Plant-derived Dietary Supplements Research Articles

Mitigation of lens opacification by a functional food in a diabetic rodent model

The current study was designed to test a functional food (FF) mixture containing aldose reductase inhibitors and antiglycation bioactive compounds for suppressing the onset and progression of cataracts in a diabetic rat model. Two-month-old Sprague Dawley rats were grouped as control (C), diabetes untreated (D), and diabetic rats treated with FF at two doses (FF1 = 1.35 g and FF2 = 6.25 g/100g of diet). Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin. The FF is a mixture of amla, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and fenugreek added to the rodent diet. The status of cataracts was monitored weekly by a slit lamp examination for 20 weeks, after which animals were sacrificed to collect eye lenses. Feeding FF1 and FF2 to diabetic rats yielded a significant anti-hyperglycaemic effect and marginally prevented body weight loss. FF delayed cataract progression, and FF2 showed better efficacy than FF1. FF prevented the loss of lens crystallins and their insolubilization in diabetic rats. The antioxidant potential of FF was evident with the lowered protein carbonyls, lipid peroxidation, and prevention of altered antioxidant enzyme activities induced by diabetes. These studies demonstrate the efficacy of plant-derived dietary supplements against the onset and progression of cataracts in a well-established rat model of diabetic eye disease.

Efficacy of plant-derived dietary supplements in improving overall menopausal symptoms in women: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

This updated systematic review and meta-analysis aims to confirm the effectiveness of plant-based supplements in improving overall menopausal symptoms and vasomotor symptoms. A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases up to June 2022. Randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials that evaluated the effects of dietary supplements on menopausal symptoms were included. Outcome measures included daily hot flash frequency, Kupperman's index, Menopause Rating Scale, and Greene Climacteric Scale. Pooled data were analyzed using a fixed-effects model and expressed as a weighted mean difference with a 95% confidence interval for continuous outcomes. For qualitative assessment, 67 studies were selected. For quantitative assessment, 54 reports were obtained from 61 studies. The study participants were peri- or postmenopausal women aged 38-85, most of whom experienced hot flashes as a menopausal symptom. The investigational products included 28 soy-derived, 6 red clover-derived, and 28 other plant-derived supplements. Qualitative assessment revealed that approximately 76% of the studies were generally of fair or good quality, whereas 24% were of low quality. Meta-analysis results indicated significant improvements in all questionnaire scores, including hot flash frequency, in the dietary supplement group compared with the placebo group. Comprehensive evaluation using different questionnaire tools showed that the various plant-derived dietary supplements can significantly alleviate menopausal symptoms. However, further rigorous studies are needed to determine the association of plant-derived dietary supplements with menopausal health because of the general suboptimal quality and heterogeneous nature of current evidence.

43097 Skin Health With Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements

43097 Skin Health With Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements

Effects of Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements on Skin Health: A Review.

Dietary supplements have become increasingly popular to improve facial appearance and optimize skin health. With countless supplements available online and in stores, there are unlimited options for patients to choose from. Federal law does not require the Food and Drug Administration to assess each product's efficacy before its appearance on the market. Therefore, evidence-based medicine is vital for dermatologists to provide adequate recommendations regarding the safety and efficacy of various dietary supplements.The goal of this review is to evaluate plant-derived, antioxidant oral supplements and their effects on wrinkle appearance, skin hydration, skin elasticity, and photoprotection.

Functional components in extracts of Beta vulgaris (Chukandar) parts for antioxidant effect and antiobesity potential with lipase inhibition

The development of plant-derived dietary supplements and drugs to treat the obesity epidemic has increased. These supplements may target oxidative stress and pancreatic lipase (PL) catalyzed fat digestion to manage lipid metabolism. Therefore, inhibition of PL and neutralization of reactive oxidants may be potential solutions to obesity management. In the present study, various extracts of 4 parts of Beta vulgaris (BV) were quantified for total phenolics, flavonoids, and saponins contents. Of these, methanolic extracts of leaves (BVLM), acetone extracts of petiole (BVPA), and leaves and petiole saponin extracts (BVLS and BVPS) were further evaluated using the FRAP assay and free radicals scavenging (DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals) potentials. BVLM (DPPH• - EC50 100 ± 10 μg/ml) and BVLS (ABTS•+ - EC50 6.7 ± 2.0 μg/ml) showed the strongest scavenging activities whereas, BVPS had the highest FRAP value (107 ± 4 μg Trolox equivalents/mg dry extract). Their porcine PL inhibition potential was evaluated. BVLS showed the most effective inhibition (68 ± 2% at maximum concentration and mixed mode) followed by BVLM. GC-MS characterization of bioassay-guided potential extracts (BVLS and BVLM) showed the presence of many volatile compounds, their derivatives, and other drug candidates. The data was visualized using principal component analysis that explained the data variance by 70.1 and 79.3% for crude solvent extracts and saponin extracts, respectively. 2-Benzylpiperidine and phytol were docked with PL to complement the inhibition results. Therefore, BVLS and BVLM extracts may be studied further as potentially beneficial sources of bioactives to regulate fat assimilation.

Evaluation of in vitro cell and blood compatibility and in vivo analgesic activity of plant-derived dietary supplements

ObjectiveIn vitro cell and blood compatibility of three dietary supplements, comprised of multiple plant extracts, Pneumo Go (PG), Green active (GA) and Equistasi (Eq), and their main component, the phytocomplex Matrix U.B.® (Union Bio S.r.l.) (M), were evaluated. Moreover, preliminary in vivo tests were performed on GA in order to assess its ability to reduce pain in an animal model. MethodsCell compatibility was determined using fibroblasts (NIH3T3) and primary adult human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECad) and the neutral red uptake test. Blood compatibility was evaluated by analyzing blood parameters after incubation of the products with sodium citrate anticoagulated whole blood. Thrombin time was determined by adding thrombin to aliquots of human plasma containing the samples. Clotting time was revealed by an automatic coagulometer. The in vivo analgesic effect of GA was evaluated in Wistar rats using the formalin test. ResultsM and PG reduced the percentage of viable NIH3T3 cells, indicating their interference in the cell cycle. GA and Eq stimulated fibroblast proliferation and neutralized the toxic effect of M. M and PG reduced HMVECad cell viability. GA and Eq did not affect cell viability as well as negative control. The hemocompatibility tests indicated that all the samples did not interfere with fibrinogen. The in vivo test carried out in male rats showed a significant analgesic effect of GA in all formalin-induced pain behaviors. ConclusionNo hemotoxicity and good cell compatibility were found for all the tested samples. GA and Eq were the best candidates for further biocompatibility testing. Moreover, GA reduced pain in the animal model.

DNA-Based Authentication of Botanicals and Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going?

Herbal medicines and botanicals have long been used as sole or additional medical aids worldwide. Currently, billions of dollars are spent on botanicals and related products, but minimal regulation exists regarding their purity, integrity, and efficacy. Cases of adulteration and contamination have led to severe illness and even death in some cases. Identifying the plant material in botanicals and phytomedicines using organoleptic means or through microscopic observation of plant parts is not trivial, and plants are often misidentified. Recently, DNA-based methods have been applied to these products because DNA is not changed by growth conditions unlike the chemical constituents of many active pharmaceutical agents. In recent years, DNA barcoding methods, which are used to identify species diversity in the Tree of Life, have been also applied to botanicals and plant-derived dietary supplements. In this review, we recount the history of DNA-based methods for identification of botanicals and discuss some of the difficulties in defining a specific bar code or codes to use. In addition, we describe how next generation sequencing technologies have enabled new techniques that can be applied to identifying these products with greater authority and resolution. Lastly, we present case histories where dietary supplements, decoctions, and other products have been shown to contain materials other than the main ingredient stipulated on the label. We conclude that there is a fundamental need for greater quality control in this industry, which if not self-imposed, that may result from legislation.

Nutritional Antioxidants and Adaptive Cell Responses: An Update

Many plant antioxidants, intaken through the daily diet or plant-derived dietary supplements, have been shown able to prevent free radical-related diseases by counteracting cell oxidative stress. However, it is now considered that the in vivo beneficial effects of these phytochemicals are unlikely to be explained just by their antioxidant capability. Several plant antioxidants exhibit hormetic properties, by acting as 'low-dose stressors' that may prepare cells to resist more severe stress. In fact, low doses of these phytochemicals activate cell signaling pathways (being the most prominent examples the modulation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, the NF-κB pathway and the Sirtuin-FOXO pathway) but high doses are cytotoxic. Herein we review the adaptive responses induced by the most known plant hormetic antioxidants, which are sulforaphane, resveratrol, curcumin, flavonoids, green tea catechins and diallylsulphides, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in such responses. Furthermore, this review outlines that the hormetic properties of these bioactive plant antioxidants might be successfully employed for realizing health-promoting dietary interventions especially in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

Effects of the Dietary Flavonoid Quercetin Upon Performance and Health

There is increased interest among such diverse groups as the military, athletes, and the aged for novel plant-derived dietary supplements to enhance performance and maintain/improve health. Quercetin, a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, has unique biological properties that are likely to improve mental/physical performance and reduce infection risk during intense exercise. These properties include antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and psychostimulant activity, as well as the ability to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, and they form the basis for potential benefits to overall health and disease resistance. However, most information regarding quercetin is based upon in vitro and animal studies. Therefore, there is a pressing need for well-designed clinical trials to evaluate this novel dietary supplement further. This article will examine the recent scientific literature concerning the role of quercetin in mental and physical performance and health.

The Development of a Human Tissue Model to Determine the Effect of Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements on Prothrombin Time

A screening process has been developed to evaluate four dietary supplements for their potential to affect coagulation through the extrinsic pathway in human tissue. An established analytical method was used to determine prothrombin time (PT) using a clinical laboratory fibrometer.1,2 Dong quai, Korean ginseng, cat's claw, and ginger were studied. Extracts of plant material were made by mixing the native material in synthetic plasma at room temperature for 1.0 hour. Plasma was simulated by preparation of 6% bovine albumen, phosphate buffered at pH 7.3, with the ionic strength controlled using common physiologic salts. Concentrations of the extract were prepared by varying the amount of material extracted with a given volume of synthetic plasma. Initially, a volume study was conducted to determine the extent to which an aliquot of human plasma could be diluted before changing the PT. Ten microliters of the appropriate extract were added to an aliquot of pooled human plasma collected from male volunteers bet...

The Development of a Human Tissue Model to Determine the Effect of Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements on Prothrombin Time

The Development of a Human Tissue Model to Determine the Effect of Plant-Derived Dietary Supplements on Prothrombin Time