was up to 60% and the reaction kinetic model provided a slightly better fitting of the data, when compared to the mass transfer model.

Supplementation with ribonucleotide-based ingredient (Ribodiet®) lessens oxidative stress, brain inflammation, and amyloid pathology in a murine model of Alzheimer

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia worldwide, characterized by the deposition of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in the brain. Additionally, increasing evidence demonstrates that a neuroinflammatory state and oxidative stress, iron-dependent, play a crucial role in the onset and disease progression. Besides conventional therapies, the use of natural-based products represents a future medical option for AD treatment and/or prevention. We, therefore, evaluated the effects of a ribonucleotides-based ingredient (Ribodiet®) in a non-genetic mouse model of AD. To this aim, mice were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with Aβ1–42 peptide (3 µg/3 μl) and after with Ribodiet® (0.1–10 mg/mouse) orally (p.o.) 3 times weekly for 21 days following the induction of experimental AD. The mnemonic and cognitive decline was then evaluated, and, successively, we have assessed ex vivo the modulation of different cyto-chemokines on mice brain homogenates. Finally, the level of GFAP, S100β, and iron-related metabolic proteins were monitored as markers of reactive gliosis, neuro-inflammation, and oxidative stress. Results indicate that Ribodiet® lessens oxidative stress, brain inflammation, and amyloid pathology via modulation of iron-related metabolic proteins paving the way for its rationale use for the treatment of AD and other age-related diseases.