Search Results (8)

Background/Objectives: High concentration of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the predominant cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease progression and coronary heart disease. Nutraceutical combination together with a cholesterol-lowering action provides an alternative to pharmacotherapy in patients reporting intolerance to statins and in subjects with low cardiovascular risk. The effects on lipid parameters were evaluated over 6 months for a food supplement containing aqueous extract of Berberis aristata and Olea europea, fenugreek seed extract, water/ethanol extract of artichoke leaf and phytosterols from sunflower seeds (Ritmon Colesystem^®). Methods: Laboratory data were obtained at baseline from 44 otherwise healthy subjects (33 males, mean 50 ± 11 years) without cardiovascular disease having LDL-C in the range 115 to 190 mg/dL pharmacologically untreated for hypercholesterolemia. Subjects were re-evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months during which they took one tablet of Ritmon Colesystem^® after dinner. Results: At baseline, the mean values were 151 ± 21 mg/dL for LDL-C, 223 ± 24 mg/dL for total cholesterol (T-C), 52 ± 14 mg/dL for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and 124 ± 58 mg/dL for triglycerides. A significant reduction in LDL-C was observed; 9 mg/dL (95% confidence interval 3–14), 10 (4–17) and 7 (1–14) at 1, 3 and 6 months. A similar significant trend was detected for T-C while triglycerides did not show significant changes and HDL-C had lower values only at 3 months. Conclusions: These nutraceuticals in individuals with sub-optimal blood cholesterol levels at intermediate–low cardiovascular risk reduced LDL-C and T-C over 6 months contributing to the improvement of cholesterol control by dietary supplements. Full article

Avian diseases, especially coccidiosis, represent a significant threat to poultry production, demanding research into the use of herbal supplements in birds’ diets. So, the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of selected herbal components in mitigating coccidiosis in broilers and to examine their overall impact on the productivity traits of broilers. A 35-day feeding trial was conducted with 1200 male ROSS 308 broiler chickens in two poultry facilities, one non-infected, using either usual coccidiostats (UC⁻) or 500 g/t herbal additive (consisting of Holarrhena antidysenterica, Ficus religiosa, Berberis aristata, Allium sativum, Embelia ribes, and Azadirachta indica; HA⁻) and the other intentionally exposed to Eimeria via drinking water at 7 days old, with corresponding control and experimental groups (UC⁺ and HA⁺). Dietary interventions significantly influenced broiler chicken body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) throughout the trial, notably on day 21, with UC⁺ treatment yielding the highest values. Herbal supplements did not affect the feed conversion ratio (FCR) or liveability. Under infection, litter dry matter (DM) content differences were notable on days 14 and 21, favouring herbal additive treatments (HA⁻ and HA⁺). Herbal supplements also impacted Eimeria presence in the duodenum and jejunum on day 21, with notable differences between treatments. Despite several limitations, the study reveals that herbal additions may effectively manage Eimeria infection and enhance litter quality in broiler production, since control treatments demonstrated improved development and anatomy. Full article

Berberis aristata, commonly known as Indian barberry, has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. Despite its recognized pharmacological benefits, its potential application in the food industry remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the proximate analysis and techno-functional properties of Berberis aristata root powder to evaluate its feasibility as a functional food ingredient. The root powder of Berberis aristata was subjected to proximate analysis to determine its moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrate content. Techno-functional properties, including water and oil absorption capacity, emulsifying and foaming properties, and bulk density, were evaluated using standardized analytical techniques. The proximate analysis revealed a high fiber content and a significant number of bioactive compounds. The root powder exhibited favorable water and oil absorption capacities, making it suitable for use as a thickening and stabilizing agent. Emulsifying and foaming properties were comparable to conventional food additives, indicating their potential in various food formulations. The findings suggest that Berberis aristata root powder possesses desirable techno-functional properties that could be leveraged in the food industry. Its high fiber content and bioactive compounds offer additional health benefits, making it a promising candidate for functional food applications. Further research on its incorporation into different food matrices and its sensory attributes is recommended to fully establish its utility. Full article

Berberine (BER) is an alkaloid found, together with other protoberberinoids (PROTBERs), in several species used in medicines and food supplements. While some herbal preparations containing BER and PROTBERs, such as Berberis aristata DC. bark extracts, have shown promising potential for human health, their safety has not been fully assessed. Recently, the EFSA issued a call for data to deepen the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic understanding of products containing BER and PROTBERs and to comprehensively assess their safety, especially when used in food supplements. In this context, new data were collected in this work by assessing: (i) the phytochemical profile of 16 different commercial B. aristata dry extracts, which are among the most widely used preparations containing BER and PROTBERs in Europe; (ii) the In Vitro and In Silico investigation of the pharmacokinetic properties of BER and PROTBERs; (iii) the In Vitro cytotoxicity of selected extracts in different human cell lines, including tests on hepatic cells in the presence of CYP450 substrates; (iv) the effects of the extracts on cancer cell migration; and (v) the In Vitro molecular effects of extracts in non-cancer human cells. Results showed that commercial B. aristata extracts contain BER as the main constituent, with jatrorrhizine as main secondary PROTBER. BER and jatrorrhizine were found to have a good bioaccessibility rate, but they interact with P-gp. B. aristata extracts showed limited cytotoxicity and minimal interaction with CYP450 substrates. Furthermore, tested extracts demonstrated inhibition of cancer cell migration and were devoid of any pro-tumoral effects in normal cells. Overall, our work provides a valuable overview to better elucidate important concerns regarding botanicals containing BER and PROTBERs. Full article

Non-alcoholic-fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is spreading worldwide. Specific drugs for NAFLD are not yet available, even if some plant extracts show beneficial properties. We evaluated the effects of a combination, composed by Berberis Aristata, Elaeis Guineensis and Coffea Canephora, on the development of obesity, hepatic steatosis, insulin-resistance and on the modulation of hepatic microRNAs (miRNA) levels and microbiota composition in a mouse model of liver damage. C57BL/6 mice were fed with standard diet (SD, n = 8), high fat diet (HFD, n = 8) or HFD plus plant extracts (HFD+E, n = 8) for 24 weeks. Liver expression of miR-122 and miR-34a was evaluated by quantitativePCR. Microbiome analysis was performed on cecal content by 16S rRNA sequencing. HFD+E-mice showed lower body weight (p < 0.01), amelioration of insulin-sensitivity (p = 0.021), total cholesterol (p = 0.014), low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (p < 0.001), alanine-aminotransferase (p = 0.038) and hepatic steatosis compared to HFD-mice. While a decrease of hepatic miR-122 and increase of miR-34a were observed in HFD-mice compared to SD-mice, both these miRNAs had similar levels to SD-mice in HFD+E-mice. Moreover, a different microbial composition was found between SD- and HFD-mice, with a partial rescue of dysbiosis in HFD+E-mice. This combination of plant extracts had a beneficial effect on HFD-induced NAFLD by the modulation of miR-122, miR-34a and gut microbiome. Full article

Ethnomedicinal plants have a significant role in the lives of people of rural and tribal areas. Thousands of medicinal plant species are used to treat various diseases, including jaundice, and are considered an important therapeutic resource to minimize these diseases. Jaundice (icterus) is a chronic disease that occurs when the amount of bilirubin in the blood increases. This review describes different ethnomedicinal plants used for curing jaundice by tribal and rural people of Himachal Pradesh. The study reveals 87 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 51 different families, which are used for treating jaundice in Himachal Pradesh. These plants are arranged in a systematic way, which includes a description of their common name, botanical name, along with its family, plant parts used, region, and mode of use in tabulated form. Some of the plant extracts have already been explored for their phytochemical and pharmacological significance and proved their potential in the preparation of new medicines or drugs against the treatment of jaundice. This review is an attempt to highlight the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants, which are specifically used for the treatment of jaundice. The data mentioned in the present review is compiled from various sources like existing literature, books, Google Scholar, and Scopus publications. Among all the observed plant species, most used medicinal plants for the treatment of jaundice include Justicia adhatoda, Emblica officinalis, Ricinus communis, Saccharum officinarum, Terminalia chebula, Berberis aristata, Cuscuta reflexa, and Tinospora cordifolia. Plants that are mostly utilized for the treatment of jaundice need to be scientifically validated by pharmacological analysis and should be subsequently used for the preparation of new drugs, which may prove far more beneficial than the existing one. Full article

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. A reduction in insulin receptor (IR) expression has been reported in these patients. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of a mixture of plant extracts consisting of Berberis aristata, Elaeis guineensis and decaffeinated green coffee by Coffea canephora on the improvement of glycaemic profile, through the modulation of IR levels, and of hepatic steatosis in NAFLD patients. Forty-nine patients with a grade of steatosis S1-S2 were randomly allocated to the treatment with plant extracts or placebo for six months. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated using transient elastography with CAP (controlled attenuation parameter). Glucose, insulin, and IR levels were measured in serum samples. At the end of the study, patients treated with plant extracts displayed a significant reduction of serum glucose (p < 0.001), insulin levels (p < 0.01), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index (p < 0.001), and CAP value (p < 0.01) compared to placebo. Moreover, the IR expression was increased significantly in the plant extracts group compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). The combination of plant extracts increases serum IR levels, determining amelioration of glycemic profile and improvement of hepatic steatosis in NAFLD patients. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an anti-hypercholesterolemic agent containing Berberis aristata, Silybum marianum and monacolin K and KA in a sample of Caucasian patients at low cardiovascular risk according to Framingham score. The primary outcome was to evaluate the effects of this nutraceutical combination on lipid profile; the secondary outcome was to evaluate the effect on some inflammatory markers, in particular high sensitivity C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor-α interleukin-6. One hundred and forty-three patients were randomized to placebo or Berberol^® K, once a day, during the dinner, for 3 months, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. We recorded a significant reduction of fasting plasma glucose with Berberol^® K compared to placebo (−12.2%, p < 0.05). Moreover, we recorded an increase of fasting plasma insulin with Berberol^® K both compared to baseline and to placebo (+9.9%, p < 0.05). Accordingly, the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index obtained after treatment with Berberol^® K was lower than the one in the placebo group (−2.8%, p < 0.05). No variations of lipid profile were observed with placebo, while there was a significant decrease of total cholesterol (−20.5%, p < 0.05), triglycerides (−17.7%, p < 0.05), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholestero (−27.8%, p < 0.05) with Berberol^® K, compared to placebo. There was a decrease of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (−30.8%, p < 0.05), and interleukin-6 (−25.0%, p < 0.05), with Berberol^® K compared to placebo. In conclusion, combining different hypocholesterolemic nutraceutical agents such as Berberis aristata, Silybum marianum and monacolin K and KA could be effective and safe to obtain a reduction of lipid profile and an improvement of inflammatory parameters. Full article